UK inflation eased to 2.6 percent in June as diesel and petrol pulled it down

2.6 percent. That is the annual rate of UK consumer price inflation in June, down from 2.8 percent in May, according to figures the Office for National Statistics released on July 22. Core CPI, which strips out energy, food, alcohol and tobacco, held at 2.6 percent. The wider CPIH measure ran at 2.8 percent.

The fall came from the pump. The largest downward pull on the transport category was motor fuels, and diesel above all: diesel prices fell 10.7 pence a litre between May and June, petrol 2.1 pence. Transport inflation slowed to 5.7 percent from 6.8 percent. Little else moved much.

The Bank of England sets its next base rate on July 30. A headline rate dragged down by fuel, while the core rate stands at 2.6 percent, points to price easing concentrated in energy rather than across the wider basket. That is the split the committee will read.