UK CPI annual rate: recreation and culture
UK CPI annual rate: recreation and culture stood at 1.6% 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 | |||||||||||
| Recreation and culture | 1.6 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 2.8 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 2.9 | |
| Education | 5.1 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 7.6 | 7.6 |
Understanding UK CPI annual rate: recreation and culture
Outlays on audiovisual equipment, computer hardware, photographic goods, musical instruments, recreational services, pets, garden plants, books, and package holidays across the United Kingdom constitute this broad division. The tracking covers leisure spending, sporting activities, cultural admissions, and hobby goods purchased throughout the United Kingdom, while omitting educational tuition fees and restaurant catering services. Gambling stakes and financial lottery expenditures are treated according to specific national accounting conventions.
Reading this indicator requires accounting for extreme seasonal spikes associated with school holiday periods, airline booking cycles, and pre-Christmas retail discounting. Month-on-month volatility can be pronounced, meaning the twelve-month annual rate is necessary to smooth out recurring holiday-driven price surges. Analysts evaluating this category must recognise its diverse composition, spanning rapidly deflating technology goods alongside strongly inflating leisure and tourism services across the United Kingdom.
Frequently asked questions
- How do school holidays affect this index?
- Peak holiday periods drive sharp monthly increases in package tours, flights, and recreational admissions.
- Are personal computers included in recreational goods?
- Yes, personal computing equipment and home electronics are grouped within this division.
- Does this category cover sports club memberships?
- Yes, recreational and sporting service fees are fully integrated into the leisure basket.