Cost

• The share of Affordable Care Act customers in plans exceeding $6,000 yearly doubled following expiration of Covid-era assistance, signaling household budget pressures. • US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services data shows 2026 enrollment fell 5% to 23.1 million, with further drops expected from premium non-payers. • This cost surge underscores ongoing affordability challenges in the Obamacare marketplace post-subsidy end.

PM will also cite Iran war as reason to stick with Labour, as party adopts new slogan: ‘Pride in Britain’ Keir Starmer will say that a vote for Reform UK will put at risk progress Labour is making on the cost of living, arguing that Britain’s values are being tested in a volatile world.Launching the party’s local elections campaign with a new slogan: “Pride in Britain”, Starmer will urge voters to stay the course with Labour. A dire set of results are predicted for the party in Wales, Scotland and English councils, especially in the north-east of England and London. Continue reading...

Fossil-fuel burning at Ohio facility could burn longer, leaving Middletown residents to face environmental risksSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxIt was just a few months after moving from Louisville to Middletown, Ohio, four years ago that Vivian Adams’s six-year-old daughter’s asthma problem worsened.“My daughter was born prematurely so she already had lung issues,” she says, “[but] it’s gotten worse. She stays sick and coughing and can’t breathe. She’s had to go on everyday medication for her asthma, plus she has a rescue inhaler.” Continue reading...

Following the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, gas prices, grocery bills and mortgage rates have all climbed The US-Israel war against Iran has sent shockwaves through global markets, leaving many Americans grappling with a growing financial squeeze on everyday living costs.Following the US-Israeli strikes on Iran – prompting retaliatory attacks on US allies in the region and Iran’s decision to close the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime passage – costs have surged across the US. Gas prices, in particular, have spiked sharply, with the national average rising by roughly 30% over the past month. Grocery bills, mortgage rates and fertilizer costs have also climbed. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Pubs, restaurants and hotels warn of mounting pressure days before rates rises and higher wage bills take effectOne in five hospitality businesses fear collapse in the next 12 months, according to an industry-wide survey that comes days before rises in tax and employment costs kick in.From Wednesday, many pub, restaurant and hotel companies face the prospect of a higher bill for business rates paid to their local authority, while an increase in minimum wage thresholds takes effect on the same day. Continue reading...

• A new analysis identifies Louisiana and Kentucky as among the most stressed US states in 2026, with stress levels significantly influenced by geographic factors. • Rising healthcare costs are forcing residents to skip medical care, contributing to elevated stress levels across affected regions. • The stress disparities highlight how healthcare affordability challenges vary by state, with geographic and economic factors playing key roles in residents' wellbeing and access to care.

• Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-PA) and Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) introduced the Cost-of-Living Emergency Act on March 27 to combat rising essentials prices outpacing wages. • Bill mandates DOJ-FTC task force for emergency enforcement against price gouging, fixing, and discrimination on goods like utilities. • Invokes Defense Production Act for supply chain fixes backed by data to lower costs, plus creates 12-member bipartisan Congressional Cost-of-Living Commission for expedited relief proposals.