UK consumer inflation has reached its highest level since 1997, on the back of soaring food and energy prices, official figures show.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) hit 3.3 per cent on an annual basis in May, up from 3 per cent in April.

The 0.3 per cent jump means that the governor of the Bank of England, Mervyn King, must now write to Chancellor Alistair Darling to explain what the Bank is doing to control rising prices.

The Bank's remit requires the governor to write an explanatory letter to the government if inflation ever exceeds the central bank's 2 per cent target by more than one percentage point.

In his letter, Mr King is expected to blame surging global food and energy costs for the sharp spike in inflation.

Retail Prices Index inflation, which includes mortgage interest payments, hit 4.3 per cent in May, up from 4.2 per cent in the previous month.

According to the ONS, the largest contributor to consumer inflation was the surging cost of food and non-alcoholic drinks, particularly meat and vegetables.

Rising gas and electricity bills were also significant factors, along with the increasing cost of books, newspapers, stationery and foreign holidays.

Looking ahead, the Bank of England believes the CPI could rise to about 4 per cent later in the year.

The article UK consumer inflation hits 3.3% originally appeared on 999 Today