The UK inflation rate was three percent in January 2025, up from 2.5 percent in the previous month, and the fastest rate of inflation since March 2024. Between September 2022 and March 2023, the UK experienced seven months of double-digit inflation, which peaked at 11.1 percent in October 2022. Due to this long period of high inflation, UK consumer prices have increased by over 20 percent in the last three years. As of the most recent month, prices were rising fastest in the communications sector, at 6.1 percent, but were falling in both the furniture and transport sectors, at -0.3 percent and -0.6 percent respectively.
The Cost of Living Crisis High inflation is one of the main factors behind the ongoing Cost of Living Crisis in the UK, which, despite subsiding somewhat in 2024, is still impacting households going into 2025. In December 2024, for example, 56 percent of UK households reported their cost of living was increasing compared with the previous month, up from 45 percent in July, but far lower than at the height of the crisis in 2022. After global energy prices spiraled that year, the UK's energy price cap increased substantially. The cap, which limits what suppliers can charge consumers, reached 3,549 British pounds per year in October 2022, compared with 1,277 pounds a year earlier. Along with soaring food costs, high-energy bills have hit UK households hard, especially lower income ones that spend more of their earnings on housing costs. As a result of these factors, UK households experienced their biggest fall in living standards in decades in 2022/23. Global inflation crisis causes rapid surge in prices The UK's high inflation, and cost of living crisis in 2022 had its origins in the COVID-19 pandemic. Following the initial waves of the virus, global supply chains struggled to meet the renewed demand for goods and services. Food and energy prices, which were already high, increased further in 2022. Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 brought an end to the era of cheap gas flowing to European markets from Russia. The war also disrupted global food markets, as both Russia and Ukraine are major exporters of cereal crops. As a result of these factors, inflation surged across Europe and in other parts of the world, but typically declined in 2023, and approached more usual levels by 2024.

The inflation rate for the Republic of Ireland in February 2025 was 1.8 percent, down from 1.9 percent in the previous month. During the provided time period, inflation reached a peak of 9.2 percent in October 2022, and was at its lowest in October 2020, when prices were falling by 1.5 percent. In the most recent month, the sector which had the fastest rate of price rises was restaurants and hotels, at 3.7 percent, while prices were falling by eight percent for clothing and footwear. Inflation subsides but remains a key issue Like in many other economies, the global inflation crisis, led to increased inflation in Ireland from 2021 to 2023, reaching a peak of 9.2 percent in late 2022. As of October 2024, approximately 39 percent of people in Ireland, still saw inflation as one of the top two most important issues facing the country, down from 65 percent in July 2022. Furthermore, inflation was second only to housing as a top issue in the country, ahead of health, immigration, and climate change. Another survey highlights the fact that despite inflation subsiding, people are still struggling with the cost of living. When asked how well they are coping financially, just eleven percent of respondents advised they were living comfortably, with 37 percent just getting by, and almost a quarter finding it quite, or very difficult. Key economic indicators of Ireland Ireland's overall gross domestic product (GDP) in 2024 was estimated to be over 560.6 billion U.S. dollars, up from 551.6 billion dollars in 2023. Due to the presence of several multinational companies in the country, however, Ireland's GDP figure can be misleading. In 2022, for example, while overall GDP was 506.3 billion Euros, gross national income (GNI) was just 363.6 billion Euros, with modified GNI even lower at 273.1 billion Euros. Looking at Ireland's labor market, there were around 2.79 million people employed in the country in 2024, while the unemployment rate has, as of early 2025, fluctuated between four and 4.6 percent since April 2022.

The statistic shows the average inflation rate in Canada from 1987 to 2023, with projections up until 2029. The inflation rate is calculated using the price increase of a defined product basket. This product basket contains products and services, on which the average consumer spends money throughout the year. They include expenses for groceries, clothes, rent, power, telecommunications, recreational activities and raw materials (e.g. gas, oil), as well as federal fees and taxes. In 2022, the average inflation rate in Canada was approximately 6.8 percent compared to the previous year. For comparison, inflation in India amounted to 5.56 percent that same year.

