UK CPI annual rate: clothing and footwear
UK CPI annual rate: clothing and footwear stood at 0.2% 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 1989 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPI annual rate by division | |||||||||||
| Clothing and footwear | 0.2 | 0.5 | -0.5 | 0.2 | 0.7 | -0.8 | 0.9 | 0 | 0 | -0.6 | |
| Housing, water, electricity and fuels | 4.9 | 4.6 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 5.3 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.9 | 5.1 |
Understanding UK CPI annual rate: clothing and footwear
Garments, footwear items, and associated repair services purchased by households across the United Kingdom constitute the basket tracked by this twelve-month price growth metric. The division captures regular high-street transactions for men's, women's, and children's apparel alongside shoes, trainers, and specialised sporting footwear, while completely omitting second-hand clothing sales between private individuals and rental arrangements for formal attire. Unlike broader aggregate inflation measures that average all household purchases, this specific series isolates style-driven retail markets characterised by frequent seasonal discounting, regular stock clearances, and rapid model cycles.
Interpreting this twelve-month comparison requires accounting for synchronized promotional events like end-of-season sales, which can temporarily depress figures before normal pricing resumes in subsequent months. Analysts must recognise that basket weights adjust annually to reflect shifts in consumer habits, meaning compositional changes can influence the reported percentage alongside genuine price movements. Comparing these figures directly against energy or food inflation can mislead observers, given that apparel markets respond to global supply chains and fashion trends rather than utility tariffs or commodity harvests.
Frequently asked questions
- Why does this series fluctuate heavily during certain months of the year?
- High-street retailers frequently run synchronized discounting events and seasonal clearances that introduce predictable intra-year volatility into the collected price quotes.
- Does this metric include the cost of dry cleaning and garment repairs?
- Yes, standard tailoring, dry cleaning, and shoe repair services purchased by households are incorporated alongside physical items.
- How often are the specific garments tracked in this basket updated?
- Basket composition undergoes annual review to ensure representative styles, fabrics, and retail channels match contemporary consumer purchasing habits.