No let-up in living standards squeeze

date: 18 September 2012

embargo: For immediate release

Commenting on the latest inflation figures published today (Tuesday) by the Office for National Statistics - which show that CPI inflation fell to 2.5 per cent and RPI inflation to 2.9 per cent in August - TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:

'Inflation is not falling fast enough, particularly as wage growth is so anaemic.

'Real wages have been shrinking for nearly four years now and the prospect of an ease in living standards any time soon looks remote.

'Worse news lies ahead for low-paid workers if the government decides to freeze benefits. The combination of low wage growth, higher indirect taxes, in-work benefit freezes and tax credit cuts add up to an unprecedented attack on the living standards of low-paid workers and their families.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- The latest inflation figures are available at http://bit.ly/PnbVCk

- 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
Rob Holdsworth T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E: rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk
Alex Rossiter T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07887 572130 E: arossiter@tuc.org.uk