The cost of “fun” is skyrocketing, putting more strain on household budgets

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The cost of movie trips, theater tours and concerts in November was 13.6% higher than the previous year – more than twice the rate of inflation

The cost of “fun” has skyrocketed in 2021, putting additional pressure on household budgets, according to a new analysis.

The cost of movie trips, theater visits and concerts in November was 13.6% higher than the previous year, according to Labor’s analysis of figures from the Office for National Statistics and the Library of the House of Commons.

This is more than double the inflation rate, which was 5.1% for the same month.

Cinemas have been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, with the big chain Cineworld reporting a 61.9% drop in revenue in the six months to July 2021, compared to the previous six months.

The chain was forced to increase the price of tickets by more than 40% on average to compensate.

But that means families already grappling with rising gas and energy bills now face higher prices for travel in the New Year.

Workers are already facing a looming cost-of-living crisis this year, with the impending hike in national insurance and housing tax increases expected to weigh heavily in the coming months.

Labor shadow secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sports, Lucy Powell, said: “Families are already facing soaring costs for gas, food and gas. energy.

“They are now going to be affected by the rising cost of entertainment, with a New Year’s trip to the movies much more expensive than last year.”

And Labor criticized the government for failing to prepare for Brexit labor shortages in the new year.

Boris Johnson has argued that there is “no alternative” to rising wage inflation as the UK goes through a “transition” after leaving the EU.

As labor shortages began to be felt in October, he said: “The UK needs – and we can – do much, much better by becoming a higher wage, higher productivity economy. high. “

Labor analysis found that by 2026/27 the average household will pay £ 3,000 more in taxes than when Mr Johnson became Prime Minister.

Ms Powell said: “This winter will be difficult for many already, and the government has a responsibility to make people’s lives easier.

“Instead of helping workers, they are putting the biggest tax burden on them in 70 years.

“The work would ease the burden during the winter by temporarily removing VAT from national energy bills.”