Consumer price inflation rose for the first time in 10 months in December, jumping from 3.9 to 4 per cent, fresh data from the Office for National Statistics shows. The rise was a shock against forecasts the rate would ease to 3.8 per cent and will give the Bank of England pause for thought as it considers interest rate cuts this year.
The FTSE 100 closed down 112.05 points at 7446.29. Among the companies with reports and trading updates today are BP, GSK, Haleon, 888, Mulberry, Pearson and Wizz Air. Read the Wednesday 17 January Business Live blog below.
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