Inflation pushed up by rising fuel bills

The Retail Prices Index (RPI) measure of inflation, which includes housing costs, rose to 3.1% in December, from 3% in November.

Meanwhile the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rate of inflation remained unchanged in December, at 2.7%, for the third month in a row.

Price increases from four of the big six energy suppliers came into effect last month, dampening the impact of a fall in energy costs.

Housing and household costs, including gas and electricity, rose by 2% between November and December.

But the rate of transport cost increases declined. Petrol prices fell by 2.8p per litre between November and December, compared with a fall of 1.1p a year earlier. Diesel prices fell by 1.4p per litre, compared with a year ago, the ONS says.