5% inflation? I sometimes wonder who calculates these percents. I filled my petrol tank last year for £50 pounds. Yesterday, 3/4's a tank was £75. Last year I was spending £40 a week on food for me and my wife. This year, buying the same foods in the same quantities, it is costs £100 a week.

Richard Way, Luton, UK

5% inflation by government figures is probably nearer 10 - 15% by what people actually experience. Even so don't expect the MPC to raise rates they have given up on trying to bring inflation down. Raising rates would reduce imported inflation from energy etc but I bet they won't do it.

chris, brighton,

5% Inflation! We are a nation of importers. Ask any business that is negotiating prices for 2009 from manufacturers abroad especially in the Far East and they will tell you that the increases will be 20%+. Inflation could hit 8% this winter. The Bank will have to raise rates.

Grant, Shrophire

grant williams, shrewsbury, uk

The BoE are reluctant to rasie interest rates as it will further impact on the housing market but housing costs are not included in the CPI calculation so it should be irrelevant. They should have increased rates back in 2005 but again they shyed away from that decision just like they are doing now.

Chris, Oxford,

Gas has risen because of wholesale gas prices following oil prices not as a result the pound. The gas market should be seperated from the oil price so that prices are determined by suppy and damand not the price of oil. You can thank the EU for the rise in gas prices as they attached gas to oil.

Dave, Mold, UK

Dont forget thegoverment take a cut on the vat on our bills how about scrapping this tax

dave, london, uk

Again, the British are held to ransom by EDF, Centrica and their shareholders while the wholesale price of gas has just halved. Where is the positive government action that Brown and his sheep have bleated about for the last umpteen years? Is there anyone in this country who cares about us?

Ian Dickson, Brighton, UK

One factor in high energy prices has been the BoE's deliberate devaluation of Sterling. As well as pushing up the cost of gas imports from the continent, the Eurozone-owned utilities need to maintain their profit margins, which they can only do by pushing Sterling-denominated prices ever upwards.

Paul, Coventry,

The MPR is unlikely to raise rates unless core inflation, including wages, rises significantly. The Governor will write letters to the Chancellor explaining that the main cause is 'imported inflation' over which it is powerless. Lowering rates could also affect sterling - and increase import costs.

Nigel Grimshaw, Cambridge, UK

Cutting rates 3 times since last December was complete madness.Sterling fell and as a result imported gas prices rose.The MPCs job has been very easy for 10 years but now they have a problem.If they had raised rates 3 years ago instead of cutting them,their job would have been a lot easier now.

stephen hulton, eure, france

If inflation,as ludicrously measured, goes to 5% and the Bof E does not raise interest rates it would demonstrate complete
abdication of medium to long term financial reponsibility; with dire consequences for the country.

jackie, paphos, cyprus