Inflation fell sharply last month after a change in food prices affected figures, data showed today.
Underlying inflation fell from the 2.3% recorded in April to just 1.8% in May, figures from the Office for National Statistics showed.
The figure is the lowest since ONS started monitoring the series in 1975, although these lows were hit in January 2001 and November 2001. It is the sharpest month on month fall since October 1993.
The data is also lower than the 2.0% economists were predicting.
In addition, the ONS figures showed headline inflation - which includes mortgage interest payments - fell to 1.1%, from 1.5% in April, and again below economists' forecasts of 1.3%.
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