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Category: Cost of Living crisis

  • Price rises gather pace in UK shops amid higher energy costs

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    https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/sep/01/price-rises-gather-pace-in-uk-shops-higher-energy-costs

    In-store inflation has been led by higher prices for tinned and packaged food, which increased by 2.5% last month on an annual basis. Photograph: Matthew Horwood/Getty Images

    In-store inflation rises to an annual 1.5% in August, according to a survey for the British Retail Consortium

    The pace of price rises in UK shops rose to its highest level in two years in August, a trade body index shows, with higher energy costs pushing up the price of food and AI chip demand making technology more expensive.

    In-store inflation stepped up to 1.5% year on year in August, up from 0.9% in July, led by prices for tinned and packaged food which increased by 2.5% against 1.1% in the prior month, according to data from the research company NIQ for the British Retail Consortium.

    Inflation for fresh produce remained high at 3%, amid pressure on growers from the hot dry summer plus hefty fuel and energy costs. However, that marked a slight easing off from the 3.1% recorded in July,

    …

    The evidence of higher shop prices comes after the boss of Asda said he was seeing inflation on some fresh food begin to rise after a hot dry summer that affected crop yields.

    Cereals including wheat and barley were hit particularly badly, according to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board. Its first harvest report of 2026 said the hot weather had resulted in the earliest harvest since records began in 2006.

    …

    https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/sep/01/price-rises-gather-pace-in-uk-shops-higher-energy-costs

  • UK households will take £2,400 financial hit from Iran war, analysis shows

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    https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/aug/31/uk-households-financial-hit-iran-war-inflation-wage-stagnation

    ‘Until energy markets calm, the squeeze will persist’ on UK households, says the CEBR consultancy. Photograph: Jill Mead/The Guardian

    Centre for Economics and Business Research calculates effect of inflation and wage stagnation to end of 2027

    UK households will have suffered a £2,400 financial hit, on average, from the Iran war by the end of 2027, new analysis shows.

    The Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) has calculated that the jump in inflation since the conflict began, and weaker wage growth, will knock £1,100 off the real income of the average UK household in 2026, and by a further £1,300 in 2027.

    This adds up to a total of £70.4bn that will be wiped off UK households’ real disposable incomes by the Middle East conflict, according to the CEBR, an economic consultancy.

    …

    Energy bills across Great Britain are scheduled to rise in October, after the regulator, Ofgem, decided to lift its quarterly price cap by 4%.

    Last week, the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit thinktank (ECIU) calculated that higher wholesale oil and gas prices since the start of the US-Iran war, on 28 February, will add an estimated £9.8bn to UK energy and road transport costs. UK gas and electricity users face paying an extra £190m for each week the conflict continues, the ECIU found.

    Original article at https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/aug/31/uk-households-financial-hit-iran-war-inflation-wage-stagnation

    Donald Trump calls for help from NATO allies in securing the Strait of Hormuz despite saying on 7 March 2026 that they don't need people to join wars after they've already won. He's challenged with the claim that he lies as much as the IDF.
    Donald Trump calls for help from NATO allies in securing the Strait of Hormuz despite saying on 7 March 2026 that they don’t need people to join wars after they’ve already won. He’s challenged with the claim that he lies as much as the IDF.
    Donald Trump sings and dances, says that it's fun to kill everyone ... unless he gets distracted or falls asleep.
    Donald Trump sings and dances, says that it’s fun to kill everyone … unless he gets distracted or falls asleep.
    Orcas discuss how Trump was re-elected and him being an obviously insane, xenophobic Fascist.
    Orcas discuss how Trump was re-elected and him being an obviously insane, xenophobic Fascist.

  • Government choosing not to cut energy bills, say Greens in response to latest energy price cap

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    Green Party MP Hannah Spencer by ©House of Commons, CC BY 3.0
    Green Party MP Hannah Spencer by ©House of Commons, CC BY 3.0

    Responding to the hike in energy prices to the highest level for three years, under the regulator Ofgem’s latest price cap, Green MP Hannah Spencer said:

    “It’s a repeat story for millions of households – energy bills up just in time for winter, and now to their highest level in three years. Meanwhile, oil and gas companies rake in billions in profits.

    “Bill payers are being ripped off, and while Burnham keeps talking about giving struggling households breathing space, today’s rise in the price cap will see his measly £45 a year bill reduction more than wiped out.

    “The government could immediately cut bills by removing policy costs and the costs of servicing energy debt off bills and onto wealth taxes. They are choosing not to.

    “The Green Party knows that small tweaks won’t cut it. Only by scaling up renewable energy, ending rampant profiteering by energy giants, insulating millions of homes, and fully decoupling the price of gas from electricity can we bring down bills for good. Giving the green light to new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea won’t cut bills, it will only worsen the climate crisis.”

  • Burnham’s words ‘don’t inspire confidence’ for households facing rising energy bills, campaigners say

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    https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/burnhams-words-dont-inspire-confidence-households-facing-rising-energy-bills-campaigners

     Prime Minister Andy Burnham reacts as he speaks with young people during a visit to the Oh Yeah centre in Belfast, as he makes his first visit to Northern Ireland since coming to office, August 27, 2026

    FUEL poverty campaigners warned today that Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s words “don’t inspire confidence” for households facing rising energy bills.

    The End Fuel Poverty Coalition (EFPC) hit back after government sources suggested there would be no further support before October’s price cap rise.

    …

    End Fuel Poverty Coalition co-ordinator Simon Francis told the Morning Star that ministers must go “further and faster in bringing in support for households and reform of energy bills.”

    Mr Francis added: “Bringing down energy prices must be at the centre of the Budget.

    “But forcing households through a sixth winter of sky-high energy bills, caused by the power that volatile gas prices have on our energy system, is not going to help anyone.

    …

    https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/burnhams-words-dont-inspire-confidence-households-facing-rising-energy-bills-campaigners

  • Energy bills to hit three-year high as Ofgem announces 4% rise from October

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    https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/energy-bills-hit-three-year-high-ofgem-announces-4-rise-october

    A gas hob burning on a stove, August 26, 2022

    TUC calls for tax increase on bank profits to pay for social tariff to cut household bills

    HOUSEHOLD energy bills will hit a three-year high in yet “another nail in the coffin” for budgets after Ofgem announced a 4 per cent rise from October.

    The regulator confirmed today that gas unit rates are set to rise from 6.29p per kWh last winter to 8p, up around 27 per cent year on year.

    It means the new cap is £1,723, which is £147 more than the same period last winter, when the October cap stood at £1,576, and 150 per cent higher than at the end of 2020.

    From October, the government’s cut to VAT on electricity bills from 5 to 0 per cent will shave around £45 a year off the average bill.

    But with experts predicting a further 9 per cent rise in January, unions and campaigners have urged the government to act again.

    Cornwall Insight predicts the January 2027 price cap will rise to £1,872, 18 per cent higher than January 2026.

    …

    C0ntinues at https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/energy-bills-hit-three-year-high-ofgem-announces-4-rise-october