UK inflation rate falls to 2%

The UK's inflation rate, as measured by the Consumer Prices Index, fell to 2% in December, down from 2.1% the month before.

It is the first time inflation has been at the government-set target of 2% since November 2009.

The Office for National Statistics said the fall was caused by slower increases in the prices of food.

Inflation as measured by the Retail Prices Index (RPI) rose to 2.7% from 2.6% in November.

The ONS said the rise in prices of both food and non-alcoholic drinks was the smallest it had been since 2006.

The drop was also helped by a slower rate of increase in prices of recreational goods, such as games and toys.

Economists said the fall would ease pressure on the Bank of England to raise interest rates following the recent recovery in the economy.

Jeremy Cook, chief economist at currency exchange specialists, World First, said: "The lack of inflation will help stay their hand especially if the pace of job creation seen in the second half of last year also slows."

Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit, said he now expected inflation to stay close to its 2% target for "some time to come".

"The easing in price pressures is a welcome relief to policy makers at the Bank of England and helps keep the spectre of higher interest rates at bay," he added.

Bank of England governor Mark Carney has indicated that the Bank will not raise interest rates until the unemployment rate, currently at 7.4%, falls below 7%.