25.03.202607:00:00UTC+00UK Core Inflation Edges Higher to 3.2% in February, Halting Recent Cooling Trend

The United Kingdom’s core Consumer Price Index (CPI) in February 2026 rose 3.2% year-over-year, slightly above January’s 3.1% reading, according to data updated on 25 March 2026. The figure, which strips out volatile components such as food and energy, marks a modest acceleration in underlying inflationary pressures.

The latest print breaks the marginal easing seen at the start of the year. January 2026’s core CPI, also measured on a year-over-year basis, had slowed to 3.1%, but February’s uptick suggests that disinflation momentum may be uneven. Both the “previous” and “actual” readings reflect changes compared to the same month a year earlier.

Investors and policymakers will be watching the core measure closely, as it is often viewed as a better gauge of persistent price pressures than headline inflation. The move from 3.1% to 3.2% could complicate expectations for the timing and pace of any potential shift in UK monetary policy, keeping attention firmly on upcoming inflation releases and central bank communications.