Topped up the van's tank today as I figured fuel is only going to get more expensive in the foreseeable.
72l cost me €170... €2,36/litre. Bit of a shock.
I'm not complaining though. Had not moved the van in the last two and a bit weeks choosing instead to ride the 10km to the supermarket or 6km to fetch water with the Bob trailer.
For those that need to use their motor daily that's a big hike in price.
For those that need to use their motor daily that's a big hike in price.
In the past it's been pretty much the only way to reduce car usage and speeding. It's incredible how quickly folk adjust their driving habits when fuel prices spike or when fuel is in short supply. I do wonder how all the people in massive pick-up trucks and SUVs are viewing this big spike in diesel prices.
On the other hand, the increasing number of people in EVs are probably more or less unaffected.
The ridiculous thing is that so much of this could have been avoided with different Government policy. Cameron's famous "cut the green crap" rhetoric on energy was catastrophically stupid and short-sighted (like most of what he did), successive government policies around net zero, renewable energy, cutting fuel duty, tying the UK into ever-more dependency on imported gas has just been insane.
It's like no-one in Government ever once thought - hmm, at some point petrol and diesel and gas are going to massively increase in price, we could probably do with preparing for that scenario.
And inflation is inextricably linked to fuel prices and everything else is affected by inflation (apart from your wages)...
Yeah, I filled up my car this morning, 2.20 a litre, it was 1.70 before the orange man baby needed to escalate his Epstein distraction by killing brown people.
At least we are heading towards the time of year I can spend more time commuting by bike instead of the car. But I wouldn't be surprised if these price rises don't settle down until autumn, maybe even longer.
On the other hand, the increasing number of people in EVs are probably more or less unaffected.
We are heading to a world of serious energy poverty if governments don't start getting real about renewables. It needs the ability to invest in solar and electric vehicles that many of us can't afford, yet another cog in the machine of furthering inequality..
wouldn't be surprised if these price rises don't settle down until autumn, maybe even longer.
same here, I suspect it's the 'new normal' as far as fuel prices are concerned :-/
Not being funny, but I must have missed something as I'm not sure what your point is?
That they don't understand the difference between planned maintenance (services) and unplanned maintenance (repairs and failure of parts)
Yeah, I filled up my car this morning, 2.20 a litre, it was 1.70
What are you filling it with Dom perrignon?
Can't believe nobody has pulled OP up on the horrible AI-generated writing.
But that aside, it's true workers have been getting shafted for years. Particularly since 2010 and labour have sadly only carried on the attacks, but the real damage is done by right wing rhetoric which convinces people we can't tax the rich or big business, leading many workers to actually vote for this very outcome.
Where it all ends I don't know but surely the squeeze on workers can't go on for much longer. Surely people will wake up and see that they're being taken for a ride soon.
HAHA Guilty as charged.
What are you filling it with Dom perrignon?
I am in Germany, fuel and energy costs are more expensive here than the UK.
As an expat I’m appalled by what appears to be average salaries in the Uk for skilled professionals. Here in the lucky country a position that pays GBP 30k in the UK pays around GBP 60k equivalent. Even with cost of living difference taken into account, that’s grim reading. Uk just doesn’t pay.
£10.80 for a bacon roll and cappuccino this week🫣
Here in the lucky country a position that pays GBP 30k in the UK pays around GBP 60k equivalent.
What is this lucky country?
I know what you mean though, I was looking at salaries in Australia for my job when I was over there in 2022, it seemed about a third higher for not much more cost of living. Although equally, they seem really shafted by the Iran stuff at the moment.
I was looking at salaries in Australia for my job when I was over there in 2022, it seemed about a third higher for not much more cost of living
We were there in 2019 - the prices were *significantly* higher for most stuff – we were staying with family so we cooked a few meals for us all and just a "meal shop" was costing us £60-£80 for ten of us. Alcohol was silly money. And that same family, when in the UK, hit our shops for clothes and stuff because it's significantly cheaper (they particularly like Sports Direct).
The Ford Stealership wanted north of £500 to fix 1 switch (electric parking brake switch) on my motor.
With half an hour on YouTube, £20 of clip remover pliers, and half an hour (took my time so I didn't break any of the plastic trim panels in the car) it was a £30 repair with the part 2nd hand from the Netherlands.
£450 saving (and the time I used was less than what it would have been to take the car to and from the Stealership). Seems a pretty good value for the effort.
Disc brakes (EBC) all round, £450, maybe £500 tops with cans of cleaner etc. The Stealership wanted over £1k.
I had a job offer in Oz in 2015.
