The chief executive of the charity behind a west Suffolk foodbank has said the new year could be difficult for families as data has revealed the cost of a Christmas dinner has risen twice as fast as monthly wages in Suffolk in the last two years.
Using Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures, the Stop the Squeeze coalition has estimated the cost of a traditional Christmas dinner has risen 30% in the last two years.
Meanwhile, recent ONS data on wages shows the median monthly income for people in Suffolk has risen 15.4% from £1,920 in November 2021 to £2,216 last month.
It means the Christmas dinner bill has grown 1.9 times faster than wages in the area.
Henry Wilson MBE, chief executive of Reach Haverhill which runs a foodbank to support residents in the town, said: "We’ve definitely seen a rise in the number of people coming to us, a small rise on 2022, with 2,036 people fed this year so far against 2,022 for the year in 2022, but in an ideal world we would prefer not be feeding anyone.
"I’m not sure what the government can do to stop rising costs, but they could put more money in people’s pockets. Our data shows that when low income families have more money in people’s pockets, it means less use of the foodbank.
"I would also like to point out that despite some better news in terms of headline data recently, prices generally are still increasing, fuel costs are rising, mortgages and rents are going up – with the accompanying threat of eviction – and there is a big catch up for many who have been buffering their finances with the heavy use of credit cards over many, many months.
"January and February could be very difficult months for many families," he added.
Separate estimates from the Centre for Economics and Business Research project the average household will spend £550 this Christmas, up from £480 in 2022.
This means the festive bill would take up 25% of the average person's monthly salary in Suffolk.
Paul Nowak, TUC general secretary, said: "While supermarket wars may mean some items are not as expensive as others this Christmas, let’s not lose sight of the bigger picture.
"We can’t go on like this. Working people should not be struggling to put food on the table and buy presents for their family."
He said a plan is needed to "jumpstart" the economy and added there is a need for a change of government.
Sabine Goodwin, director of the Independent Food Aid Network, said food banks in its network are working to support increasing people on low wages, in insecure work, and with "inadequate" social security payments.
She added: "Not only is the cost of a Christmas dinner unaffordable to many this year, but more and more people are facing destitution.
"It's time to prioritise building a fairer society based on an equitable tax system, ensuring a living income and a healthy standard of living for all."
A Treasury spokesperson said recent ONS figures for November show inflation has fallen to 3.9%.
They added: "That was by no means guaranteed at the start of the year when inflation was in double digits, and is proof that our plan is working.
"But prices are still rising too quickly, which is why we have put in place one of the largest cost of living support packages anywhere in Europe, and are supporting low paid workers with a record increase in the National Living Wage and cutting taxes so that people can keep more of what they earn."
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