Costs

消費者洞察追蹤顯示，85% 的受訪者對食品價格感到擔憂，且大多數人認為經濟將會惡化。 根據週四發布的一份 Which? 報告，隨著消費者採取極端措施應對生活成本上漲，英國有 300 萬戶家庭被迫不吃餐點。 中東地區的衝突以及隨之而來的石油與原物料價格飆升，已導致企業準備調漲價格，這為家庭財務帶來了更大壓力，並打擊了消費者信心。 繼續閱讀...

• 隨著美以對伊朗戰爭期間荷姆茲海峽的封鎖衝擊能源市場，汽油價格已飆升至每加侖 4 美元以上，機票價格亦大幅上漲，削弱了川普的關鍵政治優勢。 • 超過四分之三的登記選民（包括過半的共和黨人和 82% 的中間選民）現在將影響燃料、雜貨、住房和醫療保健的生活成本危機歸咎於川普。 • 在政府停擺、關稅政策以及美以聯手襲擊伊朗後，川普第二任期的支持率下降速度遠快於歷任總統，聯準會主席 Jerome Powell 更警告戰爭正加劇通貨膨脹。

• 近三分之二 (64%) 的美國成年人擔心無法負擔醫療費用，其中 30% 表示非常擔心，該項擔憂程度超過了對油價的關注。 • 儘管面臨其他經濟壓力，醫療費用的可負擔性仍然是公眾最主要 worries 的問題。 • 此次民調凸顯了在醫療支出上升的情況下，家庭面臨的持續財務壓力。

Brown calls for police to look into former prince’s use of public funds as he says he had colleague raise issue in 2008Gordon Brown has revealed he ordered that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor be questioned about incurring “unacceptable costs” as a trade envoy in 2008, as he called for the police to widen their inquiry to include the use of public funds.The former prime minister said he asked a colleague from the business department to question Mountbatten-Windsor about his travel expenses. Continue reading...

Insolvency firm points to tax rises, staff costs and shaky consumer confidence after number increases to 62,193The number of UK businesses in “critical financial distress” has risen by more than a third over the past year, according to insolvency practitioners, as companies contend with a “slew of increased taxes” and the impact of the Middle East conflict.Hospitality and leisure firms have been faring particularly badly because of shaky consumer confidence, and rising taxes and staff costs, according to research by the restructuring company Begbies Traynor. Continue reading...

Fishing companies can also access up to 70% subsidies, in loosening of state aid rules for ‘most exposed sectors’Business live – latest updatesThe EU is to subsidise up to 70% of the extra cost of fuel and fertilisers caused by the Iran war for farmers, fishing businesses and road hauliers as part of a package of emergency measures unveiled on Wednesday.Individual companies can claim up to €50,000 each between now and the end of the year with minimum paperwork, a measure the EU hopes will remove what it sees as an existential threat to hauliers and farmers. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Report shows cost of first appointment rose $20 in one year, with steeper rises in Western Australia, South Australia and TasmaniaGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPatients are increasingly going without medically necessary dermatological care, the head of the Consumers Health Forum said, as new report reveals the rising cost of the specialty in Australia.Dermatology is expensive and getting pricier, with an average first visit now costing an adult patient without concessions $230 out-of-pocket, while follow-up appointments cost almost $190, the report from health directory Cleanbill found. Continue reading...