Inflation fell more than expected and for the second month in a row, official figures show.

The consumer price index (CPI) measure of inflation fell to 2.6% in March, down from 2.8% in February and 3% in January, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) data.

It means prices are rising at the slowest pace since December and closest to the Bank of England’s 2% target.

The drop is expected to be short-lived as a raft of bill rises kicked in at the start of April.

Inflation falls are not expected to last, though, as energy, water, and council tax bills rose throughout the UK at the start of this month.

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