Inflation United Kingdom 2026
Average inflation: 3.2%
Current Inflation
Inflation is high at 3.2%, well above the ECB target.
Peak and Trough
The highest inflation was in January at 3.2%. The lowest inflation was in January at 3.2%.
- Highest month
- January: 3.2%
- Lowest month
- January: 3.2%
- Difference
- 0.0 percentage points
- Months with data
- 1 of 12
Category Insights
The highest price increase was in Education with an average of 5.1%. The lowest price increase was in Furnishings, household equipment and maintenance with an average of -0.5%.
- Highest increase
- Education: 5.1%
- Lowest increase
- Furnishings, household equipment and maintenance: -0.5%
Historical Context
Current inflation is 1.8% lower than the 5-year average of 5.0%.
- 5-year average
- 5%
- 10-year average
- 3.5%
- All-time high (2022)
- 7.9%
- All-time low (2015)
- 0.4%
Trend
Inflation has remained relatively stable. Compared to 2025, the difference is minimal (-0.7 percentage point).
- Change vs. previous year
- -0.7 percentage points
- Largest monthly swing
- January: -0.7 percentage points
ECB Target
Inflation is 1.2% 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 €103.20 next year at this inflation rate.
Multi-year trend
Monthly figures 2026
Inflation by category
Inflation differs per product group. Click on a category for the historical trend.
Month overview
| Month | Inflation | Difference vs. 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| January | 3.2% | -0.7 |
| Average | 3.2% |
Data source
Data from OECD. Last updated: 20/02/2026.Not all months available yet.