Where's my pocket money?

So it's official then, some clever experts have just discovered I've got less left in my pocket to spend on non-essentials than I had 17 years ago. Of course I'm very grateful to those experts for telling me what I already knew, but they've just spent some of their pocket money unearthing some horrid intel. The share of my income to spend on 'luxuries' has plummeted in the last 6 years of labour rule in the UK. And they reckon there's a lot worse to look forward to. Apparently food prices are going to rise at 6% p/a for a good few months, and utilities by 10% p/a in the second half of this year.
But the government would have us believe that inflation is running at only 2.5% p/a. I don't think it's been that low for ages, but then you can make statistics say whatever you want if you ask the right questions.
No one asked me what the rate of inflation was. I suspect they knew what the answer would have been and didn't want to spoil their own stats.
No wonder the Beckam's moved out. I see Posh was not smiling for the cameras again in New York.
I know someone who just got some extra pocket money. Those boys and girls in the Financial Services Authority have just shared almost 14 million in bonuses (an average of 5000 for each of them) because they've been doing extra work. No doubt that's why they missed the risky lending policies of Northern Rock with the result that some of what could have been my pocket money has been used to bail it out
It's not all bad news though. The top Los Angeles cop (Bill Bratton) is going to be telling new London mayor Boris how to cut crime rates. I hope that doesn't mean more cameras, because they don't work. They only help to solve 3% of street robberies and the bad lads just assume they aren't working, so they're not even a deterrent. And they cost billions, of what might have been in my pocket.
Apparently Gordon Brown has decided he's not going to charge us for rubbish disposal. I assume someone told him we already do pay through our council tax.
It's a funny old life! I think I'll just bury my head in a book.