Consumer Price Index (CPI) annual inflation - the Government's target measure - remained unchanged at 1.9 per cent last month.
Downward pressure on the CPI annual rate, which takes in a wide range of products and financial services, came from furniture and furnishings, where prices fell by more than they did the previous year.
Further downward pressure came from recreation and culture, in particular games, toys and hobbies. To a lesser extent, cultural services, major durables for outdoor recreation and package holidays all had an impact.
Another factor was changes in the price of food, in particular vegetables, as well as clothing and footwear. Prices for women's and children's outerwear fell by more than a year ago.
The provisional inflation rate for the enlarged EU in December was 2.1 per cent, compared with the UK figure for the same month of 1.9 per cent.
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