Aged 13 (different times), my first Saturday job was in a supermarket (the Coop in Selsdon, if you must know.) My and the other staff’s first job was to take that week’s list of price rises, one of those sticker printer guns (no barcodes then, kids etc) and reprice everything. Inflation in those halcyon 70’s days was over 20%, which meant that stuff was literally getting more expensive every day. Unions ruled, however, and wages went up accordingly, the very definition of a vicious circle. So we should perhaps count our blessings that we’re now so used to low inflation that even 3% sounds peaky. Food inflation in the US is 1.2%, so about the same, and a lot more in Europe, so one up for the Brexiteers. Worth remembering that most governments and economists think a bit of inflation is a good thing as it means, magic word, growth. And of course, it’s all down to Rishi, as it was on his list to sort out. More magic.
“The true impact of inflation on cash savings and pensions”
Leaving your money in the bank or building society has always meant that its ‘real value’ after inflation will go down. Although rates go up to, supposedly, control inflation, any chart you look at will show that, apart from a few very short-term blips (N Lamont, I’m looking at you) they are never more than inflation.