Inflation, which reached the peak of the last 30 years with 7 percent in England, and the subsequent hikes increased the living expenses in the country.
A market shopkeeper selling plastic kitchenware said that he was surprised that he updated the label of the garbage bag roll, which he has been selling for £1 (19.13 TL) for 30 years, to £1.50.
A migrant fabric seller from Turkey also said that prices have never been this volatile in 30 years.
“Energy is the main cause of inflation”
Diesel and petrol prices, ranging from £1.60 to £1.70 per liter, were also this expensive for the first time since 1989. Prices have increased 30 percent compared to last year.
Electricity and natural gas bills to homes are now 54 percent more expensive than last year.
A retiree in shopping complained that the hikes were 0.50 or more per item, not 0.05 – 0.10 per item as they used to be.
VOA Turkish-speaking market shopkeepers are worried that their income has dropped considerably, despite the increase in prices. Shopkeepers think that energy distribution companies make high profits, but they argue that this profit should go down to the public as well.
The failure to reflect the rising prices since September to the invoices due to the limits set by OFGEM, the UK energy market regulator, caused 31 distribution companies to go bankrupt. Invoices, which were updated in April, started to reflect on household expenses.
Another migrant family from Turkey complained that a £30 shopping cart is now £37, and complained that this time they bought a half-carcass of mutton for £130, which they always bought for £80 to barbecue every weekend.
“I asked my family for help”
A family member, who works as a teacher, stated that his income of 26,000 pounds a year goes to home loans and drew attention to the fact that he started to receive support from his family. Upon the question, he said that they bought a three-room apartment for 530 thousand pounds and they had to pay 2050 pounds a month for 16 years.
The common complaint of shoppers and market tradesmen was that earnings fell short, despite an increase in household expenses of £200-300 per month.
First, after Brexit, then the epidemic, now a cafeteria operator, which was directly affected by the Ukraine-Russia war, complained that while giving 23 pounds for 20 liters of frying oil, now it is difficult for 40 pounds. The war with the main production site could push the price up from £40 to £60 next month, its supplier said.