UK inflation hits highest rate in 3 years

LONDON — Official data show that U.K. inflation has risen to 5.2 percent, a bigger than expected increase driven by rising costs for electricity and gas and the highest rate in three years.

The consumer price inflation rate announced Tuesday by the Office for National Statistics was a big jump from the 4.5 percent reported a month earlier and beat the market consensus of 4.9 percent.

Inflation last hit 5.2 percent in September 2008.

The Bank of England has forecast that inflation would peak above 5 percent before reversing toward the official target of 2 percent.