UK consumer price inflation rose from the previous month, driven largely by higher energy costs, petrol and diesel prices and increased airfares. The figure was in line with economists' expectations and comes ahead of the Bank of England's monetary policy decision.
Despite the rise in headline inflation, underlying measures provided some relief for policymakers. Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy components, remained at 2.6% for a fourth consecutive month, while services inflation held at 3.4%.
The figures suggest that the recent acceleration in consumer prices has been driven substantially by energy-related pressures rather than a broad-based acceleration in underlying inflation.
However, producer price data indicated continuing cost pressures within the British economy. Factory output prices rose 3.7% annually in August, while input prices increased 6.1%, adding to concerns over future production costs.
In China, central bank governor Pan Gongsheng said slower but higher-quality loan growth was likely to become a new normal as the country's economic structure changes.
Demand for credit from the property sector and local government financing vehicles has weakened, while newer industries have not fully replaced traditional borrowers.
China's outstanding loans exceed 280 trillion yuan, but the central bank is increasingly placing less emphasis on bank lending as the sole measure of financial conditions. Bond and equity financing have become increasingly important sources of funding.
The shift reflects broader changes in the Chinese economy, particularly the expansion of high-technology manufacturing and green industries, which rely more heavily on intellectual property, data and equity financing than traditional property-led sectors.
For policymakers, the developments highlight different challenges. Britain is managing renewed price pressures while seeking to maintain economic stability, whereas China is attempting to prevent excessive leverage as its economy moves away from credit-intensive growth.
The developments also have implications for global investors. UK inflation will influence expectations for interest rates and sterling, while China's changing financing structure could affect investment, property activity and the pace of economic expansion.
Together, the developments underline the increasingly divergent economic conditions facing major economies as policymakers respond to inflation, debt, energy prices and structural changes in investment.
