it figures

The numbers behind the noise
Category

Cost of Living

11 stories
Cost of Living

Why Does Everything Cost 24% More Than Three Years Ago?

While news focuses on flight disruptions and personal triumphs, Britain's cost of living has quietly surged by nearly a quarter since 2022. The numbers reveal how we got here.

7 March 2026 · ONS
Cost of Living

Your Weekly Shop Now Costs £27 More Than It Did Three Years Ago

While headlines focus on potential fuel price rises from Middle East tensions, Britain's supermarket inflation tells a starker story. The average household basket has climbed relentlessly since 2022.

6 March 2026 · ONS
Cost of Living

Your Weekly Shop Now Costs What a Full Day's Work Paid in 1988

While rent headlines grab attention, the hidden inflation story affects every British household. The same basket of goods that cost £100 in 1988 now costs £201.

4 March 2026 · ONS
Cost of Living

Britain's Cost of Living Has Doubled in Just 17 Years

While rent hits £1,000 in more areas, the real story is bigger. What cost £100 in 2008 now costs £200, marking the fastest sustained price rise in a generation.

2 March 2026 · ONS
Cost of Living

Why Is Your Weekly Shop Getting More Expensive Despite Lower Inflation?

Inflation may be cooling, but the Consumer Price Index tells a different story about the cost of living. Here's what the numbers reveal about your household budget.

1 March 2026 · ONS
Cost of Living

Why Is Everything Getting More Expensive When Inflation 'Fell'?

While Ocado cuts 1,000 jobs to tackle costs, new data reveals prices have jumped 24% since 2021. The cumulative effect nobody talks about.

27 February 2026 · ONS
Cost of Living

Everything Costs 24% More Than It Did Three Years Ago

The cost of everything from housing to food has jumped nearly a quarter since 2022. Britain's inflation crisis isn't over, it's just become the new normal.

25 February 2026 · ONS
Cost of Living

Why Does Everything Cost 24% More Than It Did Four Years Ago?

While the BBC reports on fast fashion's global march, British families face a starker reality. The cost of living has jumped 24% since 2021, making every shopping trip more painful.

23 February 2026 · ONS
Cost of Living

Why Does Your Weekly Shop Feel Like Highway Robbery?

While supermarket workers show kindness to struggling families, the numbers reveal why every trip to the shops feels more painful. Britain's cost crisis has a precise price tag.

22 February 2026 · ONS
Cost of Living

Why Does Everything Cost £2 More This Year Than Last?

While headlines focus on scandals, your weekly shop quietly got more expensive. The numbers reveal how inflation crept back into British wallets in 2025.

21 February 2026 · Office for National Statistics
Cost of Living

Why Is Your Money Worth 24% Less Than Four Years Ago?

While politicians debate youth minimum wage rises, Britain's cost-of-living crisis has quietly erased a quarter of your purchasing power since 2021. The numbers reveal the real story.

19 February 2026 · Office for National Statistics