Official figures reveal a significant easing in the UK's cost of living, with inflation falling to its lowest point in seven months during November. The drop was primarily fuelled by a widespread slowdown in price increases for everyday groceries, offering some relief to household budgets.
Groceries Lead the Slowdown
Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that price rises decelerated last month for a host of common food items. This provided the main downward pressure on the overall Consumer Prices Index (CPI).
Notable slowdowns were recorded for breakfast cereals, pasta and couscous, cheese, butter, margarine, yoghurt, crisps, and ice cream. For instance, the annual inflation rate for butter, while still high, fell from 14.3% in October to 12.1% in November.
Beyond the supermarket aisles, the cost of entertainment also rose more slowly. The average price for cinema, theatre, and concert tickets increased by just 1.3% year-on-year, a marked drop from October's 4.7% jump.
Household Goods and Clothing See Relief
The inflation picture improved for several other consumer categories. The cost of women's clothing rose by only 0.6% compared to November last year, down from 2.3% in October. Prices for men's clothing showed no annual change, following a previous 1.1% rise.
Some household essentials even saw prices fall compared to a year ago. The most dramatic shift was for irons, where a 4.4% year-on-year increase in October turned into a 7.7% decrease in November. Cleaning equipment, heaters, air conditioners, coffee machines, and tea makers all followed a similar pattern from inflation to deflation.
Tobacco prices also contributed to the lower headline rate, with cigarette inflation slowing from 7.3% to 4.2%.
Areas Where Prices Are Still Climbing
Not all sectors followed the downward trend. The largest upward pressure on inflation came from passenger train travel, where fares rose 6.6% in the year to November, accelerating from 4.3% in October.
In the food and drink sector, inflation accelerated for several items:
- Tea and coffee
- Fresh and frozen vegetables (excluding potatoes)
- Soft drinks and fruit juices
- Fast food and takeaway services
- Ready-made meals
For example, the annual rate for coffee edged up slightly from 14.2% to 14.5%, while tea prices rose by 5.3%, up from 3.3%.
The ONS data, published on Wednesday 17 December 2025, provides a detailed snapshot of price movements across the economy. While the overall direction is positive, the mixed picture underscores the ongoing pressures in specific parts of the UK's cost of living crisis.
