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UK CPI comes out at 07:00 London time, an hour before the usual London open. That timing changes how I trade GBP that morning.

My routine on those days:

• No open GBP positions going into 07:00. Spreads on GBPUSD and EURGBP widen a lot in the seconds around release, and liquidity at that hour is thin anyway.
• I watch the first move but don't trade it. The initial spike on a big surprise is often 30 to 60 pips on GBPUSD, and fills in that minute are unpredictable.
• From 07:30 to 08:00 I look at whether the move holds or fades. If it holds and the 08:00 open pushes further, I treat that as confirmation of the direction for the morning.
• Gilt yields matter here too. If the two-year gilt yield moves strongly with the surprise, the sterling move tends to last longer.

The main thing I learned is that the CPI reaction and the London open are two different events on those days, and trying to trade the first can ruin the second.

How do others treat early UK data? Do you stand aside completely or try to trade the release?