Cost of Living

Cost of Living

Britain has been hit by a cost of living crisis which has seen the costs of everyday essentials such as energy, transport and food rise faster than household incomes.

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Latest Cost of Living News

Models of people on coins

Perceptions around banks have improved since launch of Consumer Duty, poll finds

A piggy bank with a £20 note sticking out of it

Cash Isa limits set to be left untouched at next week’s Mansion House speech

The UK economy contracted by 0.1% in May, according to the Office for National Statistics.

UK economy shrinks for second month in a row - in blow to Rachel Reeves

Nearly nine in 10 surveyed families (88%) reported going without daily essentials, compared with 82% of households with fewer children.

'Story of enduring hardship': Survey finds larger lower-income families most likely to borrow for essentials

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has estimated that 378 pubs will close this year.

Britain to lose a pub a day this year, warns industry watchdog

A person holding a shopping basket in a supermarket

Half of Britons oppose fining supermarkets failing healthy food targets

Christmas 2023

Oasis, Wimbledon and hotter weather help spark rise in footfall

Grandparents will spend more than £21 per day on each child on average as they help out with childcare during school holidays

Grandparents ‘feeling the pinch' from helping out with childcare this summer

Scottish banknotes, with coins and a Saltire purse on top of them

Economic slowdown linked to global uncertainty amid Trump tariffs – think tank

A range of banknotes

Self-made people ‘holding estimated £40.7bn in under-utilised cash savings’

Tensions in the Middle East are leading to more expensive crude oil, but retailers are also still charging higher fuel margins, leading to a rise in petrol prices.

Middle East tensions or high profit margins? A combination of both blamed for rise in petrol prices

Halifax stopped the £5 cash in mid June

No more £5 cash for Halifax Reward customers

Sainsbury's will be the latest supermarket to shed light on how its sales have fared in recent months as grocers battle to lure in squeezed shoppers amid rising food inflation.

Investors eye Sainsbury’s sales as grocers battle to lure in squeezed shoppers amid food inflation

Apartments silhouetted against the sunrise

Home sales jump by a quarter month-on-month in May following April slump

Some parents are working extra hours or selling possessions to fund school trips,

Parents ‘working extra hours and selling possessions' to pay for school trips

English sterling money on a laptop keyboard.

Households will continue to face ‘bleak’ living standards for remainder of 2020s in ‘worst decade since 1950s, report says
The countdown to retirement!

Work until you are 68 - or even older? State pension changes ‘could be brought forward’

A British Gas smart energy meter displaying the current energy usage of gas and electricity in a home.

Energy market needs more time-based tariffs to ‘dramatically reduce bills’, regulator says

Heat Pump Replacing by Professional Caucasian Heating Technician. Industrial Theme.

Make electricity cheaper so households benefit from heat pumps, advisers urge

North Sea oil and gas production.

Government plans to cut energy bills for thousands of businesses, but industry boss warns plans are ‘short-term fix’

Confidence in the general economy over the coming year rose five points, driving the improvement.

Consumer confidence up in June amid ‘dark shadow’ of inflation and war in Middle East

Busy Oxford Street in London England

Londoners hit with council tax hikes over 5% as £2bn funding redirected to North and Midlands

Council Tax bill in the UK

Council tax bills in England could be split into 12 instalments by default

A woman shopping in a supermarket

UK retail sales slump in May after ‘dismal’ month for supermarkets

The Bank of England in the City of London.

Consumer confidence remains ‘firmly in negative’ despite slight improvement amid ‘dark shadow of inflation’

Energy bill discounts of £150 will be extended to another 2.7 million households to help with fuel costs next winter.

Millions more households to get £150 energy bill discounts as government extends scheme to help with fuel costs

A man walks past empty shelves in a branch of the Co-op in Manchester following the major cyber attack.

