Official inflation figures understate the real extent of rising costs, but even the government's own CPI scheme lays bare the ongoing misery for working people and those dependent on benefits.
The Con-Dems have had it their way too long. We have to turn this country around
TOTTENHAM striker Robbie Keane withdrew from the Republic of Ireland squad to face Italy with an ankle injury yesterday.
CHARLTON striker Darren Bent said yesterday that he is determined to seize his chance to impress Sven-Goran Eriksson and emerge as a potential World Cup outsider when he reports for England senior duty for the first time tomorrow.
SCOTLAND Under-21 coach Rainer Bonhof will go into tonight's friendly in Austria with a squad hit by a spate of bizarre call-offs.
Brief news from the sporting world.
PREMIERSHIP: Two late strikes saw Arsenal kick off their final season at Highbury amid controversy yesterday, leaving Newcastle fuming.
PREMIERSHIP: The Hammers made an enjoyable return to the Premiership on Saturday after bouning back to beat Blackburn with three second-half goals.
PREMIERSHIP: Everton fans are used to heartache, but, when their defender Joseph Yobo stroked a pass into the path of Wayne Rooney to put United into a 2-0 lead, it was more than they could bear.
PREMIERSHIP: Statisticians may note that, on Saturday, Charlton, with only 10 men for the final 35 minutes, overtook Sunderland in their overall head-to-head record of opposing each other.
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: Paula Radcliffe claimed Britain's first gold medal of the 2005 World Championships after a comprehensive victory in the marathon in Helsinki yesterday.
CHAMPIONSHIP REVIEW: QPR joined the early pacesetters in the Championship by ending Sheffield United's 100 per cent record at Loftus Road on Saturday.