More than half of people in the UK will soon be unable to pay their bills, while more than 5 million citizens are already forced to choose between heat and food. Between paying for heating and a vacation for the family, the latter is chosen. In Germany, not only the cost of gasoline and diesel has skyrocketed, but also electricity and gas. Most Germans are afraid of the evolution of their heating bill in winter 2022.
In Germany, four out of five people in the country fear that they may have problems paying the next heating bill, due to a sharp increase in energy prices. This became known during a representative survey conducted by the market research institute Innofact. At the same time, 34% of respondents reported that they are extremely worried about the amount they will have to pay for heating. 46% of respondents said they were "somewhat worried." Only 20% said they were not worried about the upcoming bill at all.
The price of natural gas has risen especially sharply in Germany in recent months. According to the German Energy and Water Association (BDEW), the new electricity rates have increased in price by an average of 12,5% compared to 2021 (assuming a consumption of 3.500 kilowatt-hours per year). Residents of the country who switched to the new gas rate in January, for example a family living in a house, will pay on average 72,9% more than in 2021 (assuming consumption of 20.000 kilowatt-hours per year ).
In the United Kingdom they are the same. And the rising cost of living is also forcing families to cancel holidays and not pay rent, according to a Daily Mirror survey. Some parents even skip meals so their children can eat. Concerns about sky-high bills have affected the mental health of more than half of those surveyed, the Mirror article notes. According to the publication, this is the first major survey released since energy prices rose in early April.
It was previously reported that many British households are on the brink of bankruptcy due to rising prices for electricity and groceries, which on average have risen in price by almost a third (30%) due to steadily rising fuel prices . In March, a SkyNews report discussed skyrocketing fuel prices, forcing UK residents to choose between buying food for their children or paying to heat their homes.