I went over with the wages on offer in mind to find somewhere to live. I worked out of a staff house for 6 weeks and shopped in the supermarkets etc and lived as I would in the UK....IE not hitting restaurants/pubs/clubs etc .
I quickly realised that the wage although it seemed good on paper and consumerate for the going rate in my industry in the region was terrible in real terms compared to what my income / outgoings in the UK were for the same job.
I didn't take the job.
The difference is that since 2015 incomes have continued to grow in Australia.
I’ve been here 20 years and had regular trips “home.” Every visit to the UK things seem more expensive and also more dilapidated. My wages automatically go up 3% annually.
My parents are insulated from it having been (sometimes embarrassingly) frugal all their lives and lucked out with pensions and property prices etc.
My sister and her kids have much less fun. Three smart kids with great school grades, a first class design degree, all unable to afford to leave home and working warehouse jobs. Living a long way from husband’s work because of affordability.
My mates mostly seem to be trudging through middle age with epic mortgages, tied to stressful jobs - one a former chief of staff at one of the most well known addresses in England - but not really getting ahead.
I’m not gloating. It just feels like my timing was fortunate and it’s sad seeing them apparently trapped.
My wages automatically go up 3% annually.
And what's inflation and cost of goods gone up by
What's 3% in real terms?
I think I usually see people talking about wage growth "in real terms" not the % difference from one pay slip to another.
The beeb have a recent article on pay growth https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn0z0x82r00o
Earnings - excluding bonuses - grew at an annual rate of 3.8% in the November to January period, down from the previous figure of 4.1%.
Edit from Reuters https://www.reuters.com/business/world-at-work/australia-wages-rise-08-fourth-quarter-matching-forecasts-2026-02-18/
Annual pay growth ticked up to 3.4%, from a revised 3.3%, and has been in a range of 3.2% to 3.6% for six consecutive quarters now.
But, depending on inflation that could easily be zero or a negative figure in real terms.
UK consumer confidence has ‘collapsed’ during Iran war, retail industry says | Retail industry | The Guardian https://share.google/KMVA8dKysyJcz11NW
And housing - I've seen reported that average Australian house prices are over $1m. Don't people need epic mortgages to buy a home in Aus?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9vg923vkdko
We were there in 2019 - the prices were *significantly* higher for most stuff – we were staying with family so we cooked a few meals for us all and just a "meal shop" was costing us £60-£80 for ten of us. Alcohol was silly money. And that same family, when in the UK, hit our shops for clothes and stuff because it's significantly cheaper (they particularly like Sports Direct).
Had a similar experience but with a 2023 visit to the States. Staying well away from all the tourist places, in free accommodation around an hour North of Boston. Ended up spend an absolute fortune, even just grabbing some snacks from CVS was painful. Ignoring the many other US issues, it was clear that our buying power over there has gone through the floor compared to the days of people flying over with empty suitcases to fill. Had a similar dinner experience where getting some nice bits n pieces for 6 of us to have a BBQ could end up getting near £100 without even trying
I feel skint and have for a while. It feels like we are back to the 70s and that the pace of quality of living regression is just accelerating. I can't see how this is going to turn around, I think it's a major reset. We've done the 'live for now' and now, worldwide, we are paying for it.
Hope I'm wrong!
And still it goes up....
91 is 2.59/l today.
Diesel is 3.20/l
People are queuing and taking pics and vids of absolute sausages, putting all manner of cannisters full of fuel in the backs of their cars. No static protection. Heck, it's not gonna be long before someone crashes into a car that's essentially a mobile Molatov cocktail. Or some numpty blows his own garage up.
And housing - I've seen reported that average Australian house prices are over $1m. Don't people need epic mortgages to buy a home in Aus?
Not average, median. Median house price in Aus right now is....$1,155,325 and yes you'll need a **** huge deposit. House prices are mental. We bought in a relatively rough area for $300k. 900sqm 3x1 ten years ago. Neighbour one side sold last year for 750k. Next door other side has just put board up and starting price is $867k. Ours is now also a 700k+ house. Doubled in value in ten years but everything has in the market.
Not average, median.
Only going off what the article is reporting, the source being:
I have no real interest in Australian house prices, but people comparing costs of living while leaving out the biggest cost any of us face isn't a true reflection.
Your fuel is cheap compared to Europe though, so stop whinging 😉
Your fuel is cheap compared to Europe though, so stop whinging
Not any more, Australia seems quite badly affected by the Iran stuff.
Popped up this morning in my general news feed. Maybe it's more noticeable in Aus because everywhere is so bloody far from everywhere else so further to drive!
Not any more, Australia seems quite badly affected by the Iran stuff.
