Treasury: Consumers are being helped by govt

A Treasury spokesperson responds to October's inflation figures, which showed CPI falling to five per cent:

"Whilst price inflation eased slightly in October, the government recognises that these are difficult times for households as prices continue to be affected by conditions in the global oil and gas markets.

"The Bank of England has forecast that inflation should fall rapidly over 2012, but in the meantime the government is taking action to help consumers with current high costs including increasing the personal tax allowance and freezing council tax, as well as having cut fuel duty."