Worth rises within the UK slowed for a second month in a row however the price of meals together with milk, cheese and eggs saved inflation at a 40-year excessive.
Inflation, which measures the speed of worth rises, fell to 10.5% within the yr to December from 10.7% in November.
Petrol and diesel prices eased final month however meals costs continued to soar, reaching the best since 1977.
Eating places and resort costs additionally jumped in December together with a file rise in air fares.
Hundreds of thousands of persons are scuffling with the price of residing which has been rising steadily as Covid restrictions eased and Russia launched its assault on Ukraine.
Meals costs rose 16.8% within the yr to December as many households splashed out for Christmas, in accordance with the Workplace for Nationwide Statistics (ONS).
Fundamentals corresponding to milk, cheese and eggs noticed the most important will increase. Costs for sugar, jam, honey and chocolate in addition to comfortable drinks and juices additionally jumped. Nevertheless, worth progress slowed for bread and cereals.
Inflation is the rise within the worth of one thing over time and to calculate it, the ONS retains monitor of the costs of a whole lot of on a regular basis objects.
If it falls, it doesn’t imply the costs of products are taking place, it simply means costs are rising extra slowly.
Some analysts consider that the price of residing could now slowly be starting to ease after hitting what’s believed to be the height, of 11.1%, in October.
However at 10.5%, UK inflation continues to be manner above the two% goal the Financial institution of England is charged with assembly.
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Grant Fitzner, chief economist on the ONS, advised the BBC's Immediately programme {that a} driver behind inflation dipping was as a result of petrol costs had dropped 8p per litre final month, whereas diesel had fallen by 16p per litre.
Common petrol and diesel costs stood at £1.55 and £1.79 per litre in December 2022.
"It is very important level out though we've seen a second consecutive easing, it’s pretty modest fall and inflation continues to be at a really excessive stage with total costs rising strongly," he added.
There are some obstacles to a pointy fall in inflation.
Mr Fitzner stated that non-public sector pay, which grew 7.2% within the three months to November, was on the "strongest for a lot of a long time". Common pay total has grown on the quickest fee in additional than 20 years, however continues to be failing to maintain up with rising costs.
Coach and air fares additionally confirmed grew strongly in December, with the price of airplane journey up 44.1% – the most important recorded fee since January 1989.
Regardless of inflation dipping for the second month in a row, Susannah Streeter, senior funding and markets analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown stated there was nonetheless a "lengthy method to go earlier than the value spiral is beneath management".
"With the roles market nonetheless tight, power set to remain elevated and relentless meals worth rises persevering with it’s going to imply inflation stays stickier for longer," she added.
Shannon McIntyre, a florist who runs Feather & Fern in Hawes, North Yorkshire, stated that she has needed to increase the prices of the flowers she sells. A scarcity of roses, for instance, had triggered costs to double.
She described the will increase as "ridiculous".
"[The price] does go up. It does peak at Valentine's Day, Mom's Day, Christmas nevertheless it's the best we've ever seen it," she stated.
Roses will now price upwards of £6 per stem, in comparison with a earlier worth of £3 every.
"We're making an attempt to work out what else we are able to do," stated Ms McIntyre.
The Financial institution of England has been elevating pursuits since December 2021 to quell rising costs – the are at the moment 3.5%. The Financial institution will maintain its subsequent rate-setting assembly in February.
Rising rates of interest is one method to attempt to management inflation because it raises borrowing prices and will encourage folks to borrow and spend much less.
Ms Streeter stated the UK needs to be braced for additional rate of interest rises from the Financial institution, including {that a} half a share level rise "continues to be firmly on the playing cards".
Inflation is forecast to greater than halve over the approaching yr, not due to any authorities motion, however as a result of it compares costs now with a yr in the past.
The large bounce in gas costs started final February. As soon as we get to March the distinction between present costs and people 12 months earlier than gained't look fairly as placing.
Up to now, the official forecasts from the Workplace for Funds Accountability have proved comparatively correct, anticipating inflation would peak at round 11%, which it did final autumn, earlier than falling again.
It has forecast the speed of inflation will fall to lower than 7% by this summer time and 4% by the tip of the yr, however what's exhausting to think about now’s that it additionally forecasts inflation will flip adverse in the midst of 2024.
Whereas that will imply the price of residing falls slightly, it gained't be something like sufficient to make up for the drop in residing requirements this inflation is predicted to trigger – the worst in over 4 a long time.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt stated whereas any fall in inflation was "welcome", it was "very important" that the federal government took "troublesome selections" to attempt to carry it down additional.
However Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves stated: "Every passing day brings an increasing number of proof that persons are feeling worse off beneath the Tories."
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has pledged to halve inflation this yr, however many forecasters have predicted it will occur as the price of power falls.
"Excessive inflation is a nightmare for household budgets, destroys enterprise funding and results in strike motion, so nevertheless powerful, we have to keep on with our plan to carry it down," Mr Hunt stated.
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