Govt accused of ‘rank double standards’ as civil servants paid £30m in vouchers December 29, 2022 The Government has been accused of “rank double standards” after giving almost £30 million in high-street vouchers to civil servants amid a pay freeze prompted by the cost-of-living crisis. Sixteen Whitehall departments in 2021-22 paid out a combined total of £29.57 million to staff in the form of ‘reward and recognition’ vouchers, a third more [...]
Oil, pasta and tea see largest price rises as food inflation leaves poorest worst off December 22, 2022 Budget staple grocery products have shot up considerably in price this year, as new analysis shows the most vulnerable have been hardest hit by food inflation. Some 61 per cent of people in the most deprived areas are buying less food compared with last year, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). [...]
Shop ’till you drop: Christmas spending up despite rampant inflation December 20, 2022 Shopping habits die hard as Brits continue to spend across the board in the run-up to Christmas and the holiday season despite historic levels of inflation raising prices. Spending on essentials is up by an average of 43.5 per cent compared to the same time last year, with non-essential expenditure also rising by an average [...]
Older Brits in need of cash return to work in droves as cost of living chaos destroys budgets December 19, 2022 Money is a key motivator for older workers returning to work as the merciless cost-of-living crisis increasingly bites, it has emerged. The Office for National Statistics has published experimental data on the motivations for the over 50s to return to work. Money is an important motivation to return to work for all groups, particularly younger groups, with 69 per [...]
UK consumer confidence rises but forecasts remain bleak  December 16, 2022 Consumer confidence in the UK improved by two points this month, but still remains near all-time low levels.
Egg-istential crisis: Shops ration staple as inflation, supply woes drive up price November 11, 2022 Supermarkets are rationing sales of eggs as problems with supply chains are leaving soaring prices and empty shelves. The staple food is experiencing a rise in price due to inflation and a shortage, owing in part to recent orders to house all poultry in doors due to a huge surge in avian flue. Steven Dresser, [...]
Sunak handouts: 8m Brits start receiving £324 into their bank accounts from today November 9, 2022 Close to 8m low income Brits will start to receive payments of £324 into their bank accounts from today as part of the Government’s cost-of-living support. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will start making the payments directly into eligible people’s bank accounts from Tuesday. There is no need for people to apply or [...]
Qatar World Cup could cost Brits £34 more than 2018 summer comp due to rising energy bills November 8, 2022 The winter World Cup in Qatar will cost Brits £34 more than watching the previous one from Summer 2018 in Russia. Rising energy bills and increased prices of a a pint, means it’s likely England fans will watch the tournament at home, increasing the use of energy and electricity. New figures from Saxo claims that [...]
Cost of living special: Which everyday items have risen in price by how much recently? November 6, 2022 New figures showed recently that retail sales volumes have plummeted to 1.3 per cent lower than pre-coronavirus levels, as rising prices and the cost of living continues to bite. The ONS data said at the end of October that in particular food store sales were down, by 1.8 per cent last month, which is 3.2 [...]
West End Christmas intake to be squeezed by pandemic and cost of living at £1.55bn November 3, 2022 West End Christmas intake is set to be a quarter up from last year but still almost 30 per cent down on pre-Covid levels. Around £1.55bn is set to be splashed out in the heart of London’s shopping district, as the capital bounces back from the pandemic in a restriction-free Christmas. The cost of living [...]