The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) measure of inflation rose to 4.5% last month, the Office of National Statistics (ONS) said, up from 4.4% the previous month.
Meanwhile the Retail Price Index (RPI) – which includes house prices – rose to 5.2% from 5% the month before.
The Bank of England’s target rate for CPI is 2% and it expects inflation to return to target in the next two years.
The move higher is expected to be repeated in the coming months as energy price rises continue to feed through.
Jonathan Samuels, chief executive of Dragonfly Property Finance, said: “Inflation edges up again but, such is the fragility of the economy, that an interest rate rise to contain prices just isn’t on the cards.
“Inflation would have to rise far more sharply before the MPC would even consider raising Bank rate.
“The containment of inflation simply isn’t the main priority of the MPC right now. Its priority is to get the economy moving again, despite the fact inflation is more than double its target.”
