A British Union Jack flies above a clothing market stall in Barking, U.K., last week.
Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images
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Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images
A British Union Jack flies above a clothing market stall in Barking, U.K., last week.
Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images
LONDON — The death and funeral of Queen Elizabeth II have dominated news headlines for nearly two weeks, thanks in large part to Britain’s long period of national mourning.
Prices are high and morale seems low
Some of the people who lined up to visit the queen’s coffin and reserved their places along the funeral route described the moment as offering a much-needed dose of community and positivity amid challenges such as COVID and the war in Ukraine.
But it’s also been a source of frustration for those who say the focus and coverage distract from other important subjects — like, for example, the hurricane that knocked out power in Puerto Rico on the day of the queen’s funeral.
Closer to home: the queen died just two days after appointing Liz Truss as the new prime minister of Britain, which is facing an economic and energy crisis. King Charles’ decision to make Monday a bank holiday has sparked protests from Britons over the closure of food banks and hospital services. And, as several young Londoners told NPR, the elaborate funeral proceedings cost a lot of money at a time when many ordinary people are struggling to make ends meet.
NPR interviewed nearly a dozen people across London about what else was on their minds throughout the mourning period and, now that the funeral is over, what they hope to see next. Almost everyone has the same primary concern: the economy, specifically the decline in disposable income known as the cost of living crisis.
“How do I live?” asked Atiya Chowdhury, 22, a recent master’s graduate who spoke with NPR over the weekend. “I feel like a baby that comes out of the egg and the sun is too bright, and that sun is the cost of living.”
Atiya Chowdhury, 22, poses next to a picture of the late Queen Elizabeth II in London on Sunday.
Elizabeth Dalziel for NPR
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The crisis is affecting people differently
Atiya Chowdhury, 22, poses next to a picture of the late Queen Elizabeth II in London on Sunday.
Britain’s cost of living crisis began in late 2021, fueled by high inflation and exacerbated last year by tax increases and rocketing energy prices, according to the Institute for Government think tank. Wage growth has failed to keep up with record inflation, and the tax increase announced last year was the biggest (as a share of national income) since the early 1990s – significantly weakening the purchasing power of people in the UK.
The Consumer Price Index (which measures the average change in prices paid by consumers over a period of time for a basket of household goods) rose by 8.6% in the 12-month period to August. That’s according to the UK’s Office for National Statistics, which says rising costs of electricity, gas, motor fuel and food are to blame.
Gas is getting more expensive for a number of reasons, including supply shortages and disruptions caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine. Most Britons rely on it to generate electricity and heat, and are already worried about the cold months.
People walk across Westminster Bridge Road opposite the Houses of Parliament as British Prime Minister Liz Truss announces her plans to cap energy bills earlier this month.
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People walk across Westminster Bridge Road opposite the Houses of Parliament as British Prime Minister Liz Truss announces her plans to cap energy bills earlier this month.
The British government has taken several steps to try to deal with the crisis, such as giving all British households a discount on their energy bills until October, and a one-off subsidy to some 6 million people on disability payments starting on Tuesday.
But there are concerns that it is not enough to help those in need. After Truss announced last week that he plans to implement an energy price freeze and tax cuts, the think tank Resolution Foundation released a report saying the strategy would give the richest tenth of households, on average, twice as much financial support as the poorest tenth. poor
Young people in London told NPR that as much as they want the government to take stronger action, they are not optimistic about the Conservative Party’s track record.
Sara Moghal waits for her train at Victoria Station in London on Tuesday.
The economy is just one of Britain’s problems
Rachel Treisman/NPR
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Sara Moghal waits for her train at Victoria Station in London on Tuesday.
“I can’t see them on welfare and handing out leaflets, but that’s what they have to do to allow people to live,” said Sara Moghal, 20, as she waited at Victoria Station for a train back to university. “Otherwise there will be a dramatic change in people’s lifestyle, which I don’t think is very good for the country.”
While he hopes that his family will do well, he worries about what the crisis will mean for society in general, especially winter.
How much is rent per month UK?
“No matter how much you earn, it’s going to affect everyone,” she said.
