[nomadking]

Originally Posted by Taf

Not a surprise at all, it's the month HMG uses to set any increases in Benefits next April AFAIK.

If indeed there will be any increases at all.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-37986365

If there were any hidden increases, those increases would appear anyway in next years figures.

Hardly big differences involved.

The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) slipped to 0.9%, from 1% in September, the Office for National Statistics said.
That was below the 1.1% predicted by economists, who said sterling's fall would push October's CPI higher.

Any increase in production costs wouldn't appear immediately in prices. There are contracts and price lists in place that have to be amended. That takes time. If may jump next month, but as I said that jump will appear in the next benefits change. They have to pick a fixed point each year. It is not about picking the "best" month.