ONS said May CPI rose 2.8% YoY, unchanged from April and below economists' 3.0%
forecast. Food and non‑alcoholic beverages weighed on the headline, while
services inflation — the domestic price‑pressure gauge — rose to 3.7%, above
expectations. The data indicate inflationary pressures were smaller than
expected even before a US deal to end the Iran conflict pushed energy costs
sharply lower. The prints appear to reinforce a wait‑and‑see leaning among some
Bank of England policymakers ahead of tomorrow's rate decision.