Now we're warned that prices will rise because......

mae13

.......of the Red Sea conflict. Big business always seems to grab any excuse (note that I use the word Excuse as opposed to Reason) to jack prices ever upwards.
We've had Coronavirus, Brexit, the war in Ukraine, the Israel/Gaza troubles, Liz Truss's reckless car-crash budget, successive Prime Ministers and Chancellors making one dubious decision after another AND we can throw in greedflation combined with shrinkflation.
The Capitalism model is clearly not working......except for the likes of multi-millionaire Prime Ministers,I suppose.

What do you propose then?
Communism? Fascism? Go back to bartering in the street?
Capitalism may not be perfect but it’s the best there is.

Oh! Just looked back at the OP’s replies and it seems she does want bartering back😂
Hmmmm.

Put in the turmoil in various parts of the globe, add the aftermath of Covid, stir in a little ex-brexit, adjust the seasoning with a bit of Red Sea and finally add a hot pot mix of our home grown government and it is a recipe for rising prices.

@Freya

Russia is not a communist country. It has clearly escaped your notice but it hasn't been communist since the 1980s. Putin and the Russian Oligarchs made their money from the capitalist approved economic system... unregulated free markets'.

Nannapat1

I don't see what the Red Sea conflict has to do with Brexit!

It's just exacerbated an already poor economic outlook for the UK.

I'd be interested in a comparison between inflation rates in EU countries and UK inflation rates.

Why do BREXIT supporters pretend that it's all done and dusted? Yes, there are far too many reasons for the price rises that are happening all over the world, but we are the only ones to experience the BREXIT bonuses, and another one is about to kick in, as described on this thread by spabbygirl and Whitewavemark2.

I also blame strikes!! When the railway workers eventually get their settlement, has it not occurred to them the railways will put up their fares and fewer of us will be able to afford the higher fares, so they will need less workers - that will give them something to complain about!

PuddyCat

^They can't blame Brexit though^

Well then they need to try harder! Wars in Ukraine affecting import of grain, vegetable oils and fat? Nope; it's brexit! Conflict in Israel affecting import of fruits and medicines? Nope, it's brexit! Conflict in the Red Sea affecting global export of oil, gas, food, computer components and raw metals? Nope, that's brexit too!
Brexit was a REALLY bad idea for the UK but surely people aren't so politically ignorant of the impact on how war and conflict affects global markets? So depressing to see such a basic lack of knowledge.

Actually, however tempting it must be for those of you who voted remain, Brexit cannot be the only reason for these increased costs.

Food prices rose steeply, as did heating and electricity all over Europe when Russia invaded Ukraine. Naturally, enough as Ukraine grows a very large amount of the world's grain and sunflowers used for sunflower oil.

As yet there has been no need to bring in rationing, but certain foodstuffs have been in short supply for different periods of time all last year and most of 2022 as well.

Most of us are old enough to remember Nasser closing the Suez canal and the rise in prices due to ships having to sail the old sea routes instead of going through Suez.

So what you call Excuses OP are actually very good reasons.

Brexit continues to be a gift that keeps on giving and has affected our lives in this country in many ways. Many EU companies will no longer export to UK because of the increased paperwork at the end of this month. I think those responsible should be held accountable.

Capitalism is the single most effective way of raising the standard of living for everyone whether in rich or poor nations. The bonus is that it can only flourish where truth, law and freedom exist and so it is a guarantee of these as well as comparative prosperity.

Those who long for Communism have no idea of the injustice and misery it caused since its inception. It has always crashed every economy where it was tried. And then there is the chilling fact that during the twentieth century between eighty and a hundred million innocent people were killed by Communist regimes.

And as for those who blame Brexit for every ill caused by world events. Do you know that Germany is actually in recession and that nearly every major European country has or is about to jump to the right at election time? Italy, Germany, Austria, France, the Netherlands, and Sweden, to name some well known examples, have electorates that have voted right wing parties either into power of with deciding votes in coalitions.

And the EU - which is not Europe - continues in its anti democratic and corrupt way. The PIGS are in deep trouble and France and Germany also.

The fact that they are treating the U.K. in a contemptuous and arrogant manner is, to my mind, a reason for being glad we are shot of the whole project. This great project to turn nations into regions and to have an EU army has finally put voters off even if what they are most alarmed at is being told by Brussels that they must accept unlimited immigration.

I wish people would stop scapegoating and read more!

Germanshepherdsmum

We have seen plenty of evidence that yes, many are very ignorant of the many external factors which lead to increased prices. They blame Brexit and/or the government for things totally unconnected to the former or controllable by the latter. I agree, it is very depressing.

👏👏

Lilyflower

Capitalism is the single most effective way of raising the standard of living for everyone whether in rich or poor nations. The bonus is that it can only flourish where truth, law and freedom exist and so it is a guarantee of these as well as comparative prosperity.

Those who long for Communism have no idea of the injustice and misery it caused since its inception. It has always crashed every economy where it was tried. And then there is the chilling fact that during the twentieth century between eighty and a hundred million innocent people were killed by Communist regimes.

Blimey, *Lilyflower. What brought on that little gem?

I would suggest that neither capitalism nor communism is the answer.

I think that 4million+ people living in poverty in the UK would disagree about that 'raised standard of living'. Capitalism has done nothing for them...

Urmstongran

Germanshepherdsmum

We have seen plenty of evidence that yes, many are very ignorant of the many external factors which lead to increased prices. They blame Brexit and/or the government for things totally unconnected to the former or controllable by the latter. I agree, it is very depressing.

👏👏

Perhaps people don't know what 'exacerbated' means

On average it costs an extra $1.5 - $2 million in fuel per container ship to go round the cape of good hope.

One reason our talks with Canada broke down is that we insist on sticking to the EU’s rules on food standards (what trade negotiators call SPS – sanitary and phytosanitary measures). We and the EU are both breaking World Trade Organisation rules, which stipulate that SPS measures must be scientifically justified. The EU regularly uses SPS as a form of economic protectionism – beef being a prime example. The whole world, not just Canada, resents it.

MaizieD

Lilyflower

Capitalism is the single most effective way of raising the standard of living for everyone whether in rich or poor nations. The bonus is that it can only flourish where truth, law and freedom exist and so it is a guarantee of these as well as comparative prosperity.

Those who long for Communism have no idea of the injustice and misery it caused since its inception. It has always crashed every economy where it was tried. And then there is the chilling fact that during the twentieth century between eighty and a hundred million innocent people were killed by Communist regimes.

Blimey, *Lilyflower. What brought on that little gem?

I would suggest that neither capitalism nor communism is the answer.

I think that 4million+ people living in poverty in the UK would disagree about that 'raised standard of living'. Capitalism has done nothing for them...

I agree Maizie. I think that ultimately (if we're not obliterated beforehand) the old systems will seem archaic to future generations. There are alternatives to capitalism but whilst the rich are lining their pockets and allowing crumbs from the table to the minions, they will not be explored let alone implemented.

Lilyflower: As for capitalism encouraging truth, law and freedom. I think the victims of the Post Office scandal might have something to say about that.

Do you think there is a system possible that obliterates corruption, wrongdoing, etc. Good luck with that.

We have allowed corporate greed to destroy the planet. No one is willing to limit their use of their gas guzzling cars, to buy plastic tat from the other side of the world,, to hunt animals to extinction or consume whatever they want in the name of freedom. Let’s continue down the self destructive selfish insular path.

Capitalism, yes… you always have to satisfy the middleman. 🙄
Farmer’s Markets rule!