Inflation United Kingdom 1962

Average inflation: 4.2%

Inflation in 1962

Inflation is high at 4.2%, well above the ECB target.

Peak and Trough

The highest inflation was in April at 5.7%. The lowest inflation was in November at 2.3%.

Highest month
April: 5.7%
Lowest month
November: 2.3%
Difference
3.4 percentage points
Months with data
12 of 12

Historical Context

Inflation is 1.8 percentage points higher than the 5-year average of 2.4%.

5-year average
2.4%
10-year average
3%
All-time high (1956)
5%
All-time low (1959)
0.6%

Trend

Over the period 1960-1962, inflation shows an upward trend. Compared to 1961, inflation has risen by 0.8 percentage points.

Change vs. previous year
+0.8 percentage points
Largest monthly swing
April: +3.0 percentage points

ECB Target

Inflation is 2.2 percentage points above the ECB target of 2.0%. This means purchasing power is declining faster than intended.

Purchasing Power

At this inflation rate, purchasing power noticeably decreases. Without a salary increase, you can buy less with the same money.

What you could buy for £100 this year will cost approximately £104.20 next year at this inflation rate.

Multi-year trend

Monthly figures 1962

Inflation by category

Food and non-alcoholic beverages
3.8%
-0.4 vs avg.

Inflation differs per product group. Click on a category for the historical trend.

Month overview

Month Inflation Difference vs. 1961
January 4.6% +2.4
February 4.7% +2.5
March 4.8% +2.1
April 5.7% +3.0
May 5.7% +2.7
June 5.5% +2.2
July 5.1% +1.9
August 3.2% -1.6
September 3.3% -1.2
October 3.0% -0.9
November 2.3% -2.2
December 2.6% -1.8
Average 4.2%

Data source

Data from OECD. Last updated: 17/12/2025.

See also