Cost of living crisis: People of St Helens share their concerns

Everyday essentials such as energy, food, and fuel have seen a huge upsurge in price in recent months, exacerbated by the UK's energy price cap hike in early April.

Inflation rates have jumped to 9% in the twelve months to April, highlighting that prices are rising at their fastest rate for 40 years - with inflation expected to continue throughout the year.

The price hikes have caused huge concern across the country, with the Trades Union Congress predicting that the increase in energy bills will rise 14 times faster than average weekly wages.

With no end in sight and little support offered by the government, the people of St Helens have shared their thoughts on the crisis and their worries moving forward.

Businesses have felt the strain of the cost of living crisis as less people are willing to spend money (Image: St Helens Star)

Asked about the biggest concerns with the cost of living crisis, this is what Star readers have said:

Bill Foster said: "Ordinary people suffering. Wages at lower and lower levels [while] companies like energy and fuel [are] making bigger and bigger profits."

Karen Frediani said: "Everything. What is [there] not to be concerned about? Everything is going up except our wages and even if you get a cost of living rise, it goes nowhere near the increase of everything else."

Concerned about the impact on local businesses, Victoria Bailey said: "[The] cost of living being so high must mean [that] businesses are going to struggle across all areas as people will have less spare money to spend at places like the cinema, restaurants, etc.

"In the long run places are going to close, and jobs are going to get lost. I don't see how the government can sit back and let this happen."

Boris Johnson is facing calls to provide more support for people struggling with rising bills

New mum, Sarah Ellen Welsby commented: "Being a new mum [and] a working mum and dad, with no help while all [the] costs are going up! Also, [I work as] a care worker so [this] costs me petrol, insurance, tax, and an MOT service added on to all [the] costs of living."

Looking ahead to the winter months, Jen Hill said: "Not being able to put the heating on in winter [and] make sure my work uniform is dry in time. Working hard all day and coming home freezing because it's too expensive to put the heating on, even for half an hour."

Similarly, Mary Rose Ashton said she is worried about "having to choose between food and gas and electric bills and having burst pipes when it freezes".

Stanley Kostrzewski said he is concerned about "having to manage on a state pension" while Richard Wooly Mitten said he is concerned about an incoming recession as "people won't have any disposable income".

Rachel Pavely stated she is worried about "just being able to afford to live".

Some residents have received an £150 rebate to help with their energy costs, but many feel this is not enough (Image: St Helens Council)

Thinking about further negative consequences of the crisis, Mandy Swinburn said there may be an increase in domestic violence due to the "pressure of everyday living".

Andrea Newton, who works in suicide prevention, added: "I hear how desperate some people are already. I’m concerned that the climate will make matters a lot worse and I have no faith in a Government to get us safely through it."