Plunging fuel and food costs left the core measure of inflation at a 12-year low last month, official figures have shown.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) calculated the consumer prices index (CPI) at an annual rate of 1% in November - showing costs were rising at a weaker pace than wages overall as the Christmas shopping season got underway.
The ONS credited a 5.9% fall in fuel prices compared to November 2013 and a 1.7% drop in food costs over the same period as supermarkets battled for market share amid the continuing price war.
In addition to the lower grocery costs, it has been supermarkets which have led the way in cuts to fuel costs, with both unleaded and diesel falling by 3p-per-litre in November alone as the chains use cheaper fuel prices to bolster their wider offering.
Separate industry figures, released by Kantar WorldPanel, suggested cheaper groceries had meant savings for shoppers of £182m over the past 12 weeks.
Video:Some Cheer For Big Supermarkets
November's inflation figure marked a surprise easing in the rate, given that economists were expecting a flat picture after CPI was measured at 1.3% in October.
But the strength of sterling in recent months, combined with dramatic declines in oil prices, have also helped push down inflation by cutting import costs.
The ONS said computer game costs contributed to the decline in the inflation rate, too.
It means Bank of England governor Mark Carney only just avoids having to write to the Chancellor George Osborne to explain why inflation is more than 1% off the bank's 2% target.
Mr Carney has already acknowledged that he is likely to have to write to Mr Osborne in the coming months as oil costs continue to decline.
CPI has not been as low since September 2002 and was last lower in June 2002.
The fall in inflation adds to hopes of a rise in real-terms wages which have lagged behind the increasing cost of living for six years.
Additional figures from the ONS, due on Wednesday, are tipped to show wages growing at an annual rate of 1.5% - suggesting that the squeeze on earnings is easing in the short term.
A Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen-designed Christmas experience is closing early, just weeks after it was widely criticised.
The Magical Journey experience at the Belfry Hotel, near Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, had originally closed just a day after it was originally launched in late November but later reopened after a series of "improvements".
On Monday it closed for good after a major financial backer pulled out with nine opening days left.
The organisers said they had been "left in the lurch" and could not find a replacement backer.
The celebrity interior designer told the Press Association he was "extremely surprised" after finding out on Twitter his experience had been shut down.
Mr Llewelyn-Bowen, who shot to fame on BBC's Changing Rooms, said he had not given any financial support to the project and was unaware who the backer was.
He said: "It's absolutely shocking. We found out by Twitter. Everybody was in bed feeling Christmassy and now we are not feeling very Christmassy at all.
"I was really impressed with the way they addressed all the issues the first time around and the energy and resources that went into it so I'm extremely surprised the towel's been thrown in at this stage.
A photo taken from the Instagram account of the Magical Journey
"I feel appalling it is not the happy experience I really want it to be. I feel extremely sorry for everybody let down in the next nine days and also for the staff who worked on the front-line. I'm hoping they will get their money back.
"On a personal level I was so excited by the idea of designing Christmas."
He said in hindsight the group he worked with to deliver the project was not experienced enough for the type of event.
"I was just commissioned to create some design concepts for the experience," he said. "There was no financial backing from my point of view and no involvement in the management.
"I feel very much I was the designer and I'm a very public face so people are cross with me."
Another photo taken from the Instagram account of the Magical Journey
The presenter added he would be donating his fee, the amount of which he would not confirm, to a Birmingham children's hospice and said: "I do not want to make any money at all out of this experience."
A statement on the Magical Journey's website said: "We are really sorry to have to tell you this, but as of tomorrow (Tuesday 16 December 2014) The Magical Journey, based at The Belfry, Sutton Coldfield, will no longer be in operation.
"We are truly sorry. After all we've been through having to shutdown in the final week is devastating. Although we had quite the time of it in the press and on social media, feedback was great with over 600 four and five star reviews."
The website said that anyone who has bought tickets and wants their money back should use the Chargeback scheme.
The experience is the latest in a series of Christmas-themed attractions to suffer criticism over the last couple of years for providing poor value for money.
Three security guards have been cleared of manslaughter over the death of a deportee on a plane at Heathrow airport.
The former G4S custody officers, Terrence Hughes, Colin Kaler and Stuart Tribelnig, were on trial over the death of Angolan man Jimmy Mubenga.
They were accused of forcing Mr Mubenga's head down and restricting his breathing for 36 minutes as the flight prepared for take off.
By the time crew raised the alarm on 12 October 2010 Mr Mubenga had gone into cardiac arrest. He died later in hospital.
Some passengers said they had heard him crying out for air, but the guards denied the claims.
Stuart Tribelnig, Terence Hughes, Colin Kaler (L-R) were found not guilty
The three men were in tears as the not guilty verdict was read out at the Old Bailey.
Mr Mubenga, who had been in the UK since 1994, was in the process of applying for permission to stay permanently when it was decided he should be deported after serving two years in jail for assault.
Prosecutors had claimed Mr Mubenga was already handcuffed behind his back and wearing his seatbelt after becoming agitated on the plane.
A section of the Boeing 777 with three rows of seats was reconstructed in court to help jurors understand the case.
