# UK inflation hits 3.1% as fuel prices surge

> Rising gasoline and diesel costs push Britain's inflation rate above 3% for the first time since March.
- Title: UK inflation hits 3.1% as fuel prices surge · CNBC | Shortify
- Summary: Rising gasoline and diesel costs push Britain's inflation rate above 3% for the first time since March. UK inflation jumped to 3.1% in August, driven…
- Keywords: inflation, energy costs, gasoline prices, diesel, office for national statistics, ons, fuel prices, august 2026, price cap, business, finance, hits
- Source: CNBC — https://cnbc.com/2026/09/16/uk-august-inflation-energy-gasoline.html
- Author: Chloe Taylor
- Published: 2026-09-16T06:06:05+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: uk, inflation, energy costs, gasoline prices, diesel, office for national statistics, ons, fuel prices, august 2026, price cap, business, finance
## UK inflation hits 3.1%
Britain's annual inflation rate jumped to 3.1% in August, marking the first reading above 3% since March. The increase matched what economists expected.
## Motor fuel drives the spike
The Office for National Statistics said rising gasoline and diesel costs were largely responsible for pushing inflation higher.
## Gasoline up 9 pence per liter
Average gasoline prices rose by 9.1 pence per liter between July and August, reaching their highest level since November 2022.
## Diesel jumps even more
Diesel prices climbed by 14.2 pence per liter in August, a sharper increase than gasoline.
## Energy cap hike in July
Inflation had already risen to 2.9% in July when the government revised its regulated energy price cap sharply upward.
## Key takeaway

UK inflation jumped to 3.1% in August, driven primarily by sharp increases in gasoline and diesel prices at the pump.