麻豆社

With the cost-of-living crisis聽still聽squeezing household budgets, life鈥檚 little luxuries are becoming harder to afford, with聽the impact聽also聽being felt by聽high-street businesses.聽Panorama聽meets families counting every penny on rare days out and business owners fighting to stay afloat as rising prices, wages and higher taxes push them to the brink.

The prime minister, Sir聽Keir Starmer, said that 2026聽would be聽the year that more people would begin to feel positive change, but independent聽experts say we may聽have to wait a little longer before we notice a few extra pounds in our pockets. From coffee shops and play centres to nights out,聽reporter Colletta Smith investigates聽the rising cost-of-living consequences for communities, jobs聽and everyday life.