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The everyday essentials we’ll be paying more for as the cost of living continues to rise
Here’s everything you need to know
As the cost of living in the UK continues to climb at its fastest rate in decades, the price of a number of everyday items and necessities have also been rising.
While inflation soared to 5.4% – the highest rate since 1992 – last month, the price cap for energy bills is also expected to rise by an estimated 46-56% in April.
Experts have warned that the cost of living will only get higher in the coming months in what has been dubbed a ‘national crisis’, and have urged the government to act ‘immediately’.
But what exactly will be getting more expensive and why?
Here’s everything you need to know:
Energy bills
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Perhaps the most talked about aspect of the whole crisis is the looming cost of energy bills, which are expected to soar by over 50% in April, adding as much as £600 to the annual cost of the average UK household.
Provider Octopus Energy states that the reason for the price rise is down to the cost of energy being bought on the global markets being three times higher than it was a year ago. Major economies such as the US, China, Europe and India are all believed to be impacted by this price rise.
Read More: Energy bills could rise by 50% unless government intervenes, industry warns
Money Saving Expert founder Martin Lewis has called upon the government to ‘act now’, saying the looming energy crisis will force millions of households to choose between ‘freezing or starving’.
To combat the rising costs, Lewis has recommended getting a fixed tariff that is no more than 40% above the price cap, improving home insulation, using a smart meter and exploring benefit options if you’re struggling to pay your bills.
Food and clothing
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Supply issues caused by Brexit and the Covid pandemic have resulted in massive price increases for food, groceries and clothing.
A recent Twitter thread by campaigner Jack Monroe highlighted the cost hike in a number of common supermarket items such as a bag of rice, which cost 45p for kilogram bag last year. Today it’s £1 for 500g, a 344% price increase. Monroe also pointed out that a loaf of bread, which once cost 45p, now costs 58p, which is a price increase of 29%.
The ONS has confirmed that food and drink prices lifted by 4.2% year on year in December, while clothes shops also put up prices by an average 4.2%.
Alternatively, retailer Next warned that prices will rise by as much as 6% by next autumn and winter, while online retailer ASOS said it had increased prices in the ‘low to mid-single digit’ range.
Train Tickets
While the cost of rail travel has been steadily increasing for the last decade, they’re expected to become even more costly from March 1st, when ticket prices in England will increase by as much as 3.8% – the steepest increase since January 2013.
Increases are normally implemented on the first working day of every year, but have been delayed due to the Covid pandemic.
Read More: Andy Burnham calls out ridiculous price of 15 minute train journey from Manchester
Demand for rail travel is also more than 40% below pre-Covid levels.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has previously called out the rising cost of train journeys in the North, with him last year proposing a set-fare system that would have ‘the potential to elevate’ millions of Northern residents.
Phone and broadband bills
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Thanks to an increase in data usage during the pandemic, the cost of phone and broadband bills are also expected to increase in the coming months.
Provider BT announced a price hike of more than 9% from the end of March for most customers, with those affected paying an extra £3.50 a month – or £42 annually – on average for their phone and broadband bills.
Working from home, online education and increased TV streaming have all increased demands on the company’s network, with a 90% rise in broadband usage since 2018, and a 79% increase on mobile phones since 2019, the company said.
News
Stagecoach hiring over 100 new bus drivers for Bee Network with £31k salaries
Fancy a career change?
Stagecoach Manchester is hiring over 100 new bus drivers to work from its Oldham depot, following the second phase of the Bee Network launch in March.
You can apply for a range of roles, from positions with no experience required to fully qualified bus drivers.
Successful applicants will receive full training as part of the job, and trainees will get paid to train. Then after only 12 months’ service at Stagecoach, drivers can expect to earn up to £16 per hour, which equates to £31.6K per year, before overtime.
As well as that, drivers that already hold a PCV licence may be eligible to receive a £1,200 joining bonus.
Stagecoach
There’s also a host of other benefits available to all Stagecoach employees, like 28 days paid holiday, generous pension and free Stagecoach bus travel for successful applicants and a companion.
Rob Jones, Managing Director at Stagecoach Manchester said: “Expanding our offering in Oldham means we’ll be investing more in the economy and supporting our local community, as well as strengthening our workforce.
“Whether you’re looking for a career change or you’re a fully qualified, experienced bus driver, there’s a role for everyone here in Oldham.
