Cost of living is a major focus for both political parties this election campaign and their promises are central to securing swinging voters.

Australian Council of Trade Unions secretary Sally McManus said wages had been stagnant well before the pandemic, while inflation continued to rise, ahead of the latest CPI figures released on Wednesday.

"CPI figures are already outstripping wages by 1.5 per cent, so people are going backwards," she told Gareth Parker on 6PR Breakfast.