Energy Bill Spike Pushes UK Inflation to Four-Month High

UK inflation accelerated in July to its highest level since March, driven by rising energy bills. Consumer prices rose 2.9% from a year earlier, up from 2.6% in June, according to data released by the Office for National Statistics on Wednesday.

The increase was in line with economists' forecasts, who had predicted a rise to 2.8%. Energy bills have been a major contributor to inflation, and this latest jump is likely to put more pressure on British households already struggling with high living costs.

The Office for National Statistics did not provide further details on the impact of energy bills on inflation, but experts say it's a key factor in the rising cost of living. The Bank of England had forecasted a pickup in inflation to 2.8%, and this latest data suggests they may have underestimated the impact of energy prices.