Food, Clothing Lead Rising British Inflation

LONDON (AP) — Britain's stubbornly high consumer inflation rate rose to 3.3 percent in November from 3.2 percent the month before, driven by a surge in food and clothing costs.

The Office for National Statistics said Tuesday that prices for food were up 1.6 percent and clothing by 2 percent.

The consumer inflation rate is well above the government's inflation target of 2 percent, plus or minus one percent. It has been above 2 percent for more than a year.

The broad-based retail price index was up by 4.7 percent in November from 4.5 percent in October.

Retail prices excluding mortgage interest payments were also up 4.7 percent, from 4.6 percent in October.