Thirty-year-old Dorian Mills, an operations manager for a cocktail company, says the cost of living has become ridiculous – his rent increased again this month, and he didn’t get the raise he was hoping for.
How much do you pay for rent UK?
“If I only spend money on food and rent, I’m fine,” she says, adding that she’s lucky because as part of her housing arrangement (called a guardianship scheme) she only pays rent, not utilities.
Is renting expensive UK?
Dorian Mills in Islington, London, on Tuesday.
How do they pay rent in UK?
How much does it cost to live in UK per month?
How much money does it cost to live in the UK?
Is UK too expensive to live?
Rachel Treisman/NPR
What is a good wage UK 2022?
What is a good salary in the UK 2022?
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What is considered a good salary UK?
Dorian Mills in Islington, London, on Tuesday.
What salary is middle class UK?
Still, even visiting his parents in Brighton – some 70 miles away up the coast – as often as he wants to be able to is a financial and logistical challenge. Mills said train tickets can go for some 40 to 50 pounds ($45-60).
What is considered a good salary UK?
“It doesn’t make sense when you can get a flight with EasyJet or Ryanair to Spain or Málaga for around 40, 50 quid,” added Mills. “It costs pretty much the same to go from here to Brighton as it does from here to Spain.”
What is a good salary to live comfortably in UK?
Mills doesn’t believe government is the solution, because he thinks the Conservative Party – which has been in power for more than a decade – has failed to invest in infrastructure and help anyone but the rich. What does he want to see in the future?
What salary is middle class UK?
“Caps on rent, caps on energy, caps on food, caps on everything,” he said.
What is the median salary in the UK 2022?
Mills thinks the nationalization of energy and railways might be a solution, or at least one worth trying. More and more, people are realizing that the current system needs to change, he added.
What is considered a decent salary in UK?
“I’m all for capitalism and stuff if you sell it the right way,” he says. “I think people should be able to make their money… but not if it’s just all the money going to a few people”.
What is the national median pay UK 2021?
Bunmie Moj, 33, said the cost of living was the most important issue. He runs a custom printing company and needs to make sure his business stays afloat so he doesn’t have to worry too much in the winter.
How much is a meal in UK?
| But, like several people NPR talked to, he also tries not to worry too much. | |
|---|---|
| “I just take it day by day,” she says. “But I know other people, it affects them more… A lot of the bills are going up and a lot of concerns about how they’re going to pay.” | Some people have a different point of view. Frida Cakmak shares it from behind the counter of the ice cream truck where she works, parked in the tourist destination of Piccadilly Circus. He moved to London eight months ago from Istanbul, where he worked as a manager in a law office. |
| Cakmak has been thinking of leaving Turkey for a long time because of the economic situation, especially the weak lira. He said he was just coming back as a visitor. | Frida Cakmak in the ice cream truck where she works in London’s busy Piccadilly Circus on Tuesday. |
| Rachel Treisman/NPR | |
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Frida Cakmak in the ice cream truck where she works in London’s busy Piccadilly Circus on Tuesday.
Is food expensive in UK?
“I’m here and I’m happy living in London, really,” he said. “The social life is better, the work life is better and, of course, the money is very good here.”
Are things in the UK expensive?
Several people told NPR about other issues on their minds, including climate change and public safety. Many say that together, all the problems facing the country can be overwhelming to watch.
How much does it cost to eat in the UK?
“I think there are a lot of political challenges going on with the war in Ukraine, energy prices, domestic issues,” said Maddie Baker, another recent graduate. “I think all that comes together, it paints a bleak picture for young people … It’s kind of hard to be hopeful at this point and stuff like that.”
How much does an average meal cost?
Moghal, a university student, does not plan to stay in England for long. He has a tourist spot in Dubai.
How much is the average American meal?
“I just think it’s a bit depressed at the moment,” he said, adding that Britain seems to be dealing with economic problems that its European neighbors have managed better. “I turn on the news and all there are are sad stories and depressing news all the time.”
What is the average cost per meal per day?
As Mills observed, there was a lot of discontent in the country but not much activism. He said people don’t protest anymore, and “it’s almost like we’re sitting ducks”.
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