One in four Shropshire workers have not had a pay rise in the past year – and many more have seen their salaries actually fall, it was revealed today.

The news from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development came on another difficult day for the economy, which showed household incomes continuing to be squeezed.

The West Midlands is being particularly badly hit, and is named in the report alongside the north west as the “pay freeze capital” of the country.

Supermarkets are also stepping up special offers in the increasingly bitter battle to retain customers, it was revealed.

Institute spokesman Charles Cotton said: “Even those who are lucky enough to get an increase in their pay will find it below the current cost of living, compounding consumer belt-tightening.”

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