November sees rise in inflation

Higher utility bills and petrol and oil costs all helped push up inflation in November. The Retail Prices Index rose by 3.4% compared with a 3.3 % increase in the year to October. It is the fourth consecutive monthly rise.

The Consumer Prices Index (CPI), the government's preferred measure, which excludes housing costs, also rose by 1.5% in the year to November - up from 1.2% in the year to October.