UK CPIH index: package holidays
UK CPIH index: package holidays stood at 159.3 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 1993 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 | |||||||||||
| Package holidays | 159.3 | 159.4 | 159.1 | 158.8 | 158.5 | 160.6 | 160.3 | 160 | 159.9 | 159.5 | |
| Catering | 156.3 | 155.6 | 155.3 | 154.6 | 154.2 | 153.4 | 152.8 | 151.3 | 151.7 | 151.2 |
Understanding UK CPIH index: package holidays
Quantifying retail price variations for organised holiday tours and vacation packages throughout the United Kingdom, this measure follows all-inclusive travel packages covering transport, accommodation, and catered arrangements. It separates bundled holiday products from independent bookings of flights or hotels made separately. The index operates within the national consumer inflation architecture incorporating owner occupiers' housing costs.
Seasonality is extreme in this series, with package holiday prices experiencing massive spikes during school summer holidays and holiday weekends, followed by sharp drops in off-peak months. Analysts must rely exclusively on twelve-month percentage changes to compare equivalent holiday periods and avoid severe distortion from seasonal pricing structures. Revisions to early estimates can occur if late-booking discount data or revised tour operator pricing schedules are incorporated. When comparing package holidays with individual transport and hotel bookings, observe that tour operators bundle services in ways that obscure individual component price movements.
Frequently asked questions
- What defines a package holiday in this index?
- An all-inclusive trip combining transport, accommodation, and other services sold at a single inclusive price.
- Why do package holiday prices fluctuate so sharply?
- Demand concentrates heavily during school holiday periods, driving steep seasonal pricing variations.
- Can monthly percentage changes be used to track this series?
- Monthly comparisons are highly misleading due to extreme seasonal swings; annual views are essential.