After last week's shock jump in mortgage rates and mounting evidence that inflation - now nearly 4 per cent - is rising sharply, we can begin to understand why Mr Brown is so keen on moving from No 11 Downing Street to No 10 as soon as he can.
As David Cameron has pointed out, the cost of living in Britain is rising fast and urgent steps should be taken to ease the burden on hard-pressed families.
One problem is Mr Brown's lust for spending our money. Total state spending now stands at an eye-watering £550 billion a year - or about £1.3 billion every single day.
The tax burden to pay for this is now £9,000 per household higher than it was when Gordon Brown became Chancellor. Taxes in Britain are now well above the international average and going higher.
Sharp increases in gas and electricity bills intensify the pain. Even though wholesale gas prices are falling, household bills are rising, by around 12 per cent from the beginning of January.The Office of Fair Trading should step in to ensure that lower costs are passed onto consumers.
Big increases in council tax and train and bus fares are another headache.
For the first time in many years, prices are rising faster than earnings. Mr Brown should get his own house in order before he sizes up the one next door.
