UK inflation remains low in October despite weak Sterling

British consumer prices dropped unexpectedly last month, despite the steep fall in the value of the British Pound after the Brexit vote, official data showed on Tuesday. According to the Office for National Statistics, the Consumer Price Index advanced 0.9% year-over-year in October, compared to the preceding month's 1.0% rise. That was below the 1.1% market forecast, who suggested that the weak Sterling would lift inflation last month.

Nevertheless, the ONS said factory gate prices increased 2.1%, faster than expected and the largest increase since April 2012. Furthermore, the Producer Price Index jumped 4.6% on a monthly basis in the reported month, after rising just 0.1% in the previous month, whereas economists penciled in an increase of 1.6%. Meanwhile, the Retail Price Index came in at 2.0% in October, unchanged from the same month one year ago. In addition, the ONS reported the so-called core inflation rate declined to 1.2% from September's 1.5%, falling behind analysts' expectations of 1.4%.

UK inflation remained below the Bank of England's target of 2% for almost three years already. According to the Bank of England's latest inflation forecasts published earlier this month, UK inflation is expected to climb to 2.7% by this time next year.