Latest news with #cost of living
The Guardian
2 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Reform voters could be lured to Labour with extra focus on NHS and cost of living
Reform voters could be tempted to back Labour at the next election if there was more focus on a 'bills and blue lights' strategy to repair the NHS and deal with the cost of living, according to research from the firm of the former cabinet minister Jim Murphy. The polling of 1,000 Reform voters found that more than half would be more likely to vote Labour if the government lowered waiting lists and gave more money to the NHS. It also found that 75% of Reform voters wanted more action to help with the cost of living. With Nigel Farage's party leading in the polls, No 10 has been tackling the threat of Reform by attacking its record on the NHS, highlighting previous statements about it being open to an insurance-based model. The home secretary, Yvette Cooper, also criticised Reform on Thursday for 'continually attacking' police officers trying to tackle unrest and, more widely, the government has been trying to cast doubt on Reform's economic competence. Farage's party has remained top of the polls for some months – at about 28-29% – on public unhappiness about the cost of living, economy and immigration, with its lead appearing to widen after Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana launched a new leftwing party. The research on Reform voters, commissioned by Arden Strategies with JL Partners, looked in particular at former Labour voters who had opted for Farage's party in 2024. It found that 58% said they could be tempted back to Labour with more NHS investment and 52% cited a reduction in hospital waiting lists would be key. More than half of those who had switched to Reform from Labour were concerned that Reform could merge or strike a deal with the Conservative party. Four out of 10 of all the Reform voters questioned said they would be less likely to support Nigel Farage's party if it proposed to change the NHS to an insurance-based model. The research found that more than half of those who backed Reform at the last election thought there was a chance they would not vote for the party next time, with 46% saying they were 'absolutely certain' to vote for Reform again. Across other policy areas, about four in 10 Reform voters said they would be less likely to vote for the party if it was seen to be too friendly to Vladimir Putin and Russia, while almost eight in 10 said it was important to 'stand up' to Putin. Six in 10 of the Reform voters polled felt it was important for the party to support Ukraine and four in 10 said it was important for the party to support Israel. Sign up to Headlines UK Get the day's headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning after newsletter promotion On the two-child benefit cap, there was division, with 44% wanting to scrap it and 34% supporting it, suggesting Farage is in touch with his voters after saying he would like to remove the cap. More than half were keen on the idea of a tax on wealth, with 56% backing the idea of an annual 2% levy on those owning assets worth more than £2m. Murphy, the founder and executive chair of Arden Strategies, said the comprehensive poll of Reform voters suggested that 'many are far from certain about how to vote at the next UK general election and are watching what progress the government makes on the key issues that matter to them, like the NHS and the cost of living'. Tom Lubbock, the founding partner at JL Partners, said: 'The good news for Labour is that Reform voters and those defectors from Labour have the same concerns as most of the country. They are 'bills and blue lights' voters; they want to see much more attention on their cost of living and are reserving judgment on the progress that Labour has so far made on the NHS. It's a tough audience, as this research shows, but one that can be won back by campaigning on those issues to show that Labour shares the same interests.' Lubbock said the challenge the Reform party faced was convincing the voters who had joined them since the election that they had the experience to govern.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
'Cost of living Canada' tops list of household fears ahead of Bank of Canada rate decision
Even as Canadians kick back and enjoy exploring their own country or relax into summer while soaking up sunshine rays, many are still struggling with the higher cost of living. As the Bank of Canada prepares for its next interest rate decision on July 30, 2025, a recent survey from shows that nearly two-thirds of respondents (63.9%) confess that the cost of living is their top economic concern — dwarfing worries about borrowing costs, jobs or debt levels. The findings highlight a growing divide between current economic indicators and how Canadians actually feel about their day-to-day finances. Don't Miss Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich — and 'anyone' can do it The Canadian economy is showing signs of softening amid Trump's tariffs — protect your wallet with these 5 essential money moves (most of which you can complete in just minutes) I'm almost 50 and don't have enough retirement savings. What should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 solid ways you can catch up Cost of living dominates the economic anxiety The findings of the survey offer a clear signal of what Canadians are feeling most acutely — a feeling that could influence how the central bank frames its next interest rate policy decision. While past rate hikes were aimed at taming inflation, households are now more preoccupied with ongoing affordability challenges than with the cost of borrowing itself. Based on survey data is appears Canadians continue to feel the pressure of elevated grocery prices, rent, and transportation costs. There may be hope from some that the nation's central bank will consider consumer sentiment as it decides whether or not to cut, hold, or raise the overnight benchmark rate. Will the Bank of Canada cut, hold, or hike? The Bank of Canada held its policy interest rate at 4.75% at its last meeting in June 2025, after cutting from 5% earlier that month. Some economists anticipate another small cut this time around, as inflation continues to cool modestly and job growth softens. Yet, others expect the Bank to pause and wait for more data before making additional moves. No matter which way the BoC decides to go, the decision appears to come with risks. Cutting too soon could weaken the Canadian dollar and reignite inflation — especially if the U.S. Federal Reserve maintains its higher rates for longer. Holding steady might keep mortgage and loan costs high, worsening household affordability. Finally, a hike in rates (although very unlikely) could potentially worsen consumer sentiment and tip some households into financial distress. Read more: Here are — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Canadians' top concern is broader than interest rates While the Bank of Canada's rate decision will impact living costs, most survey respondents did not consider higher intererest rates as their primary concern. Turns out fewer than 1 in 9 Canadians selected 'high interest rates' as their top concern — despite more than two years of rapid hikes. This suggests that while interest rates are affecting Canadians, they are seen more as a side effect of deeper economic problems like inflation, housing, and everyday affordability. This