Higher tobacco prices and airfares have pushed the UK inflation rate to 3.4% in the year to December, according to official figures.
The increase in average prices across the UK economy - the first in five months - was just above expectations, with many economists predicting only a slight uptick to 3.3%.
The cost of airfares was a contributor "likely because of the timing of return flights over the Christmas and New Year period", the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. It also reflected an increase in tobacco duty introduced in late November.
It is the last set of monthly inflation figures released before the Bank of England's decision on interest rates in February.
In addition to tobacco and transport prices, "rising food costs, particularly for bread and cereals, were also an upward driver," said ONS chief economist Grant Fitzner.
