Inflation in the UK remained flat at 3% in the 12 months to February, unchanged from January, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed.

Month-on-month, consumer price index (CPI) inflation increased by 0.4%, which is the same rate as in February 2025.

The ONS reported that clothing made the largest upward contribution to the monthly change in CPI inflation, while motor fuels made the largest downward contribution.

Chartered financial planner at Rathbones, Charlotte Kennedy, said that the latest data may already be out of date following the increase in energy prices due to the conflict in the Middle East.

She concluded: "The latest reading shows that slower rises in petrol and diesel prices had been helping to keep inflation in check. But that trend has now gone into reverse. Rising tensions in the Middle East are driving up oil prices, and that’s beginning to feed through to forecourts. If sustained, the impact won’t stop there.

"Oil is a key input across the economy, so higher prices could ripple through supply chains - pushing up the cost of producing and transporting goods, including everyday essentials like food.

"It’s also important to remember that when inflation holds steady, it doesn’t mean prices aren’t rising, it simply means they’re increasing at the same rate as before. And with inflation expected to tick up in the near term, while interest rate cuts remain on hold, households may need to stay on the front foot. That could mean revisiting budgets, prioritising essential spending, and checking that savings plans remain resilient in the face of persistent cost pressures."

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