Official measure
The Office for National Statistics CPI measures price changes across a representative basket of goods and services bought by UK households. Its harmonised methodology supports international comparisons.
Read the official methodologyInflation by region
UK inflation in July 2026: prices up 2.9% year over year
Use the latest official UK reading to test what an income goal needs in GBP to preserve buying power.
ONS Consumer Prices Index for July 2026: 2.9% year over year. Published August 19, 2026. Use this as a starting assumption for purchasing-power planning, then adjust it for your own decision.
July 2026 CPI, all-items
2.9%
year over year
- Region
- UK
- Currency
- GBP
Read the number correctly
What this regional reading covers.
Release rhythm
ONS normally publishes UK consumer-price data on the second or third Wednesday of the month following the reference month, with dates set in its release calendar.
Planning context
UK CPI is the measure used here for an internationally comparable headline rate. ONS also publishes CPIH, its broader lead measure including owner-occupiers' housing costs.
Buying power
What the same goal needs today.
At a constant 2.9% annual rate, these are equivalent GBP income goals after 1, 3, and 5 years.
Swipe or scroll horizontally to compare every year.
| Goal set … | 1 year ago | 3 years ago | 5 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| £75,000 | £77,175 | £81,716 | £86,524 |
| £100,000 | £102,900 | £108,955 | £115,366 |
| £150,000 | £154,350 | £163,432 | £173,049 |
Compounding uses the latest year-over-year rate as a constant assumption. Actual inflation changes over time, so these are planning estimates, not predictions.
Next step
Use the rate.
Inflation calculator
Inflation-adjusted income goal calculator
Calculate how much your income goal needs to rise to keep the same buying power after inflation, then track the goal in Goal Cue.
Open at 2.9% inflation
Raise calculator
Salary inflation calculator
Check whether a raise beats inflation, how much salary is needed to keep buying power, and what that means for your yearly income goal.
Open at 2.9% inflation
Freelance pace
Freelance income goal calculator
Calculate where freelance, creator, contractor, or 1099 income should be by now and what weekly pace is needed to hit the annual goal.
Open calculator
Cost of living
Cost of living income calculator
See the income you'd need in a more or less expensive place to keep your current lifestyle — and whether a job offer there measures up.
Open calculator
Need context? Read inflation-adjusted income goals or raise vs inflation.
What is the latest United Kingdom inflation rate?
ONS Consumer Prices Index reported 2.9% year-over-year inflation for July 2026. The official release was published on August 19, 2026.
Which inflation measure does this United Kingdom page use?
The Office for National Statistics CPI measures price changes across a representative basket of goods and services bought by UK households. Its harmonised methodology supports international comparisons.
Is this inflation rate a forecast?
No. It is the latest published official CPI, all-items reading. The worked examples hold 2.9% constant to illustrate purchasing power; they are planning estimates, not a prediction of future inflation.
Keep the adjusted goal on pace.
Goal Cue turns the target into expected progress, actual earnings, and what to earn next.
Download Goal Cue