Prices are falling, inequalities are rising.

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has reported that in September, the average shopping basket price in the UK decreased by 0.1%. This marks the first price drop in two years. Prices of dairy, margarine, and fish have fallen. According to the BRC, this is due to supermarket competition, as they strive to attract customers with lower prices.
However, the prices of many essential food items continue to rise, and overall food prices are 9.9% higher than they were a year ago. Inflation in the UK reached its highest level in 50 years last year.
According to a study by the BBC Good Food Nation, the largest British culinary magazine, more than a quarter of Britons are eating less healthily due to rising prices, and one-third are saving money by purchasing supermarket own-brand products. One-third have also reduced food waste, including through better meal planning. Another positive outcome of the crisis is that nearly a quarter of Britons have cut down on alcohol consumption.
The cost of living crisis is exacerbating social inequalities, hitting the poorest the hardest. The findings of a study on this topic were published in the peer-reviewed medical journal BMJ Public Health.
A study conducted in Scotland showed that the cost of living crisis in the UK will result in a 6.5% increase in premature deaths, particularly in the poorest areas, where the increase in premature deaths will be four times greater than in the wealthiest areas.
The cost of living crisis disproportionately affects the poor and deepens social inequalities and stratification. The decrease in disposable income and disposable income growth, as well as the increase in inequalities, particularly impacting the poorer segments of society, also reduces social mobility and worsens the quality of life, creating a cascade of growing problems as a result.
The healthcare system is overwhelmed (more low-quality processed food leads to more diseases and premature deaths), more stress and mental health issues (poverty and future uncertainty are systemic causes of depression and other mental health problems), increased crime, a decline in social trust, and a growing demand gap. This crisis is also deepening what we already see in many countries, including Poland: the breakdown of society into two hostile factions living in different worlds. Some wonder why someone doesn't have a designer jacket for several thousand, while others must choose between buying a winter coat and paying rent.

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