The latest figures, released today (Wednesday 19 August), will have particular meaning in a village like Gnosall, where the cost of running your home and getting around can account for a sizeable chunk of the household budget.
UK inflation rose to 2.9% in July, up from 2.6% in June, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
One of the biggest reasons was something every household in Gnosall will recognise: the cost of keeping the lights on and the house warm, which has risen so much since 2021 - the start of the Ukrainian-Russia conflict.
A £221 increase in the typical energy bill
Ofgem's energy price cap changed at the beginning of July, taking the estimated annual bill for a typical dual-fuel household paying by Direct Debit to £1,862. That's £221 more than previously.
Gas prices rose by 14.7% during July alone, while electricity prices increased by 3.6%.
Although the price cap is expressed as a typical annual bill, there isn't actually a maximum amount a household can pay. The more energy you use, the higher the bill.
And that's an important distinction for Gnosallers.
Much of the village consists of houses rather than flats, including sizeable detached and semi-detached properties. Older properties can also be more expensive to heat than smaller, modern homes built to higher energy-efficiency standards.
For some households, therefore, the national figure of £1,862 may bear little resemblance to the bill arriving through the door. Many households are receiving monthly bills of £300 or more.
The Gnosall cost of living isn't just about energy
Living in a village brings another expense that can sometimes be overlooked in national discussions about inflation: transport.
For many Gnosall residents, having a car isn't a luxury.
Travelling to work, getting to Stafford or Newport, attending hospital appointments, taking children to activities or simply doing a larger weekly shop at Aldi (other supermarkets available) can involve getting behind the wheel.
There was at least some welcome news for motorists in today's figures.
The average price of diesel fell by 8.8p per litre between June and July, reaching 167.6p per litre, while petrol fell by 3.1p per litre to an average of 152.2p.
Food inflation also eased, with food and non-alcoholic drink prices 1.3% higher than a year earlier, which is the lowest annual rate since September 2021.
For a Gnosall household, however, these competing movements illustrate why the headline inflation figure doesn't always reflect what people experience in their bank accounts.
A local family driving two cars and heating a larger home may feel today's increase considerably more than somebody living in a small city-centre flat with good public transport.
And there could be a knock-on effect for Gnosall businesses
There's another local dimension to today's figures.
Every additional pound spent on electricity, gas, fuel and groceries is a pound that can't be spent elsewhere.
That matters to Gnosall's pubs, cafés, shops, takeaways, hairdressers and other independent businesses, many of which are themselves paying higher energy and operating costs.
At this point it's worth reminding ourselves of the importance of shopping local where possible, and supporting family-owned businesses rather than faceless corporations.
When household budgets tighten, discretionary spending is often one of the first things people reconsider.
A cancelled meal out or one fewer trip to the pub may seem insignificant at household level. Multiplied across thousands of residents, however, those small decisions can ripple through the village economy.
What does 2.9% inflation mean?
Today's figure doesn't mean prices suddenly increased by 2.9% during July.
It means prices were, on average, 2.9% higher than they were a year earlier.
Nor does lower inflation necessarily mean prices are falling. It usually means they are continuing to rise, but at a slower rate.
The Government's inflation target is 2%, meaning today's 2.9% figure remains above target.
But perhaps the more meaningful measure in Gnosall isn't the national percentage.
It's what's left in people's pockets after the mortgage or rent is paid, the house is heated, the cars are fuelled and the weekly shopping is done.
And with autumn approaching, the renewed rise in energy costs means many households will be hoping today's inflation increase doesn't mark the beginning of another prolonged squeeze.
LOVE GNOSALL ASKS: Are higher household bills beginning to bite again? Have you cut back elsewhere to compensate, and are you worried about energy costs heading into autumn? Tell us what you're experiencing in Gnosall.
