The latest figures from the Office of National Statistics (attached) prove once again that LUL/TfL's pay offers lag well behind rising prices - in other words will cut your pay in real terms.

In the year to May, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 2.2%. The Retail Price index - acknowledged as seriously underestimating real inflation - stood at -1.1%. RPIX (RPI, excluding mortgage interest payments) was +1.6%.

Here are some price rises for particular areas of your spending:

• food and non-alcoholic beverages: overall prices rose by 7.8% with the largest rises for fruit,
  vegetables, meat, coffee, tea and other food products.
• fuel and light prices have risen by 9.7% over the year, with gas prices going up by 23.5% and electricity prices by 6.8%.
• leisure services' prices rose by 5.6%
• restaurant and cafe prices rose by 3.1%.

Some prices have gone down eg. the price of buying a car. However, while you might be able to economise by not buying a car this year, you can not do without food and fuel!