Over a third of parents worried about their finances suffering in the summer holidays

Soaring energy costs and rising food and fuel prices are set to put an extra burden on families’ budgets over the school holidays, which begin this week with more parents being forced to turn to borrowing to make ends meet over the summer according to new research by Ste[Change. The research shows that parents are…

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Half of struggling families have no spending money after monthly bills

New research from national poverty charity, Turn2us, has highlighted the impact of soaring living costs as almost half its users (47%) report being left with nothing to live on each week after paying housing, council tax and utility bills. The survey, completed by 2,730 of the charity’s service users, found that the same group of…

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One in four families set to receive first cost of living payment

Almost one in four families across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are set to receive £326 the Government’s first cost of living payment today which will be sent directly to them with the second instalment of £324 sent later this year as part of the government’s £37 billion support package. Over eight million households…

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Households £8,800 a year worse off than those in France or Germany

Britain’s toxic combination of low growth and high inequality has left it trailing behind the comparable economies of Australia, Canada, France, Germany and the Netherlands, with disastrous consequences for low- and middle-income households according to a new report from the Resolution Foundation. The report notes that the country is approaching a decisive decade of economic…

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Half of people buying less food as prices soar

Some 49% of people surveyed by the Office for National Statistics say they had purchased less food than normal between 22 June and 3 July. This was up from 8% of those polled last September. Another 48% said they had been forced to spend more than usual on their food shopping. Overall, 91% of 2,300…

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Cost of living crisis slows retail sales growth

High levels of inflation and the deepening cost of living crisis have prompted further slowing of retail sales growth, according to new figures by accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP. The High Street Sales Tracker (HSST), total like-for-like (LFL) sales, combined in-store and online, increased by +8.4% in June compared to the equivalent month…

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Consumer sentiment falls as cost of living pressures grow

Consumer sentiment has continued to decline as the cost-of-living crisis escalates, according to the latest update to PwC’s Consumer Sentiment Survey. Sentiment is now at -36, falling a further 16 points from the last iteration in March. Sentiment is now lower than at the start of the first national lockdown in March 2020 (-26%) but still higher than…

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Third of motorists will switch to public transport if fuel costs carry on rising

More than a third (35%) of motorists say they will switch to public transport if petrol and diesel prices continue to rise, according to the consumer element of July’s Startline Used Car Tracker. Around four out of ten (42%) say that fuel costs have already made them use public transport instead of their car, while…

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Cost of living rise sees majority of Britons cutting back on spending

As the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meets to decide whether to impose a further rise in interest rates, the majority of Britons are already cutting back on their spending.W ith inflation at a 40-year high, the Bank of England’s efforts to cool it down by raising interest rates three times since December last year, has…

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Low-income households enduring ‘year of financial fear’

Seven million households are living through a ‘frightening year of financial fear’, going without food, heating, toiletries and even showering as they try to cope with the cost of living crisis new research by Joseph Rowntree Foundation has found. The research found that low-income families have fallen behind on payments by an average of £1,600.…

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Over eight million households to get new cost-of-living payment

Work and Pensions Secretary Thérèse Coffey has sets out detailed plans so that more than eight million households across the whole of the UK will get a cash payment from July to ease cost of living pressures. Millions will receive the first of two cost of living instalments totalling £650 from 14 July 2022, part…

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Government announces cost of living support – Industry reaction

The Government has announced a £15 billion package of support for UK households as inflation hits a 40-year high and energy bills soar. Measures, including a £400 discount on energy bills for all households and a £650 one-off payment for the poorest, will be partly funded by a windfall tax on oil and gas companies. These…

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Government urged to tackle cost of living crisis at root

Ahead of the Government’s plans to announce cost of living support measures to mitigate the impacts of rising prices, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is urging that the Government tackles the cost of living crisis at root. Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Chair Martin McTague said “The cost of living crisis starts with a cost…

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