Inflation rose slightly in March to 3.5% driven by food and clothing.

The Office for National Statistics reported a rise in the Consumer Prices Index to 3.5%, up from 3.4% in February.

The figure ends a five-month run of declines from a peak of 5.2% in September 2011.

The Retail Prices Index slipped to 3.6% in March from 3.7% in February.

Food prices fell less on the month in March than they did a year ago, driving up the annual rate to 4.6%, which was the highest since October 2011.

Annual clothing inflation also rose to its highest point since last October, from 2.2% to 3.2%.

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