“It is cheaper to just buy a bike than take the bus to work every day.” For Sophia Valley, a resident from Newcastle, rising bus fares have forced her to change her mode of commute.
In addition, beer and pizza are getting more expensive, so more young people are choosing “free socialising” instead of going to the pub and restaurant in the city centre.
According to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics, the annual Consumer Prices Index (CPI) in the UK has reached its highest level since October 2023. Many choices that were once taken for granted have now become “luxuries”.
I speak with Newcastle residents, international students and newcomers, using video to show the impact of rising prices on the lives of people, as well as the supportive role of the local community and the university in addressing this challenge.
Original footage, script, and charts by Haowen Lu. Additional data and screenshots are credited within the video
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