This increase was mainly driven by soaring air fares - which jumped by 30.2% - driven by higher school holiday prices - here's why. Meanwhile, food price inflation rose to 4.9% driven by higher prices for goods including beef, instant coffee and orange juice.

Ben Plowden, chief executive of lobby group Campaign for Better Transport, said: “Today’s inflation figure could mean a big fare rise for rail passengers next year, especially if the Government decides to go with an above-inflation increase like we saw this year.

British inflation hit its highest in 18 months in July when it increased to 3.8% from 3.6%, official data showed on Wednesday, once again leaving the country with the fastest rate of price increases among the world's largest rich economies.

The pace of inflation in Canada cooled last month, offering some hope the central bank will resume lowering interest rates to help revive a sluggish economy being held down by trade uncertainty.

Canadian consumer prices moderated slightly and underlying pressures broadly eased. The consumer price index rose 1.7% from a year ago in July, down from June’s 1.9% increase, S