British Inflation Hits 3.5 Percent in April, Surpassing Expectations

The figure is a blow to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, as voters are now faced with higher costs while the Trump administration's tariff shock weighs on economic prospects.

The British inflation in April – the consumer price increases in annual terms – was higher than expected. Analysts had on average counted on 3.3 percent, while the central bank Bank of England had 3.4 percent in its forecast.

The service inflation contributed to the development with a rise to 5.4 percent in April.

Bank of England expects inflation to continue up to a peak of 3.7 percent in September. The inflation target is 2 percent.