Darling 'seeks energy cost talks'
Chancellor Alistair Darling has asked to meet with energy regulator Ofgem to discuss last week's gas and electricity price rises by Npower, a report says. In a letter to Ofgem, obtained by the Times, Mr Darling is said to want to review the reasons behind the price hikes and their implications. Npower, which has increased average gas prices by 17.2% and electricity by 12.7%, expects rivals to follow suit.

Perhaps he's concerned because such big rises draw attention to what a load of tosh the Government's official inflation figure is?

BBC NEWS | Business | Darling 'seeks energy cost talks'

"Bank boss wants mortgages measure
The Governor of the Bank of England, Mervyn King, has told the BBC he wishes mortgage costs were part of the official inflation target. They represent the biggest expense for many households, but are not included in the Consumer Prices Index (CPI).

The CPI fell to 2.4% in June, official figures show. But at the same time, the more familiar Retail Prices Index, which does take mortgage costs into account, rose to 4.4%."

Meanwhile annual house price inflation is around 11%.

BBC NEWS | Programmes | Inside Money | Bank boss wants mortgages measure