Following the news that inflation was up by 1.6%, which is the highest rate it has been since July 2014, according to figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), there has been a rise in the price of homeware. This has seen prices for items in the furnishing department rise, such as a 2.4% raise in furniture and carpet prices during December as well as annual rates growing by 4.2% and overall prices rising by 0.9% between November and December. The price of items such as leather settees and the like continue to rise, also due in part to the higher cost of air fares and motor fuels which help raise the price.