Campaigners have called on ministers to tackle the cost of living by boosting the UK's links with the EU, as the rate of inflation remained static.
Responding to confirmation from the ONS that the UK rate of inflation in the year to May remained at 3.4%, Naomi Smith, Chief Executive of Best for Britain, said:
“Trump’s tariffs, conflict in the Middle East and disrupted supply chains are all helping to keep inflation stubbornly above the Bank of England's target of 2% and so it is imperative that the government uses every available lever to ease the cost of living for Brits.
"That means delivering on the promises from last month's summit with the EU and going further to removing artificial trade barriers with our largest market for all sectors of the economy, cutting costs and beginning to bring prices down on everything from food to fuel, from cement to chemicals, and from metals to machinery."