Fuel and travel costs are pushing prices up again
Thursday 5 November 2026
Inflation has risen to 3.1%, meaning everyday spending is getting more expensive just as household budgets are already under pressure.
Can we overcome?
Challenges
The economic challenges that most impact people like you.
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Wealth inequality
Wealth has not simply become more concentrated at the top, but rising asset values have widened the gap between people who already own wealth and people trying to build it.
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Too many jobs offer too little
Too many jobs lack the decent pay, reliable hours, stability and opportunities people need to build a secure future.
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A secure home is increasingly out of reach
High prices, costly rents and limited affordable housing make it difficult to find and keep a safe, suitable home.
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Public services aren’t meeting our needs
Long waits, gaps in provision and overstretched services leave people without the care, support and shared infrastructure they need.
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Money buys access and influence
Political donations, lobbying and privileged access give those with substantial wealth more opportunities to shape public decisions.
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The tax system rewards the wrong things
How we tax work, wealth and investment shapes who pays and what gets rewarded — with consequences for fairness and productive enterprise.
Keep in the loop
News
Highlights from about the UK economy, the UK government and the UK public sector.
Mortgage relief will have to wait a little longer
Wednesday 4 November 2026
Interest rates are staying at 3.75%, so households with mortgages and other borrowing may have to wait longer for costs to come down.
Energy bills are going up as winter approaches
Wednesday 4 November 2026
A higher energy price cap means many households will be paying more to heat and power their homes during the colder months.
Guides and insights
Analysis
Clear, accessible analysis of the economic issues shaping everyday life
Living standards
What does a day’s work buy?
Comparing the cost of everyday life across generations, from bread and beer to buying a home.
Food & prices
The journey behind your grocery bill
How farming, energy, transport and supermarket competition shape the price on the shelf.
Prices & inflation
Inflation is falling. What happens next?
What slower price rises mean for wages, purchasing power and economic recovery.
Shared prosperity
What would shared prosperity look like?
Beyond GDP: how we could measure economic success through security, opportunity and living standards.
Let's work together
Get in touch
We're looking to work with individuals and organisations who can contribute funding, expertise, data, technology, or strategic connections to help build better economic tools and research.