of england have put is in the position where they are being forced to use some very blunt instrument such as pay restraint, in order to get that headline raising inflation. mike, thank you so much forjoining us. now to the us where there are hopes of an end in sight to rising interest rates. it seems the cost of living crisis in the world s biggest economy is finally coming under control. consumer price inflation fell to just 3% in the year tojune the slowest rate in more than two years, and close to the federal reserve s target of 2%. the news was cheered by investors on wall street and president biden as samira hussain reports from new york. the headline in these latest inflation numbers is that the cost of living in the united states is headed in the right direction. inflation rose 3% in the month ofjune, down one full percentage point from a month earlier. it has fallen pretty sharply
we have had pay restraint, now, where are our real wages have fallen behind the cost of living, basically, so firefighters are seeing in their pockets a 12% decrease in their pay, real pay, each month. and that equates to around about £4,000 a year. firefighters do an importantjob. firefighter salaries range from £24,000 per yearfor a trainee tojust under £46,000 for a station manager. union members rejected a previous 5% pay offer in november. they are calling for an above inflation rise the fire brigades union has given the government and employers ten days to respond. until then, they say they will delay announcing any strike dates. we have written to our employers to demand a meeting with them to see if we can resolve this dispute. they have agreed that and we will meet them on the 8th of february. i hope that that meeting on the 8th
firefighters across the uk have voted overwhelmingly to strike in a dispute about pay. if the action goes ahead, it will be the first nationwide walk out by fire staff in almost two decades. howard johnson reports. they are the brave workers that put themselves in danger. but firefighters across the uk say years of inadequate pay offers mean they are willing to go on strike. this anger and disappointment goes back for ten, 12 years we ve had pay restraint, now, where are our real wages have fallen behind the cost of living, basically. so firefighters are seeing in their pockets a 12% decrease in their pay, real pay, each month, and that equates to around about £4,000 a year. firefighters do an importantjob.
position. it is another day and another threat of industrial action and much like the story over the past month with nurses, railworkers, the story over the past month with nurses, rail workers, this is about pay and conditions. firefighters say they are not getting enough money to keep up with the cost of living crisis. they are giving the government until february the 8th to get around the table and negotiate a deal. they are the brave workers that put themselves in danger. but firefighters across the uk say years of inadequate pay offers mean they are willing to go on strike. this anger and disappointment goes back for ten, 12 years we have had pay restraint, now. where are our real wages have fallen behind the cost of living, basically, so firefighters are seeing in their pockets a 12% decrease in their pay, real pay, each month.
havejust announced that and the health union unison. unison have just announced that paramedics in five regions in england will be walking out and that could be before christmas. distracts work? earlier this week bt announced a 15% pay increase its lowest paid workers and thatis increase its lowest paid workers and that is following a strike by bt open which employees. barristers also called off a strike following a 15% pay increase. the government says the number one economic priority is to combat inflation so they are urging pay restraint. it is a difficult time ahead for the government and for private sector employers. hsbc has said it will close 114 bank branches across the uk from april next year. it said the decision was driven by a significant fall in the number of people using them since the pandemic. our business correspondent caroline davies is here.