UK Inflation Figures: What September’s CPI Data Means

The Office for National Statistics is scheduled to publish September 2026 UK inflation figures at 07:00 UK time on 19 October. Households, borrowers and businesses can use the release to see how consumer prices changed, then check the Bank of England’s latest policy information for context on interest rates. The publication is confirmed; the figures and their direction are not provided in the available source evidence.

What the September release will show

The ONS consumer price inflation bulletin reports the change in prices measured by the Consumer Prices Index (CPI). Its tables are the place to check the September result, including the annual rate and monthly change, and to compare them with the previous release. For background on a recent UK CPI release, see ONS June CPI.

Core CPI is another measure in the bulletin. It excludes certain items that can be more volatile, helping readers examine price movements without those components. CPI and core CPI therefore describe related but different baskets; neither is a direct measure of every household’s personal costs.

The release page confirms the publication time, but the evidence available does not include the September table values or the previous release’s figures. No rate, rise or fall can be responsibly stated without checking those published tables.

How to compare the figures with August

When the bulletin is available, compare like with like in the ONS tables. Check the annual CPI rate against the previous month’s annual rate, then look separately at the monthly change. Repeat that comparison for core CPI if you want to see whether the underlying measure moved in the same direction.

An annual rate describes how prices compare with the same month a year earlier. A monthly change compares one month with the month before. These figures answer different questions, so a change in one should not be described as the same change in the other.

What inflation can and cannot tell households

Inflation measures the pace of price changes across a defined consumer basket. It does not mean every price has risen by the same amount, and it does not show exactly how much an individual household’s bills have changed. Spending patterns, suppliers and contracts all affect what people pay.

A single CPI release also does not set mortgage rates or guarantee a change to household bills. The Bank of England considers inflation alongside other economic information when making policy decisions. Mortgage costs can also depend on a borrower’s deal, lender and whether the rate is fixed or variable.

For a practical reading, note the CPI and core CPI figures, their monthly and annual comparisons, and any details in the bulletin about the pattern across price categories. Then consult the Bank of England’s latest policy information before drawing conclusions about the next rate decision.

Check the published tables and Bank of England policy page

The next useful check is the ONS September bulletin and its data tables, published on 19 October 2026 at 07:00 UK time. Those tables will establish the actual figures and comparison with the previous release. The Bank of England’s latest policy information is the relevant place to check for any subsequent decision or guidance; the inflation release alone does not determine one.

Source: Office for National Statistics