He just quoted $2.60/l for unleaded, so £1.30/l. Before this crisis they were well under $2/l.
If you live in a country which has low productivity then compared to others then this is what happens. Compared to others your standard of living will drop, or at least increase less.
https://landgeist.com/2022/07/02/labour-productivity/
Out of date, but still informative. Or https://www.reddit.com/r/europe/comments/1p06p6c/productivity_in_europe_by_region_as_of_october/
Anyone seen the update on plug in and play solar panels at last, not huge savings but it will reduce costs in the long term, available from July I think.
Yes. I saw that. Very interested depending on price, output etc. I'd be quite comfortable fixing one to our garage roof, less so about getting up to the house roof 🙂
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-to-make-plug-in-solar-available-within-months
Queues outside Sainsbury's in town this week as it's the only petrol station around not to have raised their prices drastically yet. The other garages have raised prices, even though I suspect the fuel in their tanks was bought before oil went over $100 a barrel thanks to dimwit Don.
My local Tesco was at £1.669 / litre for diesel where everyone else is north of £1.80. They had sold out.
Tesco near work was at £1.699 so I filled filled up. That'll do me for 3 weeks. Gawd knows where it will be then.
Driving like a nun in a sensible car I was at 15p/mile in February. With this morning's fill up I'm at 21p.
**** Trump
Don't dare to look what has happened to your pension! Early retirement isn't looking so good right now.
Don't dare to look what has happened to your pension!
Yeah, my meagre pension pot has lost about 10% in value since the war began, but seems to have stabilised at that for now.
Australia seems quite badly affected
echoes of the great run on bog rolls in Oz during the pandemic...
live in a country which has low productivity
look at Ireland, a lot of that wealth and 'productivity' is centred on Dublin but has a wider benefit for a country with a relatively small population, the border might be more permeable than is suggested by those maps...
Don't dare to look what has happened to your pension! Early retirement isn't looking so good right now.
And it was looking Ok 3 months ago? Markets have only fallen back to that point. A little AI froth has been skimmed off - the Iran war has barely been priced in yet.
Yeah, my meagre pension pot has lost about 10% in value since the war began, but seems to have stabilized at that for now.
Yep, but I think that 10 year stock growth is about 300%, while wage growth is lagging way behind that, if you only have a meagre pension (as I do) then that 10% drop is **** all compared to how annoyed we should be about how much we actually get paid for the hours we work every month.
I don't think it's particularly helpful to pluck a stat or two out of the air and use it in isolation to compare countries. Rather, it's a lot more complex than that. Eg,
Over on Linked In, there's Americans posting about how their salary is offensive, it's no wonder they can't attract staff, etc etc. The numbers they're throwing around are over double anything I've ever seen. I'm thinking "I wish I had your salary concerns, mate." Then I watched a YouTube video with another bunch of Americans and this subject came up. The amount they have to pay out is astonishing. One guy's family healthcare insurance is a grand a month, and that's like our car insurance in so far as you still have an excess to pay on any claims so you typically wouldn't use it for day-to-day stuff like a GP visit, you still have to get your hand in your pocket for that. Woe betide you should need regular medication, drugs prices are obscene.
I don't think it's particularly helpful to pluck a stat or two out of the air and use it in isolation to compare countries. Rather, it's a lot more complex than that. Eg,
Over on Linked In, there's Americans posting about how their salary is offensive, it's no wonder they can't attract staff, etc etc. The numbers they're throwing around are over double anything I've ever seen. I'm thinking "I wish I had your salary concerns, mate." Then I watched a YouTube video with another bunch of Americans and this subject came up. The amount they have to pay out is astonishing. One guy's family healthcare insurance is a grand a month, and that's like our car insurance in so far as you still have an excess to pay on any claims so you typically wouldn't use it for day-to-day stuff like a GP visit, you still have to get your hand in your pocket for that. Woe betide you should need regular medication, drugs prices are obscene.
I've 2 frames of reference for this.
I managed a global team, someone who works for me is in the US, they earn significantly more than me but because of the difference in the cost of living they are considered to be on a below average wage (for the field).
I also have family in the States who have complained about their healthcare system regularly. They get what's considered to be a good level of care through their company scheme, but still have to pay huge excesses. Although the worst part of it is having to argue with the insurer to actually pay in the first place as they'll routinely reject claims in the first instance. On top of the stress and upset of going though a severe medical condition, you've had to fight for the company to cover the costs, and on top of that you then spend a significant sum on your excess. Long live the NHS (as flawed and struggling as it may be)!
