Inflation steady at 3.3 per cent

The government says inflation remained level last month, at the same rate as December's 3.3 per cent figure.

According to the latest data from the Cabinet Office, domestic help charges rose by 17.6 per cent over the last year.

There was also bad news for coffee drinkers, who saw the cost of their favourite cuppa rise by 16.7 per cent in the last 12 months.

But fans of soft drinks saw costs fall by six per cent, while tea drinkers also saw a fall of 5.1 per cent.