The cost of living continues to rise

THE two sides of the household balance sheet rarely make for pleasant viewing but for too many, it’s becoming harder every day.

Wages have stagnated while the cost of living continues to race upwards.

New research shows a 15 per cent average increase in household bills.

Energy bills are the main problem, which only underlines the disregard shown to the public by the big utility firms.

Commuters, meanwhile, are being punished by ever greater train fares.

They’re so bad that protests are being held across stations, including in Scotland today.

What’s the point of telling people to use public transport when trains are overcrowded, skip stations and cost the earth?

The start of the new year is often a time to reset the finances and try to take more care of the pennies.

Wouldn’t it be good if the Government were doing the same?

Instead, Theresa May’s Tories appear hell-bent on proving they don’t know the first thing.

They want to make life easier for the richest, and they’re pushing Britain to an economically punishing Brexit. It does not inspire confidence. At Holyrood, the SNP tinkered with taxes in moves that will hopefully start to rebalance the burden. They are making changes to public sector pay.

But it’s small beer without big changes in the economy.

And on that, the UK Government need to wake up before the balance of household finances tips even further.