英国通胀飙升至15个月高点 “糟糕四月”价格冲击下居民“压力山大”

Core Points - The UK inflation rate has surged to its highest level in over a year, reaching 3.5%, driven by multiple price increases, exceeding market expectations [1] - The rise in inflation is attributed to a 6.4% increase in the energy price cap, along with rising costs for water, train fares, and local government taxes, leading to a comprehensive increase in living costs [1] - The service inflation rate accelerated from 4.7% to 5.4%, surpassing the Bank of England's previous forecast of 5% [1] Group 1 - The inflation rate has risen from 2.6% to 3.5%, higher than the Bank of England's prediction of 3.4% and economists' expectation of 3.3% [1] - The increase in living costs coincides with two significant policy changes: a £26 billion increase in employer payroll taxes and a nearly 7% rise in the minimum wage [1] - A significant proportion of businesses are planning to raise product prices to maintain profit margins amid rising costs [1] Group 2 - The Bank of England anticipates that inflation will further accelerate to a peak of 3.7% in September, which poses challenges for Prime Minister Keir Starmer as households face a new wave of cost pressures [1] - Despite market expectations that the inflation rebound is temporary, the Bank of England remains cautious due to high wage growth, favoring a gradual path for interest rate cuts [2]