UK cost of living rises highlighted in five key charts

Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, has launched a nationwide listening tour aimed at gathering public input on the country’s mounting financial pressures. The initiative, announced in a brief statement on Monday, will see the mayor travel to major cities and towns across England, Scotland and Wales over the next six weeks, holding town‑hall‑style meetings where residents can voice concerns about rising living costs, housing affordability and wage stagnation.

Organisers say the tour is intended to complement ongoing government reviews of fiscal policy and to inform local and national strategies for economic relief. Burnham has highlighted the need for targeted support for low‑income households and small businesses, citing recent data that shows inflation outpacing wage growth for the second consecutive year. The mayor will meet with community leaders, business owners and consumer groups, with findings to be compiled into a report for presentation to the Treasury later this year. The tour underscores a broader political push to address cost‑of‑living challenges ahead of upcoming budget deliberations.