According to Xinhua News Agency reported on December 22, Dr. Keith Baker, a researcher at Glasgow Caledonian University , said that in the face of cold weather and rising prices, some families across the UK have to balance the expenses of heating and buying food. Simply put, they are forced to choose between keeping warm and eating.
[Photo/Pexels]
Facing the combined effects of sub-zero temperatures and increasing prices, some families across the United Kingdom (UK) have to juggle their incomes between staying warm or buying food, a Glasgow Caledonian University research fellow told Xinhua. Simply put, their choice is between heat or eat.
A researcher from Glasgow Caledonian University told Xinhua News Agency that in the face of cold weather and rising prices, some families across the UK have to balance the expenses of heating and buying food. Simply put, they are forced to choose between keeping warm and eating.
Many in the country had already been in a rather tight financial position before the cold weather set in, Dr. Keith Baker said. Dr. Keith Baker said that before the cold winter came, the financial situation of many British people was already quite tight.
Last week was a particularly cold one across the UK, with snow, ice and fog warnings in several places. Dec. 12 was the coldest day in the UK since December 2010, the Met Office said. Last week, cold air swept across the UK, with snow, ice and fog warnings issued in many places. The Met Office said December 12 was the coldest day in the UK since December 2010.
As a scholar, Baker has worked with groups seeking to help people faced with the dual problem of a cost-of-living crisis and high energy bills. "People really are on the line between just and only just about surviving and being pushed into really quite deplorable situations." "People are struggling to survive and are being pushed into very sad situations."
Inflation has been running high in the UK since last winter, reaching successive new records. In November, the UK's consumer price index (CPI) rose by 10.7 percent. Food and non-alcoholic beverage prices increased by 16.5 percent in that month. In November, the UK Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 10.7%. During the month, food and non-alcoholic beverage prices increased by 16.5%.
"We don't know how high some food prices are going to rise. Barely a day goes by before you see that the price of one type of food is going up, next day the price of another type of food is going up," Baker said, adding that this level of uncertainty is detrimental to mental health. Baker said: "We don't know how high the prices of certain food items are going to go. Almost every day we see a price increase on one food item and the next day we see a price increase on another food item." Baker said this uncertainty makes people uneasy.
Inflation is being driven mainly by soaring energy prices. In October, UK households paid 88.9 percent more on average for electricity, gas and other fuels than a year ago, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. Domestic gas prices in October were more than double that a year earlier. Soaring energy prices are the main reason for high inflation. Data from the Office for National Statistics shows that in October, British households spent an average of 88.9% more on electricity, gas and other fuels than last year. In October, the price of natural gas in the UK was more than double the same period last year.
People have suffered substantially with their bills going up, Baker said. "Energy bills will go up to about 2,600 British pounds (3,146 U.S. dollars) on average, and I stress that's average, rising again to 3,000 pounds as of April." Baker said that as energy bills increase, people have suffered huge financial losses. “Energy bills are going to rise to around £2,600 on average, and I stress that’s the average, and will rise again to £3,000 by April next year."
"We've now got to the point where charities are trying to get out warm clothing to people." ”
Public libraries and community centers across the UK have thrown open their doors to people eager to escape the cold in their homes, offering warm drinks and hot soup.
Acknowledging that the government support offered by newly installed Chancellor Jeremy Hunt may go some way to help families on welfare benefits, Baker has called for more. Baker acknowledged that the policies proposed by UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt may go some way to helping families who rely on government benefits, so he called for more government support.
"A lot of households are already in the position of no heat and less to eat, and I really wish politicians would get it through their heads that some householders are really in a dire situation." "
Source: Xinhua News Agency Editor: Dong Jing
Source: China Daily Network
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