UK inflation jumps to 3.1% as energy costs soar

The U.K.'s annual inflation rate jumped to 3.1% in August, pushed up by surging gasoline and diesel prices. The print, which was in line with economists' expectations, marked the first inflation reading above 3% since March. The country's Office for National Statistics said that the spike was largely driven by rising motor fuel costs. The average price of gasoline rose by 9.1 pence ($0.12) per liter between July and August, the ONS said, putting average prices at their highest since Nov. 2022. Meanwhile, average diesel prices rose by 14.2 pence per liter in August. Inflation rose to 2.9% in July, as a government-regulated price cap on energy costs was revised sharply upward.