Furniture deflation was at its shallowest since September 2016
Consumers enjoyed keener prices as furniture deflation narrowed to its shallowest level in nearly two years last month.

Furniture prices fell 1.2 percent in the year to July, having been flat in the year to June 2018.

It is the lowest level of consumer price inflation for furniture since September 2016, when prices were 3.0 percent lower year-on-year.

Carpets and other floorcoverings also entered negative year-over-year territory, falling 0.4 percent in the year to July, having risen 0.5 percent in the year to June.

Overall CPI increased 10 basis points to 2.5 percent according to the Office for National Statistics, which also yesterday released retail sales figures.

It reported total retail sales to have advanced 5.1 percent, excluding fuel, to £29.15 billion, claiming year-on-year furniture sales to have been flat.