Britain's annual inflation rate remained stable at 2.8% for the second consecutive month in May, according to data from the Office for National Statistics published Wednesday.
Analysts expected a 3% rate for the month.
On a monthly basis, consumer prices were 0.2% higher, against the 0.7% uptick in April and the market forecast of 0.4% growth.
Meanwhile, the UK's annual core inflation rate was 2.6%, compared with the prior 2.5% and expected 2.7%. Month over month, core consumer prices gained 0.3%, against the previous reading of a 0.7% rise and the consensus estimate of a 0.4% increase.