INFLATION is hitting small high street businesses ‘from all angles’ says a woman behind a Saltaire-founded network to boost shops.

By Mark Stanford

Britain’s rate of inflation has rocketed to its highest level for nearly 30 years as the cost-of-living squeeze intensifies, according to official figures.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation jumped from 5.1 per cent in November to 5.4 per cent in December – the highest since March 1992, when it stood at 7.1 per cent.

Most economists had expected inflation of 5.2 per cent in December.

But Dr Jackie Mulligan, the founder of award-winning ShopAppy.com, which started in Saltaire in 2016 to fight for the revival of the British high street, said: “After two years of unprecedented disruption, our high streets are now being savaged by the highest inflation in three decades.

“Inflation is hitting small high street businesses from all angles.

“Customers have less to spend, raw materials are costing more, supply chains are being squeezed, interest rates are on the up and the cost to heat their premises is skyrocketing.

“It’s a panoply of pain.

“Reports from the thousands of small high street businesses we work with are that it’s tougher than ever right now.

“In the glaring absence of Government support, it’s down to us all to support our small local retailers and help them to weather the storm in 2022. More than ever it’s crucial we all love local and shop local.”