Britain's great wage squeeze shows no sign of abating, says TUC

date: 16 July 2013

embargo: For immediate release

Responding to the latest inflation figures published today (Tuesday) by the Office for National Statistics, TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady said:

'Today's rise in inflation is further bad news for households and the wider economy. Pay has failed to keep pace with prices for over three and a half years now and we are experiencing the longest real wage squeeze since the 1870s.

'These figures expose once again the shallowness of our recovery. Without better jobs and decent pay rises we will not get sustainable growth.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- The latest inflation figures are available at http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/cpi/consumer-price-indices/june-2013/stb---consumer-price-indices---june-2013.html

- Real wages in the UK have fallen for 40 consecutive months - the longest period since the 1870s. Between 1875 and 1878 inflation was higher than wage growth.

- The TUC's campaign plan can be downloaded from www.tuc.org.uk/campaignplan

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

- Follow the TUC on Twitter: @tucnews

Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248 M: 07778 158175 E: media@tuc.org.uk
Alex Rossiter T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07887 572130 E: arossiter@tuc.org.uk