The figure remains close to a four-decade high but the fact it has fallen slightly from October’s 41-year peak of 11.1% will fuel the hope that inflation has peaked.
If that is the case, there may be relief in the Treasury, currently locked in a war of attrition with public sector unions, but it will take some time before consumers start to feel any benefit.
Neither is it likely to deter the Bank of England from imposing a further 0.5 percentage point increase to Bank rate when its decision is announced on Thursday.
