The chief secretary to the Treasury has hailed an unexpected dip in inflation, but admits that the cost of living "is still a pressure for families across the country and there's more work to do".
Inflation has fallen to 2.5% in December from 2.6% in November, which will come as a relief to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who has faced criticism given rising government borrowing costs and a slump in the value of the pound.
The latest figures could open the door for an interest rate cut next month.
Report by Brooksl.
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Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds visit a business in Nuneaton to promote the government’s new industrial strategy Report by Blairm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
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The shadow chancellor says the Treasury "should not be popping champagne corks" over the unexpected dip in inflation to 2.5% in December. Mel Stride adds the government has "killed growth stone dead"..