The annual rate of inflation rose by 1.1%last month.

Inflation as measured by the Consumer Prices Index increased to 3.5% in October.

Figures released by the Cabinet Office indicate that the rise was partly driven by a hefty 23% rise in the cost of oil over the past year, impacting on both transport and household costs. As a result, the cost of heating oil rose by 25.4% and petrol by 9.5%.

Housing costs have also been adversely affected by increases in public and private sector rents as well as a 7.1% increase in the cost of water, gas, electricity and other fuels.

The cost of some groceries fell during the year, with good news for tea drinkers, tea is down 10.4%, egg lovers (down 4.2%) and a decrease of 3.7% in the cost of painkillers is some consolation for those who can see little else to celebrate.

Children’s outerwear was down 6.4% and household electrical appliances were down 8.1%.

The cost of education saw an 11% increase with rises in private education fees and the cost of pre-school care.

Inflation as measured by the retail prices index measured 5.2%.