Inflation into positive territory

CPI up 1.7%

Inflation is now into positive territory following a significant increase last month.

According to the latest government figures, the consumer prices index (CPI) rose by 1.7 per cent in the month of September.

It means it has moved from -0.5 per cent in August to 1.2 per cent last month.

The data shows it's been a bad year if you eat lamb - which has risen by 9.8 per cent over the last 12 months - but a good year if you consume poultry products, as they have fallen by 7.1 per cent.

The retail prices index (Jevons) stands at 1.1 per cent.

It's the first month the new RPIJ figure has been used to measure inflation.