The annual rate of consumer price inflation (CPI) rose in September from 4.5% to 5.2%.

This equalled the previously recorded highest rate on record back in September 2008.

The CPI measure only goes back to 1997 however the older retail price inflation (RPI) measure recorded a rise in the annual rate of 5.6%, up from 5.2% last month, its highest rate since December 1991.

Brendan Barber, the TUC’s general secretary, said: “The cost of living is now rising three times faster than wages – squeezing people’s living standards even tighter. But instead of standing up for hard-pressed families