# UK inflation rises to 3.5% in September from 3.1%, led by motor fuels

> The ONS reports UK CPI inflation at 3.5% in the year to September, up from 3.1% in August. Core inflation rose to 2.8%, and services inflation to 3.7%.

- Canonical URL: https://forextradingcommunity.com/news/uk-inflation-september-2026-3-5-percent/
- Type: Data
- Published: 2026-10-23
- Updated: 2026-10-23
- Publisher: Forex Trading Community (https://forextradingcommunity.com), FTC Editorial Team
- Currencies: GBP

The Office for National Statistics reported on 21 October 2026 that consumer prices rose 3.5% in the year to September, up from 3.1% in August. Prices rose 0.4% on the month.

## The main figures

- **Core CPI** (excluding energy, food, alcohol and tobacco): 2.8%, up from 2.6%
- **Goods**: 3.2%, up from 2.7%
- **Services**: 3.7%, up from 3.4%
- **Monthly change**: +0.4% in September

Transport, particularly motor fuels, made the largest upward contribution to the change. The ONS chart shows motor fuel inflation at its highest since August 2022. Restaurants and hotels made the largest offsetting contribution.

## Reading it

Headline inflation rose by more than core, so energy and fuel account for much of the increase. Services inflation rose to 3.7%, which is the component most closely tied to domestic price pressure. The Bank of England held Bank Rate at 3.75% in September ([report](/news/bank-of-england-holds-3-75-percent-september-2026/)).

The rise follows August's [3.1% reading](/news/uk-inflation-august-2026-3-1-percent/). For the energy link, see [energy inflation explained](/news/energy-inflation-september-2026-explained/). For the currency channel, see [how inflation moves currencies](/news/how-inflation-moves-currencies/). Live prices: [GBP/USD](/markets/gbp-usd/).

## Sources

- [Office for National Statistics: Consumer price inflation, UK: September 2026, 21 October 2026](https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices/bulletins/consumerpriceinflation/september2026)

## Common questions

### What was UK inflation in September 2026?

The ONS reports CPI inflation at 3.5% in the year to September, up from 3.1% in August.

### What was UK core inflation in September 2026?

Core CPI, which excludes energy, food, alcohol and tobacco, rose to 2.8% from 2.6% in August.

### What pushed up UK inflation in September 2026?

Transport, particularly motor fuels, made the largest upward contribution, according to the ONS.

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