ONS: Consumer price inflation, UK: October 2025 + reactions
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Summary Price indices percentage changes and weights for the
different measures of consumer price inflation Publications
Consumer price inflation, UK: October 2025 Chancellor responds to
the ONS's inflation release Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel
Reeves said: “This fall in inflation is good news for households
and businesses across the country, but I'm determined to do more to
bring prices down. That's why at the budget next week...Request free trial
Summary
Price indices percentage changes and weights for the different measures of consumer price inflation PublicationsChancellor responds to the ONS's inflation release Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves said: “This fall in inflation is good news for households and businesses across the country, but I'm determined to do more to bring prices down. That's why at the budget next week I will take the fair choices to deliver on the public's priorities to cut NHS waiting lists, cut national debt and cut the cost of living.” Conservative response to inflation figures Sir Mel Stride MP, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, said: “Inflation has been above target every single month since Labour's last Budget, leaving working people worse off. “Labour's last Budget hiked borrowing and taxes, stoking the inflation now hitting families. If Labour had any backbone, they would adopt our £47 billion savings plan and our Golden Economic Rule next week to ease inflationary pressures. “Only the Conservatives have the leader with a backbone, the plan and the team to stabilise the public finances – reducing inflation and delivering a stronger economy.” ENDS Notes to Editors: Labour destabilised the public finances with profligate spending:
Labour do not have the backbone to cut spending:
Abolish Business Rates for Retail, Hospitality and Leisure businesses, benefitting 250,000 businesses and reviving our high streets. We would introduce permanent 100 per cent business rates relief for Retail, Hospitality and Leisure businesses – up to a cap of £110,000 – benefitting 250,000 businesses (HMT, Press Release, 13 November 2024, link).
CBI responds to inflation data for October 2025 Ben Jones, Lead Economist, CBI, said: “Inflation eased in October, broadly in line with the Bank of England's expectations. With Q3 GDP figures confirming a weak growth backdrop, and the labour market continuing to soften, today's figures add to the evidence that price pressures are gradually subsiding. “Combined with the likelihood of further fiscal consolidation measures at the Budget, the data should give the Bank's Monetary Policy Committee confidence that inflation risks are diminishing. If this trend continues, the case for an interest rate cut in December looks increasingly compelling.” British Chambers of Commerce Reacting to the latest ONS inflation data published this morning, Stuart Morrison, Research Manager at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “Businesses will be hoping October's inflation rate of 3.6% is further evidence that inflation may now be past its peak. That's in line with forecasts by the Bank of England and the BCC. “However, the economy remains vulnerable, and firms are under no illusion about the huge cost pressures they continue to face. Our latest survey data shows inflation is the second biggest concern for businesses after tax. The two are intrinsically linked with many firms telling us the employer NICs hike has forced them to put up prices. “Business can't be in the firing line again at next week's Budget. The national insurance hike, announced in last year's statement, has fuelled inflation, hit investment and damaged job opportunities. Those are not the ingredients for the sustained growth we all want to see. “The Chancellor must use her statement next Wednesday to ease the cost burden for business, not add to it. In short, no more tax on business. “Recent speculation about a new cap on pension salary sacrifice schemes is worrying, as it would add more costs for employers and could limit investment. The Budget must also help tackle the skills crisis, help exporters and turbocharge infrastructure projects. “The economy will continue to stutter unless business costs come down, and firms are given the right tools to invest, recruit and trade.” Unite response to latest inflation figures Responding to the latest inflation figures published today, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Today's figures will bring no comfort to the millions of families having to choose between heating and eating this winter. Food prices are going through the roof, with many essentials now costing a quarter more than they did three years ago and still rising. “Workers are demanding the government tackle the cost-of-living crisis and that must begin with next week's budget.” Institute of Directors Commenting on today's data from the Office for National Statistics that showed the annual rate of CPI inflation falling to 3.6% in October 2025, from 3.8% in September, Anna Leach, Chief Economist at the Institute of Directors, said: “Inflation has continued to inch downwards in today's data, increasing the likelihood that December will see a welcome rate cut. Goods, services and core inflation all eased, although food inflation did pick up again to 4.9%. “We're drawing ever closer to a Budget which is expected to dampen already subdued demand further via another increase in the tax burden. While uncertainty will hopefully diminish, that is unlikely to fully cancel out the drag on investment and hiring from further tax rises. There's one more inflation release before the next interest rate decision, but with a weaker near-term outlook in prospect, it seems more certain that the Monetary Policy Committee will on balance cut rates in their December meeting.” Liberal Democrats
Responding to the latest ONS inflation figures released this
morning, Daisy Cooper, Deputy Leader and Treasury
Spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats said: “Hitting people with a stealth tax at next week's Budget would prolong the pain of higher taxes for much longer and unfairly pull poorer pensioners and low-income workers into paying tax for the first time. “We Liberal Democrats are calling for emergency measures to slash people's energy bills, save our high streets with a VAT cut for hospitality and boost growth in every corner of the UK - funded fairly by taxing the banks. The Chancellor must put households and high streets first and put an end to the most vulnerable from having to choose between heating and eating.” Joseph Rowntree Foundation News the latest inflation figures have dipped slightly from 3.8% to 3.6% will bring little comfort to those 7.1m low income UK households who can't even afford the essentials, warned the Joseph Rowntree Foundation as it released early findings from its cost of living tracker. Meanwhile food inflation has jumped back up to 4.9% from 4.5% the previous month.
What today's inflation figure really means “Despite the small slowdown in overall inflation, today's inflation figures leave the cost of energy and food punishingly high, so it is no surprise that seven million households still cannot afford the essentials - food, heating, or basic toiletries. "This has now been the case for four consecutive years. "We don't need to live in a society where households are forced to go without basic goods, but the government can't keep doing the same thing and expect different results. "Meanwhile the value of social security still bears no resemblance to the cost of essentials and many larger families have been hit hard by the two-child limit that traps hundreds of thousands of children in poverty. "In the Chancellor's Budget, we need to see meaningful action that actually helps people afford the things they need to get by.” Today's inflation announcement of 3.6% follows three consecutive months of the rate remaining at 3.8% - above the Bank of England's 2% target. Notes to Editors
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