UK inflation growth slowed considerably through August 2019, with the falling price of video games highlighted as a significant factor.

While UK inflation growth hit 2.1% in July the same year, through August it slowed to a rate of 1.7%, as reported by the government run Office for National Statistics (ONS).

As detailed by the BBC, the stalling growth saw the pound go down 0.41% against the dollar to USD$1.2450.

The ONS report points to the 'recreation and culture' space causing the largest downward contribution, with falling video games being a leading factor.

"This more than reverses the upward contribution of 0.08 percentage points seen between June and July this year," the report reads. "Within the group, the largest effect (of 0.09 percentage points) came from games, toys and hobbies (particularly computer games including downloads), where prices overall fell by 5.0% between July and August 2019 compared with a smaller fall of 0.1% between the same two months a year ago."

Price changes in the 'recreation and culture' category (which includes games) along with clothing and footwear lead to fall in the growth of UK inflation through August 2019.

The ONS points out that computer game pricing can be volatile, and that the drop comes against games making a large upward contribution to the change through June and July this year.

Clothing and shoes - influenced by intricacies in the roll out of summer discounting in 2019 - also drove the growth rate down significantly, while restaurants, hotels, housing, household services, alcohol and tobacco all had a modest influence on the rate of inflation growth's relatively sharp drop

While they are not the only factor by any stretch, games' ability to contribute most to falling inflation growth asserts to a degree their status and role in the economy.

According to the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) - via the BBC - a founbing factor may be that Brexit uncertainty means companies are hesitant to rise prices for now.

“Consumer price inflation was lower than expected at 1.7 per cent in the year to August 2019. Our analysis of 130,000 goods and services included in the basket suggests that fewer firms raised prices than is typical for this time of year," said Jason Lennard, NIESR senior economist. "Firms are probably waiting to see beyond 31 October before adjusting prices. The slowing of inflation was widespread, falling in 10 of the 12 regions of the United Kingdom with the biggest drops in Northern Ireland and Wales.”