Major UK supermarket offering 25% off £40 shops in ‘thank you’ to members after cyber attack

Russ Cook

Gen-Z adults with a fitness regime ‘more likely to have a financial plan’

Electricity prices in the UK are high because of the "insane" wholesale market, Parliament has been told.

UK electricity prices ‘way too high’ because of ‘insane’ wholesale market, Parliament told

Due to the conflict between Israel and Iran, there are fears that petrol prices will rise again.

Higher petrol prices could hit in weeks amid soaring global oil prices

The Surrey-based company nonetheless said it sold fewer homes over the first half of its financial year.

Housing market recovering but ‘long way from buoyant’, warns housebuilder

A net balance of 28% of professionals reported seeing the number of sales agreed falling. Sales volumes are generally expected to flatten out rather than fall in the three months ahead, the survey indicated.

House sales tipped to bounce back with 'strongest outlook' since February - but buyer interest still slipping

More Latest News

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As the couple were arrested, Marten can be heard questioning "how is that an arrest-able offence?"

‘How is that an arrestable offence?’: Constance Marten's arrogant response as police catch her after seven weeks on the run
The first glimpse of Dominic McLaughlin has been cast as Harry Potter.

Harry Potter TV series filming kicks off with first glimpse of leading star - as more cast announced

Blue Stevens, 24, died after he was attacked in Seville Street, Knightsbridge, at around 9.30pm on July 9.

Three arrested after man, 24, stabbed to death 'for his Rolex' near luxury Knightsbridge hotel

Yostin Mosquera, left, denies murdering Albert Alfonso, centre.

Man accused of suitcase murders claims he was ‘raped every day’ by one of his alleged victims

England's Shoaib Bashir celebrates after the final wicket during day five of the Third Rothesay Men's Test at Lord's, London.

England beat India by 22 runs in third Test of the series

Police personnel work at the site of an Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, India, Friday, June 13, 2025.

Air India rules out mechanical fault on doomed flight 171 amid investigation into pilots' 'medical records'

Aristocrat Constance Marten and her partner Mark Gordon have been found guilty at the Old Bailey of the manslaughter of their newborn baby.

Crocodile tears of a killer aristocrat: Moment Constance Marten is confronted over the death of newborn baby

A man accused of trying to spy for Russia has claimed he planned to “track and expose Russian agents” to assist Israel, a court has heard.

Father-of-four accused of plotting to spy for Russia claims he planned to ‘expose Russian agents'

Pc Ellie Cook fired her Taser at Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, after he and his brother, Muhammad Amaad, 26, allegedly attacked her and two Greater Manchester Police (GMP) colleagues.

‘Not an option’ to walk away from Manchester Airport suspect - police officer tells court

Police said road crime team officers initially tried to pull over the Peugeot, which was believed to be linked to drugs, on the M5.

Cocaine smuggler jailed after police find £1 million worth of drugs in car boot following 120mph chase

A sinkhole filled with water

Sinkhole opens in London borough leading to disruption from 'large amount of flooding'

Katie Wallis arrives at Cardiff Magistrates.

Former Conservative MP who harassed ex-wife handed community order

Irish Air Corps undated handout photo of Army Ranger Wing boarding the MV Matthew as part of Ireland's largest-ever drugs haul.

Irish gangsters' drugs empire laid bare after eight men jailed following Special Forces raid on 'narco-tanker'

Gregg Wallace smiling

Gregg Wallace breaks his silence saying he is "deeply sorry" for any distress caused

Four people have died following a plane crash at Southend Airport.

Plane crashed in 'fireball' at Southend Airport after dropping off patient for medical attention

Wells Town Hall and coroners court Wells Somerset England UK GB EU Europe

Former Met detective died in fire after locking himself in bedroom, inquest told

Latest News

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Mark Gordon and Constance Marten went on the run from police

Aristocrat Constance Marten and convicted rapist lover Mark Gordon guilty of killing their baby
A German backpacker was found alive in the remote outback after a car crash and head injury left her disoriented for 11 days.

