Low-paid public servants face an inflation rate twice as high as the government claims — as hundreds of thousands take to the streets today in a strike against real-terms pay cuts.

The government’s official Consumer Price Index figures yesterday put inflation at 1.2 per cent — a five-year low.

But a new “Real Britain Index,” which accounts for poorer households spending more on essential items, was revealed to be at 2.36 per cent.

This innovative marker was devised by experts at the New Economics Foundation.

The news comes as 250,000 members of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) take strike action after being offered a measly 1 per cent salary rise after two years of outright freezes.

Official Civil Service statistics published last week show that lower and middle-ranking executive officers in the service have received a pay rise of just 2.05 per cent in the past four-and-a-half years.

“These figures prove what people in low-paid households already know,” said PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka.

“That the real cost of living is soaring while wages are being cut year after year.

“Our action this week demands an end to these cuts that are slashing the public servants’ living standards at the same time as millionaires are handed tax cuts and tens of billions of pounds are stolen from our public finances every year through tax evasion.”

But Prime Minister David Cameron crowed: “It’s good news that inflation remains low. Our long-term economic plan is delivering more financial security and stability for families.

“Today’s inflation figures mean a big real-terms increase in the state pension next year — helping people who’ve worked hard all their lives.”

The state pension “triple lock” ensures a minimum rise of 2.5 per cent — or £2.85 a week — in payments, which would otherwise be linked to average earnings or inflation.

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said she hoped the low inflation figures would put to bed talk of raising interest rates.

“Seven years of falling real wages have left demand weak and the economic recovery looking increasingly fragile. New concerns about deflation are emerging,” she said.

“Today’s figures should put an end to speculation about early interest rate rises — it’s wage rises that the economy desperately needs.

“As Bank of England governor Mark Carney told the TUC last month, British workers have faced pay cuts deeper than at any time since the 1920s.

“Today’s figures show the economic costs of shutting working people out of the recovery.”

PCS is due to stage a demonstration outside the National Gallery from 11am this morning, where for the first time an exhibition is being staffed purely by private contractors.

The Star exclusively revealed in July that National Gallery bosses had gagged staff in a bid to stop negative publicity about their dispute.

A rally will also take place at Old Palace Yard outside the Houses of Parliament from 11.30am.