UK inflation highest in 40 years on rocketing energy costs

Share
3 min read
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson (C), flanked by Britain's Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service Simon Case (centre L) and Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak (centre R), chairs a Cabinet meeting at a pottery in Stoke-on-Trent, central England. (AFP)
Share
  • Nations across the world are plagued by decades-high inflation as the Ukraine conflict pushes up energy and food prices.
  • The squeeze on UK household budgets tightened further in April due to tax hikes, while wages are failing to keep pace with inflation.

Britain’s annual inflation rate surged to a 40-year high last month on rocketing energy costs, official data showed Wednesday, deepening a cost-of-living crisis.

Consumer prices index inflation hit 9.0 percent in April from 7.0 percent in March, the Office for National Statistics said in a statement.

The ONS estimated that this was the highest level since 1982, while it was the fastest measured rate since the data series began in 1989.

Nations across the world are plagued by decades-high inflation as the Ukraine conflict pushes up energy and food prices, in turn forcing the Bank of England and other central banks to ramp up interest rates.

Britain’s Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak (C) and Britain’s Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (centre right) walk together. (AFP)

The squeeze on UK household budgets tightened further in April due to tax hikes, while wages are failing to keep pace with inflation.

Global challenges

“Countries around the world are dealing with rising inflation,” said British finance minister Rishi Sunak.

“Today’s inflation numbers are driven by the energy price cap rise in April, which in turn is driven by higher global energy prices.

“We cannot protect people completely from these global challenges but are providing significant support where we can, and stand ready to take further action.”

The main opposition Labor party, however, wants an emergency budget to help Britons cope with the cost-of-living crunch.

Labor finance spokeswoman Rachel Reeves described the inflation data as “a huge worry for families already stretched”.

“Today, Labor force a vote for an emergency budget and for a plan for growth.”

Labor is also calling for a windfall tax on the energy sector, which has been boosted as gas and oil prices rocketed on supply worries following key producer Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

‘Apocalyptic’

Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey on Monday warned of an “apocalyptic” situation surrounding runaway food costs which he said were fueled by major wheat and cooking oil producer Ukraine finding itself unable to export its goods.

Addressing British MPs, Bailey spoke also of a “very real income shock” coming from surging energy and food prices.

Britain risks falling into recession with inflation expected to top 10 percent by the end of the year, the BoE warned earlier this month.

It came as the central bank hiked its main interest rate by a quarter-point to one percent to tackle inflation.

That was the fourth straight increase by the BoE, while its key rate now stands at the highest level since 2009.

Energy cap

UK consumer prices leapt in April after a cap on domestic gas and electricity was hiked due to spiking wholesale energy costs.

“Inflation rose steeply in April, driven by the sharp climb in electricity and gas prices as the higher price cap came into effect,” added ONS chief economist Grant Fitzner.

“Around three-quarters of the increase in the annual rate this month came from utility bills.”

Official data showed Tuesday that Britain’s unemployment rate has fallen further to a near five-decade low, but the value of wages continues to erode as inflation soars.

The economy shrank in March on fallout from soaring consumer prices, data showed last week, increasing the prospect of the country falling into recession.

Raised rates have lifted borrowing costs for consumers and businesses, further impacting spending.

SPEEDREAD


Today's Headlines

The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

MORE FROM THE POST