This, in turn, could lead to increased prices as companies try to claw back their increased wages bill, further stoking inflation.

America's inflation is stoked as the falling dollar drives up its import bills, further imperilling fragile confidence in the currency.

The rouble has lost 30 per cent of its value since the beginning of the year, stoking inflation.

In turn, this acceleration in activity put upward pressure on prices, stoking inflation.

These forces had stoked inflation.