New Delhi, June 17 -- The United Kingdom's inflation rate remained unchanged at 2.8% in May, delivering an unexpected boost to policymakers and households as economists had widely anticipated a fresh rise in price pressures. The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics showed that higher transport and fuel costs were largely offset by easing food inflation, helping consumer prices hold steady despite global geopolitical tensions and elevated energy market uncertainty.

The inflation reading comes at a crucial moment for the Bank of England, which is preparing to announce its latest monetary policy decision. Financial markets had expected inflation to climb to around 3%, driven by rising petrol prices and concerns over energy...