Research on the increasing cost of living and inflation
House of Commons Library publications on the rising cost of living in the UK, including causes of inflation, the effect on households, and Government support.

This paper provides figures for the number of people claiming unemployment benefits (the “claimant count”) by parliamentary constituency, as well as a summary of the latest labour market statistics for the UK as a whole. The unemployment rate of 4.0% in May-July 2018 was the joint lowest rate since 1975, while the employment rate remains at a very high level historically and the inactivity rate remains at a very low level. Average weekly pay both including and excluding bonuses grew faster than prices, although the growth in earnings remains relatively weak.
People claiming unemployment benefits by constituency, August 2018 (5 MB , PDF)
The claimant count figures provided in this paper are affected by the ongoing rollout of Universal Credit. The claimant count comprises people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance, or people claiming Universal Credit who are required to seek work. Under Universal Credit, a broader span of claimants are required to look for work than under Jobseeker’s Allowance. This has the effect of increasing the number of unemployed claimants. So changes in claimant numbers may be a consequence of the Universal Credit rollout rather than changes in economic conditions.
The effect is most visible in areas operating Universal Credit “Full Service”, where rollout of Universal Credit is more advanced: in these areas, there tends to have been a sharp increase in the claimant count over the past year.
People claiming unemployment benefits by constituency, August 2018 (5 MB , PDF)
House of Commons Library publications on the rising cost of living in the UK, including causes of inflation, the effect on households, and Government support.
This briefing paper provides information on the Carers Leave Bill 2022-23, introduced in the House of Commons by Wendy Chamberlain MP as a Private Member's Bill.
This briefing paper provides information on the Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave) Bill 2022-23, introduced in the House of Commons by Dan Jarvis MP as a Private Member's Bill.