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Soaring Inflation Puts More UK Households on the Brink of Economic Disaster

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Craig Upton
Soaring Inflation Puts More UK Households on the Brink of Economic Disaster

Inflation is currently running at 6.2% - its highest level in almost 30 years. Recent comments from the Chancellor were supposed to ease the economic pressures being felt by the masses, but did little to quell the concerns of millions of cash-strapped households.

Research conducted by UK Property Finance indicated that even before the most recent living-cost increases, 57% of UK households were either struggling financially, or expected to face significant struggles in the near future.


With Bank of England base rates having been increased to 1%, the knock-on effect is being felt by mortgage payers across the country. Figures from Moneyfacts suggest that almost 520 mortgage products disappeared from the market over the course of the past month alone, as banks tighten their restrictions with regard to who they lend to.


Meanwhile, many households are struggling to pay their mortgages and finance agreements, and only anticipate further difficulties over the coming weeks and months.


A Quarter of People Already Struggling Financially

With no let-up in sight, the rest of the year could prove particularly difficult for those who are already struggling to make ends meet. Real wages in the UK are now predicted to be lower by 2026 than they were in 2008, adding up to more financial woes for even more households.


Figures from UK Property Finance suggest that around one in every four people are already experiencing significant financial struggles. Many of which now face the prospect of further cost-of-living increases, and mortgage rates only set to continue climbing over the weeks and months to come.


Wage Stagnation

In a growing economy, wage increases and inflation typically go hand in hand. However, the data published by UK Property Finance suggests that since the start of the pandemic, only 30% of workers have seen their wages increase.


Elsewhere, the remaining 70% have either seen their wages fall or stagnate.

Younger people, in particular, have been hit hard by rising costs, with a full 35% of those aged between 18 and 24 saying that they are already finding it difficult to make ends meet. In addition, 24% of those aged between 18 and 34 have seen their wages fall during the course of the pandemic. Inflation looks set to continue wiping out the salaries of younger people in real terms, as living costs head ever skyward.


Could the Worst Be Yet to Come?

Perhaps most worryingly of all, there is an abundance of evidence to suggest that the worst is still to come. Almost one in three people polled by UK Property Finance said that they expect to experience significant financial difficulties in the near future, as living costs are set to continue increasing indefinitely.


Things could prove particularly problematic when the autumn and winter set in, as it becomes even more difficult for households to heat and power their homes. By which time, millions could already be dealing with further mortgage rate hikes, triggered by seemingly inevitable Bank of England base rate increases.


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Craig Upton
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