LONDON: UK inflation slowed to its lowest level in more than a year in June, helped by cheaper motor fuel, food and clothing, offering temporary relief to households before higher energy costs are expected to push prices up again.Consumer prices rose 2.6% in the 12 months to June, down from 2.8% in May and the lowest annual rate since March 2025, the Office for National Statistics said Wednesday. The reading was below economists' median forecast of 2.7% and marked the third straight month inflation undershot expectations.Petrol and diesel prices fell 3.1% during the month after crude oil declined amid hopes of a de-escalation in the US-Iran conflict. Food inflation eased to its lowest level since 2024, while heavy discounts on clothing also helped moderate price pressures. Services inflation, a key gauge of domestic price pressures closely watched by the Bank of England (BOE), slowed to 3.6% from 3.7%, although it remained slightly above forecasts.The respite may prove short-lived. Yael Selfin, chief economist at KPMG UK, said June was "likely to mark the low point for inflation this year, with higher energy bills set to complicate the short-term outlook."Also Read: Trump approves nuclear agreement that may allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uraniumEconomists expect inflation to edge higher in July after Britain's household energy price cap rose 13%. Renewed hostilities between the US and Iran have also pushed crude oil back above $90 a barrel, while gas prices have climbed sharply in recent weeks.Also Read: US will destroy ‘one bridge or power plant’ for every attack on ships in Strait of Hormuz, warns TrumpContaining living costs remains a priority for the Labour government. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged to give families "breathing space" and announced that value-added tax on household electricity bills will be scrapped from October, a move the government estimates will lower inflation by about 0.1 percentage point.