The Office for National Statistics said the 0.1 percentage point drop, in line with economists’ expectations, was prompted by falls in the price of fuel and food & non-alcoholic drinks.

The fall brings CPI inflation back to a low seen in May but previously not reached since 2009. Price growth has now been below the Bank of England’s 2% target for the past eight months, the longest such run in a decade.

CPIH and RPI were both unchanged on the month at 1.5% and 1.8%, respectively.

With wage inflation also subdued, the statistics put little pressure on the Bank of England to raise rates in the coming months.

Tomorrow’s MPC minutes will reveal whether the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee is still split over the timing of a rate hike. Two members of the MPC voted for a hike in rates in August, with the remaining seven in favour of keeping rates on hold.