UK inflation jumps to 3.5% driven by 'awful April' bill hikes

Evening Standard

UK inflation jumped to 3.5% in April after bill hikes sent the cost of living soaring.The rise in Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation, from 2.6% in March, is higher than economists were forecasting and takes the CPI to its highest level since January 2024.It comes after Ofgem's energy price cap rose by 6.4% in April, having fallen a year earlier, alongside a raft of bill hikes for under-pressure households, including steep increases to water charges, as well as rises for council tax, mobile and broadband tariffs, and TV licences among many others.

Transcript

00:00The numbers today are clearly disappointing.

00:03We want to see inflation coming down after the cost of living challenges

00:07that people have been through this last few years.

00:11Clearly, we're in a different place to where we were under the previous government

00:14where inflation got into double digits.

00:17But we recognise the cost of living is still a challenge,

00:21which is why we increased the national living wage,

00:24giving a pay rise to 3 million people in April.

00:27It's why we're rolling out free breakfast pumps at primary schools

00:30to help families with the cost of living.

00:33And it's why we froze fuel duty in the budget last year.

00:37But this inflation spike is from costs that people feel directly in their pockets.

00:43Energy bills, water bills, tax bills, council tax bills.

00:48When are people actually going to feel some relief from this cost of living surge?

00:53Well, for the last few months, wages have been rising at a faster level than prices.

00:59That is welcome.

01:00But I do absolutely get that the cost of living challenges

01:04are still the biggest concern that families up and down our country have,

01:09which is why we are taking action with the national living wage,

01:13with free breakfast clubs, with freezing fuel duty,

01:16because I am determined as Chancellor of the Exchequer

01:19to help relieve some of that pressure that families have been facing.

01:23So how much would this look have been outcomes for you?

01:24Because I do want to help Cherese,

01:25but for the last four months,

01:28I got I gots from�� win,

01:29because of course it's not true.

01:29It seems like it's not like the city council,

01:30therefore it's not as 처ese.

01:31But it does not make it better,

01:32the stove would make it better than theJon in the morning maneira,

01:33which mostly doesn't make it better.

01:35So I need an extension with the high belief system.

01:38You just want to enjoy mental safetyçons.

01:39Thank you so much for joining me...

01:40I need some more money to exposeazy Вас less money to make more money,

01:42and you all guys have to pay attention when anything.

01:44It seems like to be a little bit better

01:44but it's a huge way of what matters now that makes a nostro market.

Category

Transcript

Recommended