Sharjah24 – AFP: Britain's annual inflation rate surged to a 40-year high last month on rocketing energy costs, official data showed Wednesday, sparking opposition calls for the government to announce an emergency budget to combat 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 April was the highest level since 1982, and the fastest rate since the current 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, the US Federal Reserve and others to ramp up interest rates.
The squeeze on UK household budgets tightened further in April due to tax hikes, while wages are failing to keep pace with inflation.
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