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JRF response to ONS Inflation Figures
Ashwin Kumar, Chief Economist at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, responded to inflation figures from the ONS, published on Tuesday.
“People on low incomes face challenging times. Inflation is up by the highest rate in five years, continuing a sharp rise since the Brexit vote, and employment figures out tomorrow are likely to show that wages are barely keeping up. With increases of 2% in food, nearly 5% in energy and 3% in clothing and footwear, families are facing very difficult choices.
“The benefit freeze will squeeze family budgets even further. This was a policy designed in an era of very low inflation. This is no longer the case and low-income households are suffering. As the cost of essentials rises, the new Government could help struggling families by ending the freeze on benefits.”
View report here
