Re: Rising cost of living
 

I remember reading a few years ago that



decades back the average family spent 25-30% of income on food
now that figure is around 10%


Indicating how costs of basics had reduced greatly leaving more money for luxuries, or savings.


The chicken article was commenting that the price of a chicken had over the last years dropped from £5 to around £3.50 (not going to bother to reread). To get back up to £5.00 would be a huge percentage rise. (I like to get chuckies from the farmer's market, cost somewhat more than £5.00 but are very nice.)


I don't like price rises any more than anyone else but as costs increase so will prices. That will lead to wage increases -> cost increases and upward it spirals.


Problem is that those who could weather a wage freeze (or even cut) are likely to be the most vocal about maintaining wage rises.

Re: Rising cost of living
 

The current price-capped energy prices will sadly look a bargain compared to April's price-capped energy prices, unless something changes significantly.

Re: Rising cost of living
 

Indeed, by definition the price will go wherever the market holds. Food cannot be “too cheap” because if it was companies would exit the market, reducing supply and prices rise.

It might be lower than he would like but tough.

Re: Rising cost of living
 

Guess we will carry on growing our own but using the entire garden instead.I can always give the surplus away to friends and neighbours.

Re: Rising cost of living
 

Luxuries or saving, more like rent as decades back it didn't swallow up over half someone's take home pay

Re: Rising cost of living
 

We don't have central heating in my home, just an electric fire in the living room.

We've coped for the last 20 years.

When it comes to food, I do the food shop and always look for bulk buys and stuff that will keep or go in the freezer.

As there's only the two of us, I do struggle with trying to vary what I cook. But my dad is happy with what he gets, I do ask did that work or could it have been cooked a bit longer etc.

Re: Rising cost of living
 

Quote:
Kwarteng, whose portfolio includes energy, shared a briefing which said that “for the late winter period from January to February 2022, the most likely scenario is for an unsettled period of wet, windy and mild spells”.

The Met Office’s published longer-range forecast — used for contingency planning — only covers the next three months. It says that this period is “significantly more likely than normal to be mild”, although cold spells were possible, especially during November and December.

—————-

I would add January and February to that list!

Re: Rising cost of living
 

More chance of snow in Feb/March than Dec/Jan nowadays, not that it's any colder if it snows or not.

To be honest I'm going to predict a very cold April next year :D

Re: Rising cost of living
 

Jan & Feb always seem to be the coldest months around here.
(Based on both memory and my external temperature readings for last year).

Re: Rising cost of living
 

Definitely Jan & Feb here.

Re: Rising cost of living
 

Isn't because as the years pass the point we are furthest from the sun moves. That is now Jan/Feb so while the days are getting longer we are moving away from the sun hence it's colder? So we don't get the Christmas Frost Fairs with the Thames freezing over or as many white Christmases. It's also likely some other factor that we can blame on Boris in effect too.

Re: Rising cost of living
 

No, because it’s summer in Oz & NZ when it’s winter here…

https://www.wtamu.edu/~cbaird/sq/mob...in-the-winter/

Re: Rising cost of living
 

That'll be due to global warming old boy...:erm:

Re: Rising cost of living
 

Re: Rising cost of living
 

Nope, all down to Coronavirus, nothing to do with Brexit.