I don't think it's particularly helpful to pluck a stat or two out of the air and use it in isolation to compare countries. Rather, it's a lot more complex than that. Eg,
Over on Linked In, there's Americans posting about how their salary is offensive, it's no wonder they can't attract staff, etc etc. The numbers they're throwing around are over double anything I've ever seen. I'm thinking "I wish I had your salary concerns, mate." Then I watched a YouTube video with another bunch of Americans and this subject came up. The amount they have to pay out is astonishing. One guy's family healthcare insurance is a grand a month, and that's like our car insurance in so far as you still have an excess to pay on any claims so you typically wouldn't use it for day-to-day stuff like a GP visit, you still have to get your hand in your pocket for that. Woe betide you should need regular medication, drugs prices are obscene.
Don't the yanks get like a week annual holiday too? Screw that...
Well they're a low tax country... except they're not because stuff like healthcare, kindergarten, decent services all become a stealth tax because you have to pay them. The consequences of getting sick or injured are unbelievably bad if you're poor - lose your home or addicted to painkillers are pretty normal.
The point of those maps is to give you a feeling of why stuff feels expensive in Britain, though it's everywhere in Europe. But as you drift down the economic rankings , you notice it around you. And bear in mind those are whole UK numbers - separate the UK by region and it's obvious why many people, many councils are overwhelmed by increasing costs.
And the solutions are not easy or painless ( and no I am absolutely thinking not thinking Liz Truss was on the right track)
I would have thought the money would be better used to invest in energy projects to the benefit of all over the long term and into the future.
I said exactly that last time we had government handouts, when the thing in Ukraine kicked off. If they had spent that money on insulation/double glazing/wind farms/whatever rather than temporarily subsidising fossil fuels where would we be now?
Also, if you spend £8bn on solar farms or whatever how many jobs does that support? How many does an £8bn bung to the energy companies support?
TBH due to how they calculate the leccy generation prices on the highest price, so highest gas price is used, £8bn on solar farms wouldn’t make a difference as they won’t pass that cheap electricity saving on on, the Gov should really look at policy on this.
Well they're a low tax country... except they're not because stuff like healthcare, kindergarten, decent services all become a stealth tax because you have to pay them. The consequences of getting sick or injured are unbelievably bad if you're poor - lose your home or addicted to painkillers are pretty normal.
The point of those maps is to give you a feeling of why stuff feels expensive in Britain, though it's everywhere in Europe. But as you drift down the economic rankings , you notice it around you. And bear in mind those are whole UK numbers - separate the UK by region and it's obvious why many people, many councils are overwhelmed by increasing costs.
And the solutions are not easy or painless ( and no I am absolutely thinking not thinking Liz Truss was on the right track)
Yep even in Spain the cost of living crises is playing out.
Americas on another level of insanity with their health insurance,they probably need another civil war,this time against the rich.
I suppose the issue is that the path a solution does have to be started and more austerity isn’t really going to work, as it it never has or just take the MP wages and let someone else worry about it later.
Of course the other problem is you can only vote for what you can vote for, so if no party has a desire for change there isn’t a way for it.
On top of the stress and upset of going though a severe medical condition, you've had to fight for the company to cover the costs, and on top of that you then spend a significant sum on your excess.
Healthcare bills is the number one cause of bankruptcy in the US I believe.
Don't the yanks get like a week annual holiday too? Screw that...
A good point.
I don't they're legally entitled to any? I'm not wholly sure whether they get paid leave even, if you're on leave you might not get paid. (Take all this with a pinch of salt, I'm really not certain at all.)
I have a friend in Chicago who was telling me, (before working for herself) she had a fixed number of sick days and leave days each year and they were essentially interchangeable, run out of one and you use the other.
Yep, GBenergy was meant to be a state energy generator, but after the 28 billion announcement, the wealthy and powerful told Starmer they want their profits, so he bottled it (SACO) and dropped the funding so the corporates can get their profits, and the debt gets put onto the public in future energy costs instead of the government balance sheet. And remember when he was challenged on the decision by teenagers, all the dumb prat could mumble was "I believe in growth" (of course he missed out he only believes in growth for the few while the rest lose).
Basically its a ****ing con job to funnel money up the ladder to the already wealthy, and once again events have shown how stupid, selfish and mentally lazy our leaders are.
Just spent the holiday fund on some kerosene!
Just shy of £800 !
But in the BIG scheme of things we are lucky really.
SO many people caught in terrible situations.
Just cycled past my local garage.
183.9p/l for diesel
154.9p/l for petrol
😯
Kind of glad I don't have a car at the moment, not sure I could afford to be putting any fuel in it!