by Lauren Spencer and Gabriela Yorgova
As food prices rise, some locals in Islington are already feeling the effect on their everyday lives
Poverty and inequality campaigner Jack Monroe tweeted warnings about increasing food prices in the UK last Wednesday, with one tweet receiving almost 90,000 likes:
“Woke up this morning to the radio talking about the cost of living rising a further 5%. It infuriates me the index that they use for this calculation, which grossly underestimates the real cost of inflation as it happens to people with the least,” tweeted Monroe.
Finding the best deals
Student and single mother Shade Thompson, 35, said: “I’ve definitely noticed that my bills have increased.
“Food is really, really expensive at the moment.” She tries to find the shop offering the best deal, but not having a car makes the travel inconvenient and time consuming.
Thompson does not cut down on other expenses in order to buy essential food items, but said that she probably should.
Managing Director of Iceland, Richard Walker told the BBC that some families may be forced to choose between heating their home or buying food.
Thompson is of the opinion that food is more essential. She said: “At home you can layer up jumpers, cardigans… hopefully I’m never in that situation… it’s awful.”
Items that add up to her expenses are pre-packaged small items that are suitable for her child’s lunchbox.
The view from the coffee shop
Owner of the Travel Cafe and Plant shop in Islington, Maria, said that the consequences of increased inflation have not rippled into her business quite yet.
The Government reported on 20 January that the mean cost of milk directly from the farm was up by almost two percent from the end of last year.
The produce section in grocery shops is one food category amongst many that has seen rising prices. Jack Monroe tweeted: “A bag of small apples. Was 59p, now 89p (and the apples are even smaller!) A price increase of 51%.
“Mushrooms were 59 pence for 400 grams and are now 57 pence for 250 grams. A 56 per cent increase.”
Providing food for the family
Ram, 42, a father of three, said: “Food is compulsory. We cannot survive without food.” He is the main provider for his family.
“We used to spend £15 for the whole family per day, which has now come up to £25.” Changes in food prices during the pandemic are caused by the ripple effects of Brexit, according to The Big Issue.
Ram has been trying to save for travelling for the last five years, but other expenses have prevented him from putting extra money aside.
Monroe tweeted: “The system by which we measure the impact of inflation is fundamentally flawed – it completely ignores the reality and the REAL price rises for people on minimum wages, zero hour contracts, food bank clients, and millions more.
“Every time there’s a news bulletin on the rising cost of living, I hope that today might be the day that some real journalism happens, and someone stops to consider those of us outside of the bubble. Maybe today might finally be that day.”
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