The cost of living in the UK has increased at its fastest rate for 40 years as soaring energy bills put millions of households under pressure.
Inflation rose to 9% in the year to April, up from an already high 7% in March, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). It was the fastest measured rate since records began in 1989, and the ONS estimates it was the highest since 1982.
A large portion of the rise was due to the price cap on energy bills, which was hiked by 54% for the average household at the start of the month.
