An estimated 7.4 million households are struggling to afford everyday essentials such as clothing, heating and food, according to a report by the BBC.
One person quoted in the report said they “can’t afford to turn the oven on”, illustrating how rising costs are affecting basic household activities.
The BBC reports that the essentials households are unable to buy include clothing, heating and food.
The report comes as Andy Burnham promised “breathing space” for households facing financial pressure, according to the BBC.
The BBC report as summarised here does not provide further detail on the geographic spread of the difficulty or the specific measures being proposed.
Why it matters
The reported figure of 7.4 million households points to the scale of cost-of-living pressures in the UK, keeping the issue at the centre of political debate, as reflected in Andy Burnham's promise of relief.