Backpacker breaks silence after found alive following 12 days in Australian outback

Evan died while holidaying at the popular Ibiza Rocks Hotel.

'We are absolutely broken': Scottish holidaymaker, 26, falls to his death at Ibiza Rocks Hotel
Ela Haimi fighting back tears as she reflects on the prospect of never seeing the body of her husband almost two years after he was kidnapped and killed by Hamas during the October 7th attacks.

'Time is running out': Wife of man killed in October 7 attacks still waits for his body to return
BBC director general Tim Davie will face questions at the Culture, Media and Sport Committee

BBC boss Tim Davie to face grilling by MPs over Bob Vylan Glastonbury performance

Mr Martin shared images of his "working dog" in a black harness on Saturday.

James Martin brings dog to London for 'protection' after car smashed and friend mugged

Four people have died following a plane crash at Southend Airport.

Four dead in Southend Airport plane crash

Asda

Man who stole £40k while pretending to be Asda manager has still not been arrested 10 years on
BRITAIN-IDENTITY-SOCIETY-EQUALITY-DISCRIMINATION

Women's group to sue Hampstead Ladies' Pond for allowing trans bathers - despite Supreme Court ruling
Jannik Sinner with the Gentlemen's Singles Trophy alongside Carlos Alcaraz with his runners up trophy following the Gentlemen's Singles final on day fourteen of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.

Jannik Sinner’s coach expects ‘amazing’ Carlos Alcaraz rivalry to ‘get better’

The News Explained

See more The News Explained

Crowded Piccadilly Line train at station on London Underground

Piccadilly Line to part-close this weekend for two weeks: Here's what you need to know

Rishi Sunak outside 10 Downing Street

Rishi Sunak facts: Height, wife, children and policies revealed

Big Freeze

Arctic blast sets off government's Cold Weather Payment - but are you eligible for the £25 off energy bills?

Royals

See more Royals

Prince Harry is ready to talk to King Charles in the aim of repairing relations between the pair

Prince Harry 'set for peace summit with King Charles’ - but has no plans to meet William

The Princess of Wales (centre), Princess Charlotte (second right) and the Prince of Wales (right), are greeted by Sally Ambrose at Wimbledon

George and Charlotte join Prince and Princess of Wales at Wimbledon men's singles final

Britain's King Charles III and Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex.

King and Prince Harry's aides 'meet for secret peace talks'

Highlights & Opinion

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c

The last minute rescue of British Steel is not a win. It demonstrates how uncompetitive our nation has become
Cedric Neal, Desmonda Cathabel, Victoria Hamilton-Barritt, Femi Akinfolarin and Laura Delany, in the Hadestown.

Hadestown: A wonderful West End spectacle with memorable music

President Zelenskyy

Defiant and unrepentant: My meeting with Zelenskyy, writes Andrew Marr

The UK is stuck in a morass of mediocrity triggered by indecisive action over two decades.

The UK is stuck in a morass of mediocrity triggered by indecisive action over two decades

Kanye West recently went on an "antisemitic rampage" on X.

There can be no debate about Kanye West - he clearly hates Jewish people and should be challenged on it
My apprenticeship took me from school leaver to radio producer at 19 - here’s why it’s a path worth exploring

My apprenticeship took me from school leaver to radio producer at 19 - here’s why it’s a path worth exploring
David Lammy and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

China is targeting critics on British soil - so why is David Lammy rolling out the red carpet?
Now that Trump has released the classified files on JFK when is the UK going to do the same with Diana and David Kelly?

Now that Trump has released the classified files on JFK when is the UK going to do the same with Diana and David Kelly?
Kim Leadbeater’s Assisted Dying Commission makes a safe Bill even safer.

Kim Leadbeater’s Assisted Dying Commission makes a safe Bill even safer

Why should alcohol be allowed at the World Cup in Saudi Arabia?

Why should alcohol be allowed at the World Cup in Saudi Arabia?

More Topics

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War in Ukraine

Cost of Living Crisis

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