The rising cost of imported fruit and vegetables, among other goods, is responsible for pushing the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) up to 3.2 per cent for February, from three per cent in January.
The measure of inflation had in fact been expected to fall sharply, according to financial analysts.
The CPI is used to set interest rates by the Bank of England, whose head, Mervyn King, has been obliged to write to the government to explain why inflation is more than one percentage point above its two per cent target.
The weakness of sterling has contributed to inflationary pressures, the BBC reported, pushing up the price of imported goods for UK shoppers. This is not set to abate in the coming months.
Fruit and vegetables are not the only culprits - mineral water and meat imported from abroad, along with games, toys, hobbies, petrol and diesel, are also highlighted by the CPI.
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