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£33 pint & £102 cigarettes – how much everyday faves would cost if increased in line with soaring wholesale gas prices

Andy Robinson
Sophie McVinnie

Published: 21:51, 27 Aug 2022
Updated: 9:35, 28 Aug 2022

A PINT would cost £33 if beer increased in line with wholesale gas prices, experts say.

Cheeseburgers would be a tenner, a cup of coffee £28 and a packet of 20 Marlboro Lights cigarettes a gasping £102.

It would cost £3.50 an hour to have a boiler on and electric cars would be costlier to run than petrol.

Citizens Advice says a third of households will not be able to afford the upcoming 80 per cent bills hike.

And people could spend next year abroad in rented flats in paradise hotspots such as Thailand, Bali and Vietnam for less than the new £3,549 price cap, lodging site Airbnb shows.

What other prices are soaring?

The cost of living is on the firm rise with the likes of food, energy and bill prices going up.

We've listed a few here to catch you up if you're not sure:

Energy bills

In most recent news, energy bills are set to rocket to £3,549 on average per year, piling further misery onto households.

The energy regulator confirmed the new price cap, which comes into effect on October 1, on Friday.

The rise will hit 24million households, with four million of those on prepayment meters.

Over nine million more households have moved on to the standard variable tariff since October last year after more than thirty energy suppliers went bust.

But, if you're worried, there are plenty of energy suppliers who do offer support for those who are struggling to pay their bills.

Those on Universal Credit and older legacy benefits could get over £3,000 in bill support.

Also, British Gas has recently confirmed that it'll pay its most vulnerable customers grants worth £750 to help with sky-high bills.

Food

Food bills have now risen by 11.6% - which works out at an annual increase of £533 for the average household.

It means families are forking out an additional £10.25 every week if they buy the same products as last year, according to research firm Kantar.

It has reported a 19.7% increase in the sale of own-label value products as shoppers looking to make savings.

But, again, there are ways to help soften the blow of rising prices.

For example, thousands of families could be in line for a windfall of up to £300 to help cover the cost of soaring energy bills.

The help comes as part of the Household Support Fund - a £1.5billion pot of cash being dished out by the government to local councils.

This particular cash boost is for residents of Effingham, near Guildford, but how much you could get will vary depending on where you live.

You can using the government website, and ask what help is available where you live and who is eligible.

Each council decides what help to provide and in what form - some provide cash grants, while others provide vouchers or free school meals.

In some areas, the help is given automatically to those who meet certain criteria, while in other parts of the country you'll need to apply.

So it's best to call up and be sure.

Petrol

Petrol prices remain high despite falling off from record highs in recent months.

The price of a litre of unleaded hit over £2 earlier this year after wholesale prices jumped due to the war in Ukraine.

The cost of petrol has fallen below 175p a litre in recent weeks, but is still around 30p more expensive year-on-year.

It's making it expensive to get the kids to school, or commute to work as drivers are already struggling amidst the cost of living crisis.

It's hard to say when fuel prices might drop to a certain level, as it depends on how long the war in Ukraine lasts for and how economies emerge from the pandemic.

AA reported on August 12 fuel prices could drop "by a further 15p in coming weeks", but did not offer a long-term prediction.

For now, and while prices stay high, there are several ways you can save on your fuel before you even get in your car.

Keep your tyres inflated: low air pressure in your tires means that your tires will drag, slowing the car and using more fuel.

Keeping your tires topped up with air will make sure that everything is functioning properly and you will use less fuel

Remove any excess weight: If your car is full of clutter or you don't need your roof rack, get rid of it.