Cost‑of‑living crisis in UK and allies

Mid‑2026 surveys showed the cost‑of‑living squeeze deepening into severe food insecurity. In Australia, more than nine‑tenths of emergency‑aid seekers reported skipping meals, with many relying on food bins or spoiled items. The United Kingdom faced a record 7.4 million low‑income families unable to afford essential goods, highlighting the broader hunger pressure.

A week later, data from the United States and the United Kingdom showed household budgets swelling during the summer. U.S. respondents reported a 14 % rise in expenses, driven by higher electricity, food, and gas bills. In the UK, inflation fell to 2.6 % but the number of households lacking essential items remained at the record level, and large sums of benefits continued to go unclaimed. Together, the snapshots trace a persistent, widening cost‑of‑living crisis across the UK and other high‑income nations.