The bigger than expected inflation rate rise in November – up from 1.7 per cent to 2.3 per cent – has killed hopes of a Bank of England cut in the base rate in December, according to finance experts.

The hike marks a sharp increase from the 1.7% rise recorded in September and exceeds the 2.2% forecast of economists polled by Reuters.

Inflation shows how the price of goods and services has changed over time, with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) being the primary measure