The government should prepare for a jump in inflation this year that will eat into household living standards and force more low-income families into poverty, according to the Resolution Foundation.
Inflation is on course to rise above 4% in the next few months as the economy opens up and consumers begin to spend some of the savings they have built up over the past 16 months, the thinktank says. Rising prices will squeeze average household incomes by £700 by the start of next year with low-income families among the worst affected, it forecasts.
With ministers also planning to reverse a £20-a-week rise in universal credit, which was introduced last April, the foundation says there is the prospect of an even larger rise in poverty without government action.
About 6 million people claimed universal credit last month, up almost 100% from the pre-pandemic total and before the first lockdown triggered a wave of redundancies and short-time working. The cut of £20 a week is due to take effect in the autumn.
Figures last week showed the consumer prices index (CPI) measure of inflation rose…
