STORY: Britain's inflation surged to its highest yearly rate since 1982 in April.

Authorities announced Wednesday (May 18) that consumer price inflation hit 9% .

Rising energy bills were the key driver, while food prices also shot up nearly 7% in the 12 months to April.

Britain's budget forecasters laid out some grim figures as the country faces up to the highest inflation rate of Europe's five biggest economies.

They said households face the biggest cost-of-living squeeze since records began in the 1950s, and consumer confidence has sunk towards all-time lows.

It all puts pressure on finance minister Rishi Sunak to ramp up help for households.

Sunak has claimed the government cannot completely protect people from global challenges.

But he also said the UK was ready to take further action to provide support.

Anti-poverty campaigners want Sunak to act now - starting with a rise in the value of welfare benefits to match inflation.

The government has said it has a $27 billion package of support for households.

But much of this has been canceled out by the effect of recent tax increases on workers.

And April's numbers may not be the last British consumers see of rising inflation.

The Bank of England forecast this month that it could top 10% later this year.