Facts on Prices

The price of Freddos has risen five times faster than inflation

A humorous post compares the rise in price of Freddos to increases in the minimum wage. Both have risen above inflation over the last two decades.

Wage growth is only the fastest in a decade if you ignore inflation

Weekly wages in cash terms are rising at their fastest rate in a decade. But accounting for inflation it’s only the fastest for two years.

Water rip-off? Are water bills up 40% since privatisation?

Bills rose sharply after privatisation in 1989 but have been falling slightly in recent years.

How have wages changed over the past decade?

The UK average weekly wage has fallen from around £540 to £520 in real terms over the past 10 years. Wages have levelled off since 2016.

Are rail fares out of control?

The average rail fare in Britain has increased by 20% in real terms since 1995, though it dropped by 1% between 2017 and 2018.

Are we spending more than half our income on rent?

There are 12 local authorities where the person on the average salary would have to spend 60% or more of their income to pay the average private rent.

Economy introductions: the idea behind interest rate changes

An introduction to why the Bank of England changes its interest rates.

Will getting rid of EU tariffs help the worst off?

Higher tariffs make what we buy from other countries more expensive.

Are household savings at their lowest in 50 years?

The household saving ratio has hit an all-time low, but the figures don’t quite tell the full story

Energy bills under the Conservatives

Have they gone up by £900?