Inflation down but families still feeling the squeeze

date: 20 March 2012

embargo: For immediate release

Commenting on the publication today (Tuesday) of last month's inflation figures which show that both the consumer prices and retail prices indices fell, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:

'The drop in inflation offers some good news for hard-pressed families but with real wages still falling, there is still a big gap between what people are taking home and the prices greeting them on the high street.

'With 2.7 million people out of work and those with jobs feeling the squeeze on family budgets, it will be some time before we see strong and sustainable consumer spending again.

'People will be looking to tomorrow's Budget for some indication that the government is going to be more ambitious than it has been to date in finding ways of getting the economy growing again.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

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

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