People’s disposable incomes are being hit hard as the rate of inflation soars.

The figure for December 2021, announced this week, stands at 6%, a 1.4% increase from November.

The rate of inflation in the UK is currently 5.1%.

Measured by the consumer price index, the largest contributor to the rate of inflation was transport, providing a 2.7% increase in the overall 12 month rate. All items within this category experienced a soar in prices.

The government report said air travel saw the biggest rise in prices of 52.2%, followed by petrol and oil with 23.8%. Gas has risen 19.1%. This follows the gas price hike that was approved by Tynwald last year.

At a higher rate of 2.1p per unit, the rise in gas prices came as the world price of fossil fuel soared.

Oils and other fuels saw the biggest increase, 62.5%higher than compared with the same month in 2020.

Around £1m of extra support was made available over the winter as a result of this.

Driving lessons have also become more expensive, with an increase of nearly 17% in the last year.

Garff MHK and chair of the Isle of Man Climate Change Transformation Board Daphne Caine felt the figures were ’bad news’ for people living in the island.

She said: ’Inflation at 6% is really bad news for the island. Our high cost of living means people have been feeling the pinch for years but the sudden increase in the price of flights and gas in particular are really hurting.

’Ordinary people are being priced out of living well in the Isle of Man and we need that to be addressed by government.’

She added: ’The huge increases in home heating costs and the ongoing volatility in gas prices make it imperative that we encourage people to consider moving to renewable heating systems when possible as this will save money in energy costs as well as reducing our carbon emissions.

’Also, enabling people to improve the fabric of their properties is essential as a first step toward reducing heat loss.’

Meanwhile, goods that have seen a decrease include bread, at -4.3%, pork, which has experienced a 7.7% decrease, and footwear, with a 17.5% decrease.

Also, alcoholic beverages and tobacco have become more expensive with a 4.7% increase.

Private health prices have only increased by about 0.5%.

There were some anomalies. While tea was 9.4% more expensive, coffee and other hot drinks actually decreased by 1.9%.

For meat, beef, lamb and poultry all saw at least a three percent increase but bacon and pork dropped, with pork being 7.7% cheaper.