The UK’s inflation rate increased last month due to rising leisure costs, although grocery and clothing costs continued to drop.

Inflation rose by 0.3% in the year to May year-on-year and was unchanged from April, according to the Consumer Prices Index.

This nominal rise continues this year’s trend of low price increases, as headline inflation has been 0.3% every month except for March due to the timing of Easter.

Falling retail costs impacted inflation overall, as the cost of food and non-alcoholic beverages fell 0.3% and reported the greatest drop in prices overall.

Transport generated the second largest fall in prices, down 0.1%. Clothing and footwear prices also decreased marginally, while furniture and household goods reported a minor increase.

However, these declines were offset by rising prices of restaurants and hotels and miscellaneous goods and services, which rose 0.2% and 0.1% respectively.

The rise in prices year-on-year meant that a basket of goods and services amounting to £100 in May last year would have cost £100.30 last month.

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