Rising fuel prices push up UK inflation for first time in 2018

Higher costs at the pump add to squeeze on household incomes after months of falling wages growth

Higher fuel prices in July pushed up the rate of inflation for the first time this year to put an extra squeeze on household incomes following several months of falling wages growth.

The consumer prices index (CPI) rose at an annual rate of 2.5% last month after holding at 2.4% in the previous three months, following a steep rise in annual energy price growth from 8.7% in June to 9.3%.