Fifty years ago today, on June 13, 1975 (May 4, 1975 in the lunar calendar), the UK's inflation rate hit the highest in Europe. On June 13, 1975, the struggling Wilson government was widely criticized for rising inflation. Newly released figures on the day showed that the annual inflation rate had reached 25%, the highest in Europe, which dealt a further blow to the Wilson government. Prime Minister Wilson relied on persuasion rather than legal constraints to limit union demands, but the melancholy news released that day strongly demonstrated that voluntary wage limits would not work. Wilson's aides have admitted that there is no magic cure, and they hope that the terror of unemployment will lower union expectations.