Cost of living rise reflects UK trends

Friday 22nd January 2010, 2:59PM GMT.

The price of food increased by less than one per cent – the lowest rise for three years

THE cost of living in Jersey increased by 2.3 per cent in the last quarter of 2009, it was announced today.

The sharp rise comes after inflation fell to a record low of -0.6 per cent last September as the worldwide recession tightened its grip on the Island.

From December 2008 to last December, the headline rate of inflation increased overall by 1.7 per cent.

The increase was driven largely by a lack of change in Bank of England base rates and higher energy costs.

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1
Mogit

January 22, 2010 at 7:08 pm

The cost of living rise in Jersey, comes from the obscene needs of local supermarkets to increase profits at any cost, all hail the Money God !!!

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2
david brown

January 22, 2010 at 8:56 pm

now ive regained my balance from the giddy spin.
i find that i can only agree, with moggit (1).
what would happen if this year we all said to ourselves, lets just get the basics, food, light and shelter?
more seats in social security please.

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3
Mark G

January 23, 2010 at 12:15 pm

David Brown 2.

I started just getting the basics, food, light and shelter last year and treat myself to a decent holiday every year and christmas i shopped online and saved a fortune. (Why should i line the pockets of local retailers?) Bills in 2008/09 rose higher than reported here. Gas has gone up twice in 18 months. GST increased goods by more than the 3% charged.
Jobs are being lost all the time so yes your right…..
more seats in social security please and Charity begins at home!

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4
Outsider

January 23, 2010 at 10:06 pm

This discussion comes up year in-year out. The cost of living is higher here. The average income here is higher. It does make up the difference.

We have become accustomed to a much higher average (and that’s the key word in my argument) standard of living than is common in the UK. There are of course people finding keeping up with the Jones’ very difficult and there are people who do struggle to get through the week with just the basics of food and light but we do need to get our interpretation of poverty into perspective.

Secondly, regardless of what the cost of living actually is what I would like our elected representatives to answer would be the following:
1. Why is one group allowed to control so much of the retail market?
2. Why are stores (M&S) allowed to display goods at one price and then charge another? I don’t care about carriage costs, factor them in so people know what they’re paying.
2. Why are UK companies allowed to charge UK prices(i.e. including 17.5% VAT) on their goods?

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5
God's Mentor

January 24, 2010 at 1:05 am

The low rate of income & other taxes more than compensates for the cost of food and housing when I compare my standard of living in the UK – then the beauty of our island and low crime tips the balance like a lead weight against a feather – or is this just in my case?

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