bbc.co.uk
Firmus Energy customers face price increase
Firmus Energy is increasing gas prices for its customers in the Ten Towns area by 8.98% and for Greater Belfast by 12.5%, effective in October.
Cost Of Living
Stories tagged “Cost Of Living.”
30 stories
bbc.co.uk
Former Hull boxer Tommy Coyle to host annual school uniform event
Former Commonwealth lightweight boxing champion Tommy Coyle is hosting his seventh annual free school uniform giveaway in Hull to support underprivileged children.
bbc.co.uk
Surge in horses given up by owners as costs rise
An animal welfare charity, The Blue Cross, reports a significant increase in horses being relinquished by owners due to the escalating costs of care, exacerbated by hay shortages and general cost of living pressures.
bbc.co.uk
School uniform costs hit families, say charities
Charities in Sussex warn that new school uniform costs are adding significant financial pressure on struggling families, despite government rules aimed at reducing expenses by limiting branded items.
bbc.co.uk
Peterborough charity concerned children are living in bed poverty - BBC News
A Peterborough-based charity, Care Zone, is spending £80,000 this year on beds and mattresses for local families, as many children are forced to sleep on floors or piles of clothes due to 'bed poverty'. The charity helped 845 children last year, highlighting a significant…
bbc.co.uk
Business groups urge Swinney to scrap 'ineffective' food price cap plan
Twenty-three Scottish business organizations have written to First Minister John Swinney, urging him to abandon plans for a statutory cap on essential food prices, calling the proposal "ineffective."
theguardian.com
The Guardian view on energy costs: vulnerable households need help with their bills | Editorial
Household energy debt in Britain is soaring, reaching a record £6bn by the end of June and set to hit £7bn by the end of the year. The government must support vulnerable households in the short term as it invests in a clean energy future.
bbc.co.uk
Why we should all get used to high household energy bills
UK households face persistently high energy bills, with further increases expected in October and January, driven by volatile wholesale gas prices and the growing burden of unpaid debt.
bbc.co.uk
Household energy bills to hit three-year high as Ofgem announces 4% rise from October
UK household energy bills are set to reach a three-year high with a 4% increase from October, as regulator Ofgem raises its price cap due to rising wholesale gas costs.
bbc.co.uk
Social supermarket SE Kitchen to take over vacant Chatham shop
A 'social supermarket' offering low-cost food and support to escape financial hardship is to open at a third location in Kent. SE Kitchen redistributes surplus food and offers cut-price groceries.
theguardian.com
Australia news live: Ooshies trend sees profit boom for Woolworths; productivity commissioner says ‘line was crossed’ by WA premier in GST scuffle
Woolworths' net profit has boomed 18% to $1.14bn as customers face cost-of-living pressures, the company has reported. Supermarket sales were up 4.6% in the year to June, its annual results today show.
theguardian.com
Year of after-school care now costs £2,800 a child in parts of UK
Annual after-school childcare costs in England have risen 42% in a decade, now exceeding £2,800 per child in some UK regions. This, alongside holiday care and extracurriculars, places significant financial strain on parents.
bbc.co.uk
The Gurkha families in Reading fighting for their pensions
Gurkha families in Reading are fighting for their pensions, which they claim are too small to cover their living costs. The government says it is committed to supporting the welfare of Gurkha veterans and their families.
bbc.co.uk
Andy Burnham refuses to rule out tax rises in autumn Budget
Andy Burnham has refused to rule out tax rises in the upcoming autumn Budget, saying he 'won't be unrealistic' about the 'challenging' state of public finances.
bbc.co.uk
Hull charity helps more than 100 children with school uniforms
A charity in Hull is helping over 100 children with free school uniforms. The charity, Doreen's, repurposes unwanted uniforms and gives them to families across the city. The demand for school uniforms is high, with some families spending up to £500 on uniforms for their c…
bbc.co.uk
Energy UK says struggling households need more support with bills
Energy UK says the government should step in to provide more help for households most in need due to higher energy bills this winter. The body representing energy firms in the UK has called for a new 'social discount' scheme to offer targeted and adjustable support.
bbc.co.uk
Taxi drivers urge council to agree 8% fare hike
Taxi drivers in North Tyneside are requesting an 8% fare increase to offset rising fuel prices and the cost of living, a proposal that has raised concerns among local councillors regarding the impact on residents.
bbc.co.uk
Not 'poor enough': Do people use London's pay-it-forward schemes?
Pay-it-forward schemes in London, offering free coffees or books, aim to help people amid the cost of living crisis, but face challenges with public uptake due to embarrassment or feeling 'not poor enough'.
theguardian.com
The Guardian view on Andy Burnham’s buses: a blueprint for governing Britain
Andy Burnham's buses plan is a blueprint for governing Britain, connecting people to cities and reducing social exclusion. The prime minister is right to think that taking Manchester's model national could widen opportunity, clean the air, and rebuild state capacity.
theguardian.com
JD Sports boss is still struggling to turn up the heat on a tepid trainer market
JD Sports has cut its profit forecast by £50m due to cost of living pressures and a tepid trainer market. The company's share price has fallen 14% and is back at 2019 levels.
bbc.co.uk
Thousands helped with back to school costs in Jersey
The Jersey government has given over £310,000 to help families with back to school costs. More than 2,500 students have been supported by the scheme.
theguardian.com
What has Burnham promised since he became PM, and when will it happen?
Andy Burnham has promised to cap single bus fares at £2 and scrap VAT on household electricity bills. He has also floated policies to shift power out of Westminster, bring services under public control, and address the rising cost of living.
bbc.co.uk
Demand for Wirral school uniform bank 'has never been higher'
A charity offering free second-hand school uniforms in Wirral says demand has never been higher, with parents struggling to afford the rising cost of uniforms.
theguardian.com
UK pay growth slows as job vacancies hit five-year low
UK pay growth slows as job vacancies hit five-year low amid the economic impact from the Iran war. Figures from the Office for National Statistics show average growth in total earnings, including bonuses, fell to 4.1% in the three months to June, down from 4.4% in the thr…
bbc.co.uk
Homeowner feared energy grant scheme was a scam
A homeowner in Wisbech initially feared a government energy efficiency grant scheme was a scam but ultimately benefited from solar panel installation, significantly reducing his electricity bill. However, the local council delivering the scheme has exhausted its £3.5m fun…
bbc.co.uk
It was either feed my animals or feed myself
A food bank in Wiltshire is running low on pet food, with some owners choosing to feed their animals before themselves due to financial struggles.
bbc.co.uk
How switching your bank account could earn you up to £220
Many of us have been with the same bank for years, potentially missing out on hundreds of pounds that rivals are offering us to move to them. Banks are competing to change our mind with incentives to switch, including the largest bonus of £220.
bbc.co.uk
Parents 'watering down baby milk formula' over high costs
Parents are reportedly watering down baby formula due to high costs, leading to dangerous health risks for infants, according to a baby bank in Consett, County Durham.
theguardian.com
Hanson says Australians should be able to use super for cost-of-living pressures
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has called for Australians to be able to use their superannuation for cost-of-living pressures, saying it is their money and they should be able to access it in times of crisis.
Senegal hikes fuel prices amid surge in global oil markets
africanews.com
Senegal hikes fuel prices amid surge in global oil markets
Senegal has raised fuel prices due to the sharp rise in global oil costs. Super petrol now costs 990 CFA francs a litre, up by 70 francs, while diesel has risen to 755 CFA francs, an increase of 75 francs.