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Britain sees deflation in April as transport costs drop

Xinhua, May 19, 2015 Adjust font size:

Britain's Consumer Prices Index (CPI) fell by 0.1 percent in the year to April 2015, it is the first time that CPI has fallen over the year since official records began in 1996 and the first time since 1960 based on comparable historic estimates, data showed on Tuesday.

Analysts expected a zero percent growth of CPI in April before the release of data. And in the previous two months, British CPI saw no changes.

The largest downward contribution came from transport services, with the timing of Easter this year a likely factor, said the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The core annual inflation rate, which excludes alcohol, tobacco, food and energy prices, rose 0.8 percent year-on-year, data showed.

Compared to the previous month, however, British CPI increased by 0.2 percent, figures showed.

CPIH, an inflation gauge including consumer prices and owner occupier's housing costs, increased 0.2 percent in the 12-month to April 2015, down from 0.3 percent in March 2015, data also showed. Endit