As inflation hit a 30 year high of 5.5% the cost of living crisis is getting worse.

Furniture and household goods have driven up inflation with prices rising by 8.5% over the year, the highest since the inflation data series began in January 1989. Average petrol prices were 145.1 pence per litre in January 2022, compared with 116.6 pence per litre a year before, while electricity prices rose by 19.2% over the last year, and gas prices a whopping 28.3%.

Metro Mayor Dan Norris said: "The weekly shop, petrol, energy bills; we can all see the prices going up. There is a cost of living crisis made in Downing Street. These rocketing inflation figures are no surprise. The Government should have taken serious action by now. Instead they are raising taxes and introducing a 'buy now pay later' scheme on energy bills loading up debt for future years.

"As Metro Mayor I have levers of power for the long term and have begun a big programme of retrofitting to make homes warmer and bills cheaper through my £50 million green recovery fund. But we need a Labour Government too that would get cash to households in the short term, funded by a one-off tax on oil and gas producer's booming profits."

"Many people will remember the bad old days of runaway inflation in the 1980s and 90s. People are worse off. They spend less. Businesses fail. The Government need to get a grip."