# UK CPI inflation falls to 2.1% in April

> Rates & inflation · 21 May 2026

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## Summary

Headline inflation edged closer to the Bank of England's 2% target, with goods prices broadly flat and services inflation easing.

The Office for National Statistics reported that the Consumer Prices Index rose 2.1% in the 12 months to April 2026, down from 2.4% in March and the lowest reading since mid-2024.

The biggest downward contributions came from motor fuels, second-hand cars and household goods, while restaurants, hotels and personal services continued to push the index higher.

For savers, the practical impact is that a typical easy-access account paying around 4% is now delivering a real return of nearly 2 percentage points — the strongest sustained position for cash since 2015. For borrowers on tracker deals, lower inflation strengthens the case for further base-rate cuts later in the year.

CPIH, which includes owner-occupier housing costs, came in at 2.7% — closer to many households' lived experience of bills and rent.

## Related topics

- [/savings/](https://moneyguide.org.uk/savings/)
- [/mortgages/](https://moneyguide.org.uk/mortgages/)

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Independent UK money guidance from [Money Guide](https://moneyguide.org.uk). Information only — not regulated financial advice.