is most likely due to the perceptoin that while high rates have slowed inflation, the damage is done — people are still paying more for food, gas and rent. This also emphasis the gap the continues to emerge between macroeconomic indicators and household realities. What's next All eyes are now on the Bank of Canada's July 30 announcement. While core inflation is gradually trending downward, and the job market is beginning to show signs of strain, the Bank of Canada's decision will ultimately depend on whether it believes consumer pain — especially related to cost of living — outweighs the risk of reigniting inflation. Whatever the move, the signal from Canadians is clear: affordability — not just inflation — is now the top issue. Survey methodology The survey was conducted through email between July 16 to 21, 2025. Approximately 6,220 email newsletter subscribers, over the age of 18, were surveyed with 183 responses. The estimated margin of error is +/- 6%, 18 times out of 20. About is a leading financial platform committed to providing individuals with comprehensive financial education and resources. As part of Wise Publishing, is a trusted source of reliable financial news, expert advice, comparison tools and practical tips. Canadians get insight on a variety of personal financial topics, including investing, retirement planning, real estate, insurance, debt management and business finance. What To Read Next Are you rich enough to join the top 1%? Here's the net worth you need to rank among Canada's wealthiest — plus a few strategies to build that first-class portfolio Ramit Sethi says you should hit these 9 'money milestones' before 40 if you want to be rich — how many have you crossed off the list? Pet owners, here's how you can get up to 90% cashback on expensive emergency veterinary bills — and you can even get a free quote in 30 seconds This man from Toronto feels broke making $73,000 a year — his wife recently left him and he has an 18-month-old child. Here's what Dave Ramsey told him This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Free Malaysia Today
2 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Chow welcomes RM100 aid but hopes for more holistic solutions
Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said the RM100 one-off cash aid is still appreciated, acknowledging that it would cost Putrajaya billions of ringgit. (Johnshen Lee pic) PETALING JAYA : Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow has welcomed the government's RM100 one-off cash aid for Malaysian adults, but expressed hope that more holistic measures would be introduced to mitigate the rising cost of living. Chow said the RM100 cash aid under Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) was still appreciated, acknowledging that it would cost Putrajaya billions of ringgit. 'However, I believe the people are looking forward to more comprehensive forms of assistance, such as initiatives that ease the cost of doing business, or infrastructure projects that create jobs and spur growth,' he said, according to the Penang government's news organ, Buletin Mutiara. He acknowledged that Putrajaya was facing financial constraints currently. This morning, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the one-off payment would be channelled through the MyKad and was in conjunction with the upcoming National Day celebration. He said the cash could be used between Aug 31 and Dec 31 to purchase basic necessities from more than 4,100 outlets, including hypermarkets such as Mydin, Lotus, Econsave, and 99 Speedmart. Chow acknowledged that Malaysia was facing domestic and foreign economic pressures, and said Anwar should be given the room and time to navigate these issues, including the US tariffs. 'Anwar should be given a free hand to mediate and mitigate the current situation. He deserves more time to address these concerns in a meaningful way,' said the DAP leader.
RNZ News
3 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Fonterra says meeting with Nicola Willis 'constructive'
Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell . Photo: Fonterra says its meeting with the Finance Minister was "constructive", following a discussion about butter prices. But the substance of the discussions is still to be revealed. Nicola Willis had alerted Fonterra, as a courtesy, that she planned to speak about the price of butter in one of their regular meetings. Willis had earlier said the conversation would look at what goes into the cost, and whether supermarkets are to blame , pointing out Australia seems to have cheaper butter than New Zealand. She said Fonterra was transparent about how it determined milk prices, but it was less clear to her how that then translated to butter. "What we're talking about here is at the margin - 10 or 20 cents - but 10 or 20 cents really matters when you're a Kiwi family at the supermarket checkout." The meeting happened at Parliament on Tuesday evening. Willis' office declined to comment on the outcome. Fonterra's chief executive Miles Hurrell also would not comment on the meeting when RNZ approached him outside Parliament. But a Fonterra spokesperson said Hurrell "had a constructive meeting with the Finance Minister" and he would talk to media later in the week. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Surging price of grocery shopping revealed amid cost of living crisis
UK grocery prices have surged at their fastest rate in 18 months, sparking fresh concerns among consumers grappling with the escalating cost of living. New data from market research firm Worldpanel by Numerator, formerly Kantar, reveals that grocery price inflation accelerated to 5.2 per cent in the four weeks leading up to 13 July. This marks a notable jump from 4.7 per cent just a month prior and represents the highest level recorded since January 2024. Projections indicate that these rising costs are set to add an average of £275 to shoppers' annual grocery spending. Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Worldpanel, highlighted the widespread concern among households. He stated: "Just under two-thirds of households say they are very concerned about the cost of their grocery shopping, and people are adapting their habits to avoid the full impact of price rises. "Own label products, which are often cheaper, continue to be some of the big winners and, in fact, sales of these ranges are again outpacing brands, growing by 5.6 per cent versus 4.9 per cent.' He added that shopping data also showed that consumers have been cooking simpler meals in recent months as part of efforts to stick to budgets. The price increases come amid a backdrop of commodity price pressures and higher costs for retailers, after recent increases in National Insurance contributions and the national minimum wage. Worldpanel data also showed that overall consumer spending across UK grocers rose by 4.6 per cent over the 12 weeks to July 13. Online retail specialist Ocado saw the fastest rise in sales over the period, with 11.7 per cent. It was closely followed by German discount chain Lidl, which saw sales rise 11.1 per cent, to take its share of the UK grocery market to 8.3 per cent, moving it close to the size of rival Morrisons. Elsewhere, the UK's largest supermarket chain Tesco increased its share of the market further after growing sales by 7.1 per cent. Asda and the Co-op were among the weaker performers, with sales declines of 3 per cent and 3.7 per cent respectively over the quarter.
