we mean when we talk about the cost of living squeeze. it s all about those increasing cost pressures. as these figures tell us, wages are not keeping pace. household budgets are being hit by soaring energy bills, higherfood costs, fuel being hit by soaring energy bills, higher food costs, fuel costs, being hit by soaring energy bills, higherfood costs, fuel costs, and that s why we are seeing strikes for industrial action and work is pushing for better pay deals. 0n the flip side, the worry is higher wages would then be passed on to customers through higher prices in the shops and that would fuel inflation even more. we also got the latest unemployment data. unemployment fell by 0.3% down to 3.5%, the lowest it s been since 197a. you might think that s great, more people in work, but we also got figures that show us a large number of people leaving the employment field. they have stopped looking for work. they are either retiring early or leaving the jobs market basically and