Jurors were also invited to wear the handcuffs to experience how Mr Mubenga might have felt.
One witness, Nicholas Herbig, from New Mexico, said the deportee had clearly been in distress and was "very loud".
He told the court: "He was saying 'All you people are watching them kill me. I can't breathe. They are going to kill me'."
But all three men denied doing anything wrong and said they had not used the "carpet karaoke" restraint.
The technique involves pushing a seated person's head forward, compressing their diaphragm to subdue them.
"He was never forced down with his head forced beneath his knees," said Terrence Hughes, who comes from Portsmouth.
Stuart Tribelnig, from Horley in Surrey, said he had not heard Mr Mubenga "say anything about air".
An inquest last year ruled that the 43-year-old was unlawfully killed and led to the CPS reconsidering manslaughter charges.
The jury in the criminal case was not told of the inquest verdict for legal reasons, or that two of the defendants - Hughes and Tribelnig - had "very racially offensive material" on their phones.
No charges were brought against security giant G4S after prosecutors decided there was not enough evidence.
A statement for the three men said: "They bitterly regret the death of Mr Mubenga but have always said they were trying to do a very difficult job in difficult circumstances to the best of their ability.
"They are grateful to the judge and jury for the care they have taken resolving these sad events."
A scheme offering 100,000 first-time buyers new homes with a discount of 20% as part of a drive to help people onto the property ladder will be launched by David Cameron later.
Those under 40 who have never owned their own home can register their interest in buying via the Starter Home Initiative from the start of 2015 - six months earlier than planned.
Because of a change to the planning system set to come into force, under-used or unviable brownfield land will be freed from certain costs in return for a below market value sale price on properties constructed on the site.
Developers and councils are being urged to ensure the changes unlock a variety of sites across the country.
Mr Cameron said: "Hard-working young people want to plan for the future and enjoy the security of being able to own their own home. I want to help them do just that.
Video:Stamp Duty: Good News For Buyers
"Under this scheme, first-time buyers will be offered the chance of a 20% discount, unlocking home ownership for a generation.
"This is all part of our long-term economic plan to secure a better future for Britain, making sure we are backing those who work hard and get on in life."
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said: "The 2008 housing crash blocked millions of hard-working, creditworthy people from becoming home-owners, at a time in their lives when they should have been able to expect to get on the property ladder.
"We're turning that around with Help to Buy, but today's new Starter Homes scheme will offer a further boost, giving young people (under 40) the opportunity to buy low-cost, high-quality new homes for significantly less than they would normally expect."
Stewart Baseley, executive chairman of the Home Builders Federation, said the initiative is "another positive step" in tackling the shortage of housing.
At the moment, developers can face an average bill of £15,000 per home in Section 106 affordable housing contributions and tariffs.
But under the scheme, developers offering Starter Homes would not have to pay certain charges.
To ensure the savings are passed onto buyers, the homes will not be able to be re-sold at market value for a fixed period.
Video:July: Young Unable To Buy Homes
More than 30 house builders have already backed the plans, and say they would consider bringing forward land to be developed from next year.
A design panel will be set up to ensure the homes are not only cheap, but also high-quality.
Renowned architect Sir Terry Farrell, who is on the panel, said it could make a real difference.
He added it would build on the recommendations of the Farrell Review, which raised the need for more proactive planning.
Sir Terry said: "Only by planning and designing our villages, towns and cities together with local communities can we create the kind of built environment we all aspire to and should be demanding."
Shadow housing minister Emma Reynolds said no-one would believe the PM's promises on the issue, and added: "The only way to restore the dream of home ownership is to build more homes and Labour has a plan to get at least 200,000 homes built a year by 2020.
"We are in favour of building starter homes but it is not clear how the Government is going to deliver these homes 20% cheaper than market price."
The Conservatives have set out plans to reduce the influence of Scottish MPs over laws that affect only England and Wales.
William Hague, the leader of the House of Commons, has published a Command paper with three options. They are:
:: A total ban on Scottish MPs having any say in English or Welsh legislation
:: A veto for English MPs over laws that only affect their constituents
:: A committee of England-only MPs that would scrutinise legislation, with a say during at least the early stages of policy-making
Video:Home Rule Commons Voting Changes
Many Tory MPs would like to see a full system of English votes for English laws.
They have been loudly demanding the change ever since the Westminster parties made a "vow" of further devolution to Scotland.
But Labour is cautious about any change because it has 41 MPs north of the border and fears the impact of English-only votes.
It is possible that Labour could have a UK-wide majority that is lost without their Scottish MPs, meaning they could be in power but unable to pass key legislation, such as a Budget, through Parliament.
There is a suggestion that Downing Street favours the veto option, while Labour would prefer a committee with much weaker powers.
The Lib Dems want a grand committee composed in proportion not to the number of MPs that each party has in Westminster, but to their vote share at the election.
David Laws, the Lib Dem schools minister, said that would be consistent with how power was devolved to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland in the late 1990s.
A report suggests online retailers are on target for record Christmas sales following the largest monthly spike for 14-years in November.
The IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index said Black Friday was behind the surge.
Online sales rose 37% month-on-month and 20% year-on-year in November, with consumers eager to bag a bargain spending an estimated £12.1bn.
Online sales rose 44% in the week beginning 23 November when Black Friday offers began, culminating in the day itself on 28 November.
The Black Friday shopping frenzy is a US-import and was introduced there on the day after the Thanksgiving holiday.
Those who ventured out to shops to cash in on the pre-Christmas offers encountered long queues and stampedes for items such as TVs and laptops.
Some retailers struggled to deal with the large volumes of web traffic
Website traffic was also delayed as online stores were swamped.
IMRG said the best performing sectors in November were gifts, up 154% month-on-month, health and beauty, up 99%, and electricals, up 71% month-on-month and 22% year-on-year.
Video:Retailers Hoping For Busy Weekend
Its chief information officer, Tina Spooner, said: "The unprecedented level of traffic to retail websites over Black Friday weekend resulted in a significant spike in online sales during the last week of November.
"In fact, sales on Black Friday alone surged 135% year-on-year as consumers flocked to retail websites on what turned out to be the busiest online shopping day of the year to date.
"Many retailers reported that Black Friday was their biggest ever day for online sales, however some reported a slowdown in sales in the days leading up to Black Friday as consumers waited for discounts and promotions before starting their Christmas shopping.
"Consequently, last month we saw the steepest October to November growth in the 14-year history of the index, with sales up 37% month-on-month.
"Although average spend per shopper was down about 9% from the previous month, overall estimated spend reached a staggering £12.1bn in November and it looks like we are on target for another record-breaking Christmas with estimated spend set to break the £100bn barrier by the end of this year."
A former public school teacher has been convicted of sexually abusing vulnerable young Kenyan street boys.
Charity boss Simon Harris, 55, had denied luring vulnerable boys using food, money and the promise of schooling to his home in the East African country where prosecutors said the abuse happened.
Harris, from Pudleston in Herefordshire, has been on trial at Birmingham Crown Court for nine weeks.
The trial has seen testimony from witnesses over a 6,500-mile video link.
The jury unanimously found Harris guilty of five sex assaults, including against a victim as young as nine, and on two counts of indecent assault.
He was also found to be guilty of four counts of possessing indecent images of children.
However, jurors acquitted him of seven charges including rape, attempted rape and sexual assault.
Judge Philip Parker QC has told the jury he will accept majority verdicts on the remaining five offences, which include an allegation of rape against a child under 13.
Sky's Enda Brady said the court heard how Harris used his position as a charity worker to abuse the youngsters.
It is the first time new legislation has been used to successfully prosecute a British citizen for offences committed in Africa.
A man murdered following a "verbal altercation" with a group of youths outside his home has been named as Christopher John Barry.
Scotland Yard say the 53-year-old was also known as Jack.
Police say the victim and youths did not know each other
The victim was stabbed at his home in Edmonton, north London, on Sunday evening after he was said to have been involved in dispute with a group trying to get into a party at another address in the block of flats.
Four boys - three aged 14 and one 13-year-old - arrested on suspicion of murder have been released on bail.
Video:15 Dec: Locals On Edmonton Murder
They must return to an east London police station on a date in late January pending further inquiries, according to police.
A second 13-year-old boy, also held on on suspicion of murder, remains in custody.
A post-mortem on Monday found the cause of death was a stab wound to the chest.
Mr Barry is thought to have become involved in an argument with a group of boys as he attempted to get into the flats in The Broadway.
He was allegedly followed into the building by two of the boys and stabbed.
Detective Chief Inspector Neale Baldock, of the Homicide and Major Crime Command, who is heading the investigation, said: "Our initial inquiries have established that there was a supervised party taking place at another address within the block and the group of males were trying to gain access to this.
"The victim and this group were not known to each other - what started as a minor verbal altercation has escalated into a shocking act of violence."
Daniel Craig has taken to the water in London to shoot the first scenes for the 24th James Bond film, Spectre.
Film crews have been spotted on the Thames and on a section of canal at Camden Town.
Craig stood on board a speed boat alongside Rory Kinnear, who plays MI6's Bill Tanner in the franchise, and jokingly swore at the camera once he noticed he was being filmed.
Earlier in the week Craig was spotted speeding past the MI6 in Vauxhall.
The filming comes just days after it emerged that an early version of the Spectre screenplay was among the items stolen by hackers who carried out a cyber-attack on Sony Pictures.
Spectre will feature old and new faces
The hacking also revealed that the film will cost $300m (£180m) - making it the most expensive Bond film ever.
The title for the 24th Bond movie, which stands for Special Executive for Counterintelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion, was announced earlier this month, along with new cast members Christoph Waltz, David Bautista, Andrew Scott and Bond girls Monica Bellucci and Lea Seydoux.
Video:Watery Scenes Filmed For Bond
As well as in London, filming is taking place at Pinewood Studios and on location in Italy, Morocco, Mexico and Austria.
The film is due for release in November next year.
The last Bond film, Skyfall, was the most successful yet, taking more than $1.1bn worldwide.
