Cost of living
Prices, bills and household incomes. Inflation figures come from the ONS; energy price caps from Ofgem; benefit and wage rates from government. These pages set out the official numbers that claims about the cost of living rest on.
Statements checked against the record
- Pat McFadden on the new State Pension, 13 October 2026
Pat McFadden said: “Keeping that promise means that this year the full new state pension is rising by £575.” This page repeats what Department for Work and Pensions reports.
- Ed Davey on inflation, PMQs 22 April 2026
Ed Davey said: “President Trump’s idiotic war with Iran has already pushed up inflation in our country to 3.3%, and the Prime Minister knows there is far worse to come for the British people from here on in.” This page repeats what Office for National Statistics reports.
- Bridget Phillipson on child poverty, 8 December 2025
Bridget Phillipson said: “There are now 4.5 million children in poverty—900,000 more than in 2010.” This page repeats what Department for Work and Pensions reports.
- Mel Stride on food price inflation, Budget debate 27 November 2025
Mel Stride said: “Labour is the party that talks about resolving poverty; it is a disgrace that food inflation in the last set of figures went up way above the headline rate, from 4.5% to 4.9%.” This page repeats what Office for National Statistics reports.
- Kemi Badenoch on Universal Credit claimants, Budget debate 26 November 2025
Kemi Badenoch said: “There are 1 million more people claiming universal credit than there were at the time of the last Budget.” This page repeats what Department for Work and Pensions reports.
Key official figures
- UK inflation rate (CPI)
12-month rate
- UK CPIH inflation rate
12-month rate
- UK RPI inflation rate
12-month rate
- UK core inflation rate (CPI)
12-month rate, CPI excluding energy, food, alcohol and tobacco
- UK food price inflation
12-month rate, food and non-alcoholic beverages
- UK services inflation (CPI)
12-month rate, CPI services
- Energy price cap (typical household)
Typical annual dual fuel bill under the cap (Direct Debit)
- Average UK petrol and diesel price
Average UK pump price, unleaded petrol
- UK real household disposable income per head
Change on previous quarter, real terms
- UK average private rent
Average monthly private rent, UK
Explore the data
Questions answered from official sources
- What is the difference between CPI, CPIH and RPI?
- What is the current UK inflation rate?
- What is the UK inflation target?
- What is the National Living Wage?
- What is the poverty line in the UK?
- How many children are in poverty in the UK?
- How many people face food insecurity in the UK?
- What is the median household income in the UK?
- How many families were affected by the two-child limit?
- How many people are in poverty in the UK?
- What is the Gini coefficient for the UK?
- How many households are in fuel poverty?
More questions: Inflation and prices · Poverty, incomes and cost of living · Tax rates, allowances and household bills
Who publishes the official record
- Bank of England Statistical Interactive Database
- Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) energy and emissions statistics, and Ofgem energy price cap data
- HM Land Registry Price Paid Data and the UK House Price Index
- UK poverty and household income statistics (DWP, ONS, DESNZ, Low Pay Commission and devolved governments)
- Office for National Statistics (ONS)
- Bank of England and Prudential Regulation Authority
- Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) statistics and Stat-Xplore
- International Monetary Fund, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and World Bank data
- Consumer Council for Water
- Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation
- Revenue Scotland
Terms explained
Where the power sits
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