Steep rises in food and fuel prices drove inflation to a 40-year high on Wednesday, sparking fresh calls for ministers to do more to help ease the cost of living crisis.
Official figures from the Office for National Statistics showed inflation hit a rate of 9.1 per cent in the 12 months to May — up from nine per cent in April and its highest level since 1982. But with the Bank of England warning that inflation could hit 11 per cent later this year, the Government is under growing pressure to offer more support now for millions of struggling households.
