The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) climbed to 1.5% in October, up from 1.1% in September. The Retail Prices Index (RPI) inflation measure, which includes mortgage interest payments and housing costs also rose, from -1.4% to -0.8%.
Inflation accelerated mainly because fuel prices declined significantly less than they did in the same period a year ago.
Although CPI is still below the Bank of England's 2% target, the figure is slightly above the 1.4% expected by many economic analysts.
The Bank expects inflation to rise further above the target in the months ahead, particularly when the temporary cut in VAT is reversed in January.