Inflation hit 2.5 per cent last month, according to the latest figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS).
The CPI, which is the government's preferred measure of inflation, was pushed up by higher food and fuel bills and the implementation of a new methodology.
The ONS said on the old measure, inflation would have been constant at 2.2 per cent.
Nonetheless, inflation remains above the Bank of England's target of two per cent, which could threaten any further cuts in interest rates.
The bank's rate-setting monetary policy committee (MPC) meets next month and was expected to cut the base rate to ease the woes of borrowers gripped by the credit crunch.
However, the MPC needs to strike a balance between the slowing economy and inflationary pressure.
The RPI, which includes mortgage payments in its measure of inflation, was 4.1 per cent last month, showing no change since January.
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