UK inflation slips to 2.2% in May

Consumer inflation for the month of May in the recession-hit Britain fell to 2.2 per cent dragged down by food and non-alcoholic beverages.

In April, the CPI -- a measure of price movements -- stood at 2.3 per cent.

"Consumer Prices Index (CPI) annual inflation-– the government's target measure – fell to 2.2 per cent in May, down from 2.3 per cent in April," the Office for National Statistics said in a statement today.

Food and non-alcoholic beverages presented the largest downward pressure for the CPI annual rate.

"This was principally due to meat with prices rising by less than a year ago. There were smaller downward effects from vegetables, bread and cereals, and milk, cheese and eggs," the statement noted.

On the other hand, the maximum upward pressure affecting the CPI in May came from alcoholic beverages and tobacco, mainly reflecting the increase in excise duty from this year's budget.

Meanwhile, the Retail Price Index inflation which includes mortgage interest payments, was in the negative territory at 1.1 per cent in May. In April, the same stood at -1.2 per cent.

"...There was a large upward pressure from housing where the largest effect came from mortgage interest payments," the statement said.