Five charts that explain the high cost of living in the UK

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that the United Kingdom is facing renewed pressure from the cost of living, with Prime Minister Andy Burnham beginning a monthlong nationwide tour to hear people’s financial concerns. The article says inflation in June stood at 2.8 percent, easing slightly from May but still above the level the Bank of England had previously expected for this year. It adds that higher energy prices, linked in the piece to the US-Israel war on Iran and disruption to oil and gas supplies, are feeding through to household bills and transport costs.

The report highlights sharp increases in fuel costs, saying UK petrol and diesel prices rose by more than 20 percent between late February and mid-August, reaching multi-year highs. It also notes that the burden is unevenly shared: lower-income households spend a larger share of their income on essentials such as housing, food, fuel and transport, leaving them more exposed to rising prices. A charity cited in the article says millions of low-income families cannot afford essential items.

Al Jazeera further places the UK in a broader international context, saying its inflation rate sits around the middle of the G7 group of advanced economies. It also points to food inflation easing for now, while warning that higher energy costs may push food prices up again later in the year. The piece says real wage growth has slowed as well, meaning pay is barely keeping pace with prices and leaving many households with less room to absorb further increases.