Sterling surges broadly after stronger than expected consumer inflation reading. Headline CPI jumped to 2.7% yoy, up from 2.5% yoy and beat expectation of 2.4% yoy. Core CPI also accelerated to 2.1% yoy, up from 1.9% yoy and beat expectation of 1.8% yoy. The headline inflation reading is notably higher than BoE’s own projection of 2.5% as projected in the latest inflation report. That could prompt policy rethink among BoE MPC members. And inflation hawks likes Michael Saunders now have some reasons to strike back. Full release of CPI here.
Also released, RPI jumped to 3.5% yoy, up from 3.2% yoy and beat expectation of 3.4% yoy. PPI input slowed to 8.7% yoy, down from 10.3% yoy. PPI output slowed to 2.9% yoy, down from 3.1% yoy. PPI output core slowed to 2.1% yoy, down from 2.3% yoy. Also from UK, house price index accelerated to 3.1% yoy in July, above expectation of 2.9% yoy.