UK Inflation Hits Decade High, Pressuring Bank of England

A woman wears a face mask while walking crossing a road outside the Bank of England, in the financial district, known as The City, in London, on Dec. 13, 2021. Alberto Pezzali/AP Photo

LONDON—Consumer prices in the United Kingdom are rising at their highest rate in over a decade as a result of soaring energy costs and blockages in the supply chain, official figures showed Wednesday, a day before a highly anticipated interest rate decision from the Bank of England.

The Office for National Statistics found that inflation rose by 5.1 percent in the year to November, up dramatically from October’s 4.2 percent with widespread surging prices across a raft of goods and services, including for fuel, energy, cars, clothing, and food.