New figures reveal how childcare costs have risen more than seven times wage rises in just eight years, Charlie Wetton and Emma Parker report

Since 2008 – the cost of childcare has risen more than seven times faster than the average increase in wages for Londoners. For parents of children below two years old, the problem of finding good, affordable childcare is even tougher as government support for childcare only applies to children over the age of two.

Figures from the Labour Force survey shows how in London, the cost of childcare has risen by 59% between 2008 and 2016 whereas wages have only increased by 8% in the same period. In some circumstances, a single parent working full-time could spend up to two-fifths of her income on childcare alone.

The TUC responded by calling for an end to the public sector pay freeze that they say is causing a huge squeeze on living standards. It is also demanding that the government do more to address the affordability of nursery places.