UK inflation drops to 2.2 pct in September, lowest annual rate in nearly 3 years

LONDON – Inflation in Britain has fallen to 2.2 percent in September, its lowest annual rate in nearly three years.

The Office for National Statistics said Tuesday that housing and household services costs were largely behind the decrease from August's 2.5 percent rate, as higher utility prices imposed in 2011 dropped out of the calculation.

September's rate was the lowest since the 1.9 percent recorded in November 2009 and put the rate close to the official target of around 2 percent a year.

Inflation peaked at 5.2 percent in September last year.