rexguy

You have to look at the cost of living in this country in comparison with USA, Japan, Oz, France, Spain, Italy - the list is endless. We are extorted by the utilities companies, public transport, insurance companies (all due to preferential regulatory conditions permitted by successive governments) inland revenue, and general commodity retailers.
We have way less money in the pocket than nations with similar income levels to ours - and way more personal debt. All this was wrong BEFORE the recession, and is simply getting worse now.

urban

iTrader: (1)

Exactly - one example being fuel, the Yanks pay approximately 0.55ppl, we're approximately 1.35ppl
Clothes also another example at roughly 25% less than the UK on like for like items.

Gear Head

iTrader: (2)

Their government doesn't have the bottomless that is the NHS to pay for!

urban

iTrader: (1)

I thought the Yanks introduced a version of the NHS?

Ste RB5138

I find looking around locally for independent decorator merchants, around by me there is a company called Brewers which are cheaper than B&Q, Homebase etc.

davegtt

Well now you know where thought got you.

rexguy

The Yanks spend US$700bn on the military and have always have Medicare and Medicaid on which they spend another US$990bn. The combined military and Medicare/Medicaid spending totals US$1.69trn and is 11% of the US GDP.
We spend US$165bn on the NHS and US$63bn on defence which combined is 9% of GDP.
As the Yanks say: 'Go figure'
We have 20% higher consumer prices than they do, 30% higher restaurant prices than they do, and 110% higher real estate prices than they do - need I go on?
We've had a gold rush with medals at the the Olympics, but what Britain needs is a gold rush in terms of disposable income.

urban

iTrader: (1)

Yep - thought you farted, but shat yourself

SkullFudge

I always remember seeing President Clinton being asked how much America generally earn as a nation per annum.
He smiled and said "I can't disclose that figure, what I will say is that it's a two digit number followed by thirteen zeros.


The cost of everything here in the UK is spiraling too high....... but we pay it and shut up. If everything continues to rise I can see that changing.