Eurostat figures show that Malta has the second highest cost of living in the EU and this had been the prevalent situation for months, shadow minister Mario de Marco said today.
The figures also showed this was because the government had not passed the savings from the cheaper cost of oil to families and businesses, Dr de Marco said.
The figures showed that while EU families and businesses had enjoyed an eight per cent drop in energy prices, the Maltese continued to pay a high price, he said.
They also showed that the price of food in Malta was much higher than the EU average. This badly impacted low-income families who used the greater part of their income on food.
This could also be seen from a Caritas study, which showed that the poor had become poorer while those on the poverty line had become poor.
This was due to an additional €800 worth of costs each year accompanied by the worst wage increases in 30 years, Dr de Marco said.