| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| bingo |
Have prices gone up fast lately?Has anybody noticed this, I expect everyone.It seems everything has gone up in price rapidly over he last two or three months. Obviously fuel is stupid but I've also noticed all dairy products are up and flour (and all related products). When's it going to stop? Unstable. 
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| Cho-ku-ri |
Wheat has been at an unrealistically low price for the last decade. Its global price has doubled this year meaning that any produce derived from wheat has to go up too. That includes dairy, pork, eggs etc etc as the animals are fed on wheat based diets. Many wheat buyers will have bought this year's supply on a forward contract, so most farmers will not be benefiting from the higher global price. If fact those that have to buy in feed will be worse off.
Because feed companies have forward bought, they are being a little bit opportunist in putting up there price, but if the price stays high, then watch out for major price rises next year. The E.U. has prepared for this by scrapping set-a-side overnight, so perhaps foolishly, farmers will do more work for a drop in price again. We shall wait and see, it could again, be down to the weather to decide yields that sets the price. You know when the price of oil goes up for some reason coal and gas goes up, well with the price of wheat going up, so has maize, soya, etc., so it really is effecting everybody. |
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| orangepippin |
There also seems to be growing recognition that the real inflation rate is no longer being accurately reflected by official figures - according to The Times it's around 10% p.a. for middle class families. I certainly think something needs to be done on fuel taxes, difficult to understand why UK fuel tax is so out of line with the rest of Europe. | ||||
| lettucewoman |
the fuel tax is high because our government thinks we will all use the abysmal public transport to help reduce our "carbon footprint"...it does not work, it has never worked, but they insist on continuing this policy. The labour government promised an overhaul of public transport, in 1997, making it more accessible, cheaper and more viable. This has not happened. They are about to shoot themselves in the foot as the price of fuel is and will continue to be instrumental in raising the price of eveything, as so much is transported by road.
There is a protest happening on monday via facebook. so far a couple of hundred people are boycotting petrol stations on Monday...not enough really. I am all for reducing the number of cars on the roads but taxing the fuel so highly does not work!! |
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| orangepippin |
I agree with all that, except I think the fuel tax is high simply because it can be - even the government no longer believes that it is high to stop people using their cars. | ||||
| Contadino |
The UK government subsidizes aircraft fuel to the tune of GBP9bn. Are you still wondering where your taxes on petrol (introduced under the banner of being green) are going? | ||||
| orangepippin |
I don't think it subsidises aviation fuel, merely chooses not to tax it - but I may be wrong on that. It does subsidise public transport. | ||||
| Contadino |
The UK government subsidizes aircraft fuel to the tune of GBP9bn. Are you still wondering where your taxes on petrol (introduced under the banner of being green) are going?
Edit: I should back that up with something really, shouldn't I? http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/richard_george/2007/10/darlings_green_pie_in_the_sky.html |
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| dougal |
I wouldn't have said we were dramatically out of line with other European fuel prices Take a look here http://www.aaroadwatch.ie/eupetrolprices/
The problem is that its not taxed elsewhere, hence the result of one country taxing it is simply to have most planes fill up elsewhere, and use extra fuel carrying extra (cheap) fuel... An international agreement is needed. Dunno why not much seems to happen on that score. Maybe the extent of US internal "public transport by air" might have something to do with it. Anyone know? |
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| Simon |
Animal feeds are very high in price here in comparison with last years prices. I put it down to having such a bad year for growing crops and hence lack of grain etc.
Let's hope next year picks up. I'd hate to think that we've had seven years of bumper crops and now we find ourselves unprepared for the famine ahead. |
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| jema |
Dairy is making me yelp a bit with the prices currently  But people will always react to something being more expensive regardless of whether it was previously artificially cheap.
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| sean |
My impression was that it's a carry over from the days of national airlines. Flying the flag and so on. |
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| Penny |
How much is diesel in other areas? £109.9 here in some places. | ||||
| mark |
there's been a lot of news stories about food prices this year!
One big influence is the economic rise of china and the emergence of chinese consumers who want supermarkets with the same stuff as we have in the west. They are creating a massive demand on global markets which pushes prices up. As other developing nations get more of their share shuch a rise in prices is to be expected. In england the floods and bad weather have created regional shortages. As already pointed out fuel and transport costs also contribute to the price of food! However on a historic level we still only use a tiny proportion of our income on food compared to previous generations! |
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| VSS |
If the price of fuel and wheat go up, so does everything else!
As far as fuel goes, raising the price will not reduce demand significantly. Price rises have much more effect on "luxury" goods. If we don't really need them we are far less likely to buy them at a higher price. With road fuel the relationship between demand and price is very inelastic so price rises have vitually no effect. Sad fact, but most of us in the 21st Centuary, will find it very hard to cut out fuel consumption significantly because of the demands made on us by Society and the lack of viable alternatives. |
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| AnneandMike |
The Sunday Times last week reported that known oil reserves were 38 years worth at current consumption levels. As there are no significant future discoveries to be made and consumption is rising, it is logical to assume rather less than 38 years and with shortages becoming common well before that. So, basically, however hard it is, we will have to "cut out fuel consumption significantly" and pretty soon. that is why fuel prices need to stay high (or rise more!) and the Government needs to send a strong price signal to purchasers of new cars. |
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| Cho-ku-ri |
Did anybody watch 'Cranford' last night? Did you notice how valuable candles were? Makes me realise just how easy our lives have become since oil.
I watched a program on whaling and that in Victorian times whale oil was the most valuable of fuels. Our lives will be so different when mineral oil runs out. 
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| Nick |
A broad, and incorrect statement. Link. |
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| hedgewitch |
So starting to keep bees now would be a good idea? 
Bees wax candles were traded for silk and other luxuries in the early medieval period. Constantinople spent (or traded) a fortune on them. It's one of the things that the Norse traders used to trade in. |