“We’re looking for personable and dedicated drivers who are ready to help us build on the success of the Bee Network and connect the people of Oldham and Greater Manchester with the places and people that are important to them.”
Stagecoach
Phil Cornwall, bus driver at Stagecoach Manchester, said: “I’ve been a driver at Stagecoach for 25 years and I couldn’t recommend it more.
“From the perks to the people to the passengers, it really is a great place to work.”
To apply, head to the Stagecoach website HERE.
Two men have now been charged with murder, following the discovery of a human torso in Kersal Dale.
As well as that, more suspected human remains were also discovered this morning, Monday April 29th, in an alleyway close to the railway lines off Worsley Road, Eccles.
This follows earlier discoveries of human remains over the past three weeks, at Kersal Dale, Blackleach Reservoir and Colliery Wood, all in Salford.
Greater Manchester Police
Michal Jaroslaw Polchowski (25/04/1956) and Marcin Majerkiewicz (10/04/1982) both of Worsley Road, Eccles, have been charged with murder.
They are set to appear at Tameside Magistrates Court this afternoon.
While formal identification is still ongoing, the remains found at Kersal Dale are believed to be of a local man in his 60s. The remains found at the other three locations are still to be tested, but police are confident they belong to the same victim.
ACC Sarah Jackson said: “We have had large numbers of officers, staff and specialists working diligently on this investigation over the last three weeks. It has been very much a large, collective effort, with the victim and family at the heart of it from the outset.
“We have specially trained officers deployed to support the family as they come to terms with this tragic news. They are aware of this morning’s further discovery and will continue to be kept up to date with how we are progressing.
“Despite the charges brought today, our work is far from over.
“The scenes we already have established in Bury and Salford will remain in place for much of this week whilst our searches and enquiries continue. Local officers will continue to patrol the impacted areas to provide reassurance.
“We will continue following every line of enquiry to recover and reunite the victim with his family, bringing a dignified end to this terrible scenario.
“I’d like to thank the communities of Salford and beyond for their cooperation throughout this investigation. I know this incident has come as a shock, and the support we’ve had from those in the area is very much appreciated.”
News
More human remains discovered in Greater Manchester as police identify victim
All the latest updates
Detectives investigating the discovery of a torso in Kersal Dale have found more human remains around Greater Manchester.
GMP released a statement on the weekend, revealing they had opened four scenes for extensive searches – one of them at a warehouse in Bury, and three in Salford.
Searches took place at Blackleach reservoir, where human remains were found, and a dog walker found a package containing human remains at Colliery Wood.
Officers believe they have now identified the man, who they believe to be a man in his 60s that lived in Salford, and his family have been informed.
Two suspects have already been arrested in connection with the murder probe, with officers saying they are thought to have lived with the victim.
Greater Manchester Police / Facebook
Detective Superintendent Lewis Hughes, Senior Investigating Officer for this investigation, said in a statement at Blackleach reservoir yesterday, Sunday April 28th: “We have continued to make significant progress in our investigation into human remains being found in Kersal earlier this month.
“From day one, our priority has been to identify the man and his family so that we can give them the support and the answers that they need.
“Thanks to meticulous forensic work, we are now confident we have identified the man. Formal identification hasn’t yet taken place, but we believe he is a man in his 60s and lived in Salford.
“Specially-trained family liaison officers have met with his family this afternoon to give them the devastating news, and we will do all that we can to support them at this awful time.
“We believe he is known to the two suspects we have in custody. They have remained in custody for questioning over the weekend, as we work to establish how the victim met this tragic outcome.”
He continued: “We have painstakingly worked to follow up every line of inquiry in this investigation. Over the last couple of days, we have acted on information and had four scenes in place for extensive searches – one of them is at a warehouse in Bury, and three of them are in Salford, including here at Blackleach reservoir.
“Today, we have found some human remains at the reservoir here, and last night a dog walker found a package containing human remains at Colliery Wood. Forensic tests will continue to establish whose remains these are, but we are very confident that this is also the victim in our investigation.
“We have also been searching a house in Winton where we believe the victim and the two suspects lived. We have found evidence that the victim is likely to have died there – most likely in late March.
“While this is significant progress, we know there is still some way to go to complete this investigation. I also recognise details of this case will have been distressing for the people of Salford and beyond – including the officers that are diligently working on this investigation, and most importantly the man’s heartbroken family.
“Local officers will continue to patrol the affected areas, and we will provide updates when we have more information.”
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