LIVE BUSINESS: Inflation jumps to 2.3%; Dunelm buys Home Focus; Royal Mail takeover ‘to be approved’

Consumer price inflation accelerated to its highest level since April last month, new data from the Office for National Statistics shows.

The Consumer Price Index rose to 2.3 percent in October from 1.7 percent in September, higher than the 2.2 percent expected by analysts and marking the largest month-on-month increase in more than two years.

The FTSE 100 will open at 8am Companies with reports and trading updates today include Dunelm, Sage, Crest Nicholson, Severn Trent and Hornby. Read the Business Live blog from Wednesday 20 November below.

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