---
source: Office for National Statistics
url: https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices/bulletins/consumerpriceinflation/february2026
document_type: html
date_retrieved: 2026-03-25
period: February 2026
parent_publication: Consumer price inflation, UK
indicators_covered: [Retail Price Index, Inflation Rate, Core Inflation Rate]
---

# Consumer price inflation, UK: February 2026

## Main points

* The Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers' housing costs (CPIH) rose by 3.2% in the 12 months to February 2026, unchanged from the 12 months to January.
* On a monthly basis, CPIH rose by 0.4% in February 2026, the same rate as in February 2025.
* The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rose by 3.0% in the 12 months to February 2026, unchanged from the 12 months to January.
* On a monthly basis, CPI rose by 0.4% in February 2026, the same rate as in February 2025.
* Clothing made the largest upward contribution to the monthly change in both CPIH and CPI annual rates; motor fuels made the largest, offsetting, downward contribution.
* Core CPIH (CPIH excluding energy, food, alcohol and tobacco) rose by 3.4% in the 12 months to February 2026, up from 3.3% in the 12 months to January.
* Core CPI (CPI excluding energy, food, alcohol and tobacco) rose by 3.2% in the 12 months to February 2026, up from 3.1% in the 12 months to January.

## Consumer price inflation rates

| Series | Feb 2025 (Annual %) | Jan 2026 (Annual %) | Feb 2026 (Annual %) | Feb 2026 (Monthly %) |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **CPIH** | 3.7 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 0.4 |
| **CPI** | 2.8 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 0.4 |
| **OOH** | 7.5 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 0.3 |
| **RPI** | - | - | 3.6 | - |

## Notable movements in prices

### Clothing and footwear
Clothing and footwear prices rose by 0.9% in the 12 months to February 2026, compared with no change in the 12 months to January. On a monthly basis, prices rose by 0.6% in February 2026, compared with a fall of 0.3% a year ago.

### Alcohol and tobacco
Prices in the alcohol and tobacco division rose by 3.6% in the 12 months to February 2026, down from 4.6% in the 12 months to January. On a monthly basis, prices fell by 0.1% in February 2026, compared with a rise of 1.0% a year ago.

### Transport
Prices in the transport division rose overall by 2.4% in the 12 months to February 2026, down from 2.7% in the 12 months to January. Motor fuel prices fell by 4.6% in the 12 months to February 2026. Average petrol price was 131.6 pence per litre.

### Food and non-alcoholic beverages
Food and non-alcoholic beverages prices rose by 3.3% in the 12 months to February 2026, down from 3.6% in the 12 months to January.