CPI inflation dropped to 3% in April against 3.5% in March, hitting the lowest level since February 2010, as the timing of Easter had a “significant impact” on the data.

RPI fell to 3.5% from 3.6% in March.

For CPI alcohol and clothing were also key in pushing inflation down.

Tobacco and alcohol prices rose just 2.9% compared with the previous year’s record increase of 5.3% as retailers discounted across vodka and beer in particular .

Clothing and footwear prices increased 0.2% against the previous year’s 1.3% increase, as women’s outerwear caused the biggest downwards effect.

Smaller fare increases across air and sea transport in comparison to the previous year were another big factor in pushing inflation lower. Due to the later scheduling of the Easter bank holiday fares only rose 7.4% in April compared to a 22.3% surge last year.