Workers still getting poorer despite welcome inflation fall

Rob Johnston, Midlands TUC Regional Secretary

Commenting on the latest inflation figures published today (Tuesday) by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which show that RPI inflation fell to 3.9 per cent and CPI to 3.6 per cent in January, Midlands TUC Regional Secretary Rob Johnston said: "This latest drop in headline inflation is good news for consumers, but inflation falls are being matched by low pay rises. With prices still increasing twice as fast as wages, midlands workers are still getting poorer month-by-month while high unemployment and wage stagnation persists.
"Inflation looks like being somewhat less of a problem in 2012, but our persistent lack of economic growth, mass unemployment and the ongoing damage caused by the government's austerity programme remain huge dangers."

For info: The latest inflation figures are available at:  http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171778_255287.pdf