Inflation in Canada

In general, the inflation rate in Canada follows a global trend of decreasing inflation rates since 2011, with the lowest slump expected to occur during 2015, but forecasts show an increase over the following few years. Additionally, Canada's inflation rate is in quite good shape compared to the rest of the world. While oil and gas prices have dropped in Canada much like they have around the world, food and housing prices in Canada have been increasing. This has helped to offset some of the impact of dropping oil and gas prices and the effect this has had on Canada´s inflation rate.

The annual consumer price index of food and non-alcoholic beverages in Canada has been steadily increasing over the last decade. The same is true for housing and other price indexes for the country. In general there is some confidence that the inflation rate will not stay this low for long, it is expected to return to a comfortable 2 percent by 2017 if estimates are correct.

This statistic shows the life expectancy at birth in Jamaica from 2012 to 2022. In 2022, the average life expectancy at birth in Jamaica was 70.63 years. Jamaica's economic improvement Life expectancy in Jamaica is rising slowly, comparing ever more favorably with the rest of the world. In 2003, life expectancy was 70.98 years of age and over the period of ten years it rose slightly by about 3 years. When looking at past figures, in 1975 the median age of the population was significantly lower than what it is today. Back then, the average age of the population was only 17, but in 2015 it has risen to 29.1 years of age. This indicates a significant improvement in health care and living standards, resulting in extended life spans. Improvements have also been made regarding the fertility rate, and as of 2015 it stood at 2.03 – right at the natural replacement rate where most countries would like to be. This is shifting the age structure of Jamaica towards what is typical for developing countries. However, despite improvements in health and longer lifespans, GDP per capita remains low at around 5,000 U.S. dollars per capita. On the other hand, the unemployment rate, while still high is getting better, GDP growth is on the rise after some difficult years, and the inflation rate is also dropping. It appears that the living conditions and standard of living in Jamaica will continue to improve and as they do, it is also likely that tourism on the island will continue.

In 2024, gross domestic product per capita in the United Kingdom was 36,977 British pounds, compared with 37,028 pounds in the previous year. This was the second-consecutive year that GDP per head has fallen in the UK, with the measure shrinking by 0.9 percent in 2023. In general, while GDP per capita has grown quite consistently throughout this period, there are noticeable declines, especially between 2007 and 2009, and between 2019 and 2020, due to the Global Financial Crisis, and COVID-19 pandemic, respectively. Why is GDP per capita falling when the economy is growing? During the last two years that GDP per capita fell in the UK, the overall economy grew by 0.4 percent in 2023 and 0.9 percent in 2024. While the overall UK economy is therefore larger than it was in 2022, the UK's population has grown at a faster rate, resulting in the lower GDP per capita figure. The long-term slump in the UK's productivity, as measured by output per hour worked, has meant that the gap between GDP growth and GDP per capita growth has been widening for some time. Economy remains the main concern of UK voters As of February 2025, the economy was seen as the main issue facing the UK, just ahead of immigration, health, and several other problems in the country. While Brexit was seen as the most important issue before COVID-19, and concerns about health were dominant throughout 2020 and 2021, the economy has generally been the primary facing voters issue since 2022. The surge in inflation throughout 2022 and 2023, and the impact this had on wages and living standards, resulted in a very tough period for UK households. As of January 2025, 57 percent of households were still noticing rising living costs, although this is down from a peak of 91 percent in August 2022.

