18/02/2026
π Inflation is up 23.2% in five years.
But essentials are rising much faster.
Biggest increases:
β’ Household fuels: +52%
β’ Insurance: +44%
β’ Housing: +31%
Smaller rises:
β’ Communication: +5%
β’ Clothing: +5%
β’ Household appliances: +2%
When unavoidable costs rise faster than discretionary spending:
β’ Budgets feel tighter
β’ Saving becomes harder
This is why many households are feeling more pressure on budgets than the headlines suggest.