Consumer price inflation (CPI) rose in the year to April to 3.7%, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Clothing and footwear was the main contributor towards the growth from March, when CPI was 3.4%. The largest upward effect came from garments, particularly womenswear, the report said.

Prices of food and non-alcoholic drinks rose between April and March, but fell a year ago. Alcoholic drinks and tobacco prices rose this year but were unchanged between March and April 2009.

The only major downward contribution on inflation between March and April came from furniture and household goods where prices fell overall by more than a year ago.

There was however some upward contribution from carpets and other floor coverings where prices fell less than a year ago.

The retail price index rose by 5.3% in the year to April, up from 4.4% in March.  

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