Inflation rates by country and year

0%6.1%12.1%18.2%24.2%
0%6.1%12.1%18.2%24.2%
19601.0%
19924.6%
20253.9%
Source: World Bank

Data: World Bank, annual %. For information only — not financial advice.

Year2025Inflation Rate3.9%

Behind the curve

Turning points in United Kingdom

  1. 1973↑ Upward pressure

    The first oil crisis and the Barber boom — Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

    Loose policy and the oil-price shock combined with strong wage pressures, sending UK inflation to a mid-1970s peak.

    Bank of England · Has oil lost the capacity to shock?
  2. 1975↑ Upward pressure

    Labour costs drove the 1975 peak — Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

    After the oil shock, rapidly rising earnings became the dominant domestic source of price growth: labour costs directly accounted for more than half of general price increases in 1975.

    Bank of England Quarterly Bulletin · Economic Commentary (1976 Q4)
  3. 1979↑ Upward pressure

    The second oil crisis — Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

    Another oil-price surge and strong wage growth pushed inflation to a second peak around 1980.

    Bank of England · The Budget of 1981 Was Over the Top
  4. 1992↕ Mixed effects

    Black Wednesday and the ERM exit — Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

    Sterling's exit from the ERM forced a rethink of monetary policy. The move led to inflation targeting and, after an initial bout of currency weakness, a durable fall in inflation.

    Bank of England Working Paper 290 · UK Monetary Regimes and Macroeconomic Stylised Facts
  5. 2009↓ Downward pressure

    The Great Recession — Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

    The financial crisis and recession cut demand, easing price pressure in 2009.

    Bank of England · Inflation Report, February 2009
  6. 2020↓ Downward pressure

    The pandemic and lockdown — Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

    Lockdowns and low energy prices dampened consumer prices in 2020.

    ONS · Quarterly Economic Commentary, April to June 2020
  7. 2022↑ Upward pressure

    War and the energy price shock — Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

    Surging energy and food prices after Russia's invasion of Ukraine drove UK inflation to its highest level in decades.

    ONS · Demand and Supply Factors in CPI Inflation, UK: 2021 to 2022

These are selected historical influences, not a complete account of inflation. An upward-pressure event can coincide with a peak when its inflationary effect has already occurred or when other forces begin pushing inflation lower. The markers show the years in which events occurred, although their effects may extend into later years.

What is the inflation in United Kingdom?

The annual inflation rate in United Kingdom was 3.9% in 2025, the most recent year in the World Bank dataset. That means prices rose 3.9% on average compared with the year before. Use the chart above to explore United Kingdom's full inflation history from 1960 to 2025, and to compare it with any other country.

How inflation in United Kingdom has changed

Inflation in United Kingdom peaked at 24.2% in 1975 and reached its lowest point at 0.4% in 2015. Averaged across the 66 years of available data (1960–2025), the rate has been 5.1% per year.

Frequently asked questions about inflation in United Kingdom

What is the current inflation rate in United Kingdom?

The latest available annual figure is 3.9% in 2025, from the World Bank. Because the figures are reported annually, they may not reflect the most recent monthly reading published by United Kingdom's statistical office.

What was the highest inflation rate in United Kingdom?

The highest annual inflation rate on record is 24.2%, reached in 1975.

What was the lowest inflation rate in United Kingdom?

The lowest annual inflation rate on record is 0.4%, recorded in 2015.

Where does the inflation data for United Kingdom come from?

All figures come from the World Bank's World Development Indicators (indicator FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG), which report annual consumer price inflation for more than 200 countries and territories from 1960 onward.