UK CPIH index: catering
UK CPIH index: catering stood at 156.3 in Aug 2026, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS). It is one of the indicators in the Consumer price inflation table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Jan 1988 to Aug 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Consumer price inflation table
| Indicator | 08-2026 | 07-2026 | 06-2026 | 05-2026 | 04-2026 | 03-2026 | 02-2026 | 01-2026 | 12-2025 | 11-2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPIH index by group | |||||||||||
| Catering | 156.3 | 155.6 | 155.3 | 154.6 | 154.2 | 153.4 | 152.8 | 151.3 | 151.7 | 151.2 | |
| Accommodation services | 159.9 | 164 | 164.9 | 160.1 | 157.6 | 153.4 | 150.9 | 149.2 | 153.3 | 153.7 |
Understanding UK CPIH index: catering
Measuring the cost trajectory of prepared meals, snacks, and beverages purchased for immediate consumption in restaurants, cafes, pubs, canteens, and fast-food outlets throughout the United Kingdom, this category focuses on the hospitality dining sector. Unlike food indices covering raw supermarket ingredients purchased for home preparation, this series incorporates the labour, service, premises, and preparation overheads embedded in eating out. Accommodation services, ticketed entertainment events, and packaged holiday tours remain categorised under alternative headings.
Interpreting this series necessitates recognising strong hospitality sector sensitivity to minimum wage adjustments, utility price shifts, and seasonal tourism demand peaks. Early estimates may undergo revision when venues submit updated menu pricing outside standard collection windows or alter service charges. Analysts find twelve-month comparisons more reliable than month-on-month movements, which can be skewed by holiday dining spikes, promotional discounting periods, or sudden changes in hospitality taxation rates.
Frequently asked questions
- Does this index include food bought from supermarkets and grocery stores?
- Groceries intended for home preparation are tracked in a separate food and non-alcoholic beverages group, distinct from prepared dining out.
- How do labour costs influence this specific price measure?
- Changes in statutory wage rates have an immediate bearing on catering pricing due to the labour-intensive nature of the hospitality sector.
- Why are annual rates recommended over short-term movements?
- Annual figures filter out seasonal holiday spikes and temporary promotional discounting that routinely affect monthly hospitality pricing.