The statistic shows GDP per capita in the United Kingdom from 1987 to 2020, with projections up until 2029. In 2020, GDP per capita in the United Kingdom was at around 40,230.55 US dollars. The same year, the total UK population amounted to about 67.26 million people. The United Kingdom is among the leading countries in a world GDP ranking.Falling unemployment in a time of recessionGDP is a useful indicator when it comes to measuring the state of a nation’s economy. GDP is the market value of all final goods and services produced within a country in a given period of time, usually a year. GDP per capita equals exactly the GDI (gross domestic income) per capita and is not a measure of an individual’s personal income.As can be seen clearly in the statistic, gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in the United Kingdom is beginning to increase, albeit not to pre-recession levels. The UK is beginning to see signs of an economic recovery, though as of yet it remains unclear what sort of recovery this is. Questions have been raised as to whether the growth being seen is the right sort of growth for a well balanced recovery across the necessary sectors. An interesting oddity occurred in the United Kingdom for nine months in 2012, which saw a decreasing unemployment occurring at the same time as dip in nationwide economic productivity. This seems like good - if not unusual - news, but could be indicative of people entering part-time employment. It could also suggest that labor productivity is falling, meaning that the UK would be less competitive as a nation. The figures continue to rise, however, with an increase in employment in the private sector. With the rate of inflation in the UK impacting everyone’s daily lives, it is becoming increasingly difficult for vulnerable groups to maintain a decent standard of living.

In 2024, Ukraine's gross domestic product (GDP) was estimated at nearly 189 billion U.S. dollars at current prices. To compare, in the previous year, the country's GDP stood at over 177 billion U.S. dollars. See the Russian GDP for comparison. Ukraine's economic decline in 2014 and 2015 In just two years, between 2013 and 2015, GDP in Ukraine was dramatically reduced to half its amount. This very severe decrease was mainly due to the armed conflict in the eastern part of the country, which was causing many of its inhabitants to be internally displaced. Life in general became increasingly difficult for Ukrainians, not only because of the conflict, but also because of the country’s economic issues. The inflation rate had risen to almost 50 percent, and unemployment reached over nine percent. Russia, formerly Ukraine’s most important trade partner, no longer played this role, having caused a great shift in the country’s base economy. Ukraine’s national debt in relation to GDP was also unsustainable, having increased to nearly 80 percent in 2015. Default or restructuring of its debt was inevitable, and eventually restructuring took place in August 2015.

In December 2024, 11 percent of survey respondents said that the most important problem facing the United States was the high cost of living and inflation. Another 20percent said that the government and poor leadership was the most serious concern for the nation.

The economy was seen by 51 percent of people in the UK as one of the top three issues facing the country in March 2025. The ongoing cost of living crisis afflicting the UK, driven by high inflation, is still one of the main concerns of Britons. Health has generally been the second most important issue since early 2022, possibly due to NHS staffing problems, and increasing demand for health services, which have plunged the National Health Service into a deep crisis. From late 2022 onwards, immigration emerged as the third main concern for British people, just ahead of the environment for much of 2023 and as of the most recent month, the second most important issue for voters. Labour's popularity continues to sink in 2025 Despite winning the 2024 general election with a strong majority, the new Labour government has had its share of struggles since coming to power. Shortly after taking office, the approval rating for Labour stood at -2 percent, but this fell throughout the second half of 2024, and by January 2025 had sunk to a new low of -47 percent. Although this was still higher than the previous government's last approval rating of -56 percent, it is nevertheless a severe review from the electorate. Among several decisions from the government, arguably the least popular was the government withdrawing winter fuel payments. This state benefit, previously paid to all pensioners, is now only paid to those on low incomes, with millions of pensioners not receiving this payment in winter 2024. Sunak's pledges fail to prevent defeat in 2024 With an election on the horizon, and the Labour Party consistently ahead in the polls, addressing voter concerns directly was one of the best chances the Conservatives had of staying in power in 2023. At the start of that year, Rishi Sunak attempted to do this by setting out his five pledges for the next twelve months; halve inflation, grow the economy, reduce national debt, cut NHS waiting times, and stop small boats. A year later, Sunak had at best only partial success in these aims. Although the inflation rate fell, economic growth was weak and even declined in the last two quarters of 2023, although it did return to growth in early 2024. National debt was only expected to fall in the mid to late 2020s, while the trend of increasing NHS waiting times did not reverse. Small boat crossings were down from 2022, but still higher than in 2021 or 2020. .