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| How are people in Guernsey and Jersey managing cost of living? | How are people in Guernsey and Jersey managing cost of living? |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Sarah Aubert says she has noticed the price of food and suncream rising recently | Sarah Aubert says she has noticed the price of food and suncream rising recently |
| "I have three children and it is really hard to support your family at the moment." | "I have three children and it is really hard to support your family at the moment." |
| Jersey mother-of-three Sarah Aubert said she was sometimes skipping meals to make sure her children could eat well because of recent increases in prices. | Jersey mother-of-three Sarah Aubert said she was sometimes skipping meals to make sure her children could eat well because of recent increases in prices. |
| Prices are continuing to rise in Jersey at a faster rate than earlier this year, with the latest figures showing inflation was 2.6%, while in Guernsey the rate of increase has slowed - but is higher than Jersey, at 3.9%. | Prices are continuing to rise in Jersey at a faster rate than earlier this year, with the latest figures showing inflation was 2.6%, while in Guernsey the rate of increase has slowed - but is higher than Jersey, at 3.9%. |
| According to some local economists, the disparity between the islands is partly down to the higher costs of rental properties in Guernsey. | According to some local economists, the disparity between the islands is partly down to the higher costs of rental properties in Guernsey. |
| Construction worker Luke Jackson blamed high rents in Guernsey on States relocation grants. | Construction worker Luke Jackson blamed high rents in Guernsey on States relocation grants. |
| He said: "Locals can't compete. It's got to the point now where we're second-class citizens in our own island." | He said: "Locals can't compete. It's got to the point now where we're second-class citizens in our own island." |
| Last year, the States paid £4,757,453 to assist staff moving to the island, compared to £1,437,450 in 2018. | Last year, the States paid £4,757,453 to assist staff moving to the island, compared to £1,437,450 in 2018. |
| Economist and Deputy Andy Sloan agreed with Luke that relocation grants had led to a steep increase in rental prices locally. | Economist and Deputy Andy Sloan agreed with Luke that relocation grants had led to a steep increase in rental prices locally. |
| Luke blamed the recent jump in rental prices on relocation grants from the States | Luke blamed the recent jump in rental prices on relocation grants from the States |
| In Guernsey, stats from the States showed average local market rents were £2,068 a month in the first quarter of 2025 - 1.5% higher than the previous quarter; 8.2% higher than the first quarter of 2024 and 51.7% higher than five years ago. | In Guernsey, stats from the States showed average local market rents were £2,068 a month in the first quarter of 2025 - 1.5% higher than the previous quarter; 8.2% higher than the first quarter of 2024 and 51.7% higher than five years ago. |
| In Jersey, rents have remained stable for the last six months, with the average price of a one-bedroom house £1,300 per month, according to the States of Jersey. | In Jersey, rents have remained stable for the last six months, with the average price of a one-bedroom house £1,300 per month, according to the States of Jersey. |
| Food inflation | Food inflation |
| In Jersey, one of the big drivers of the island's inflation rate is the rate at which the price of food has increased in recent months - 4.1% between the end of March and June. | In Jersey, one of the big drivers of the island's inflation rate is the rate at which the price of food has increased in recent months - 4.1% between the end of March and June. |
| In Guernsey, food has not been singled out as one of the big drivers behind prices increasing, that is housing costs and tobacco, but the price of food has increased by 3.9% in the last three months. | In Guernsey, food has not been singled out as one of the big drivers behind prices increasing, that is housing costs and tobacco, but the price of food has increased by 3.9% in the last three months. |
| Sarah Aubert said: "Suncream in the shops is so expensive; fillings for sandwiches, like pack lunch stuff, it's even like snack bars, and cereal, I would say too it is really expensive | Sarah Aubert said: "Suncream in the shops is so expensive; fillings for sandwiches, like pack lunch stuff, it's even like snack bars, and cereal, I would say too it is really expensive |
| "So it is really hard, but we try and just balance it out now and just take away things that you know we used to have as luxuries." | "So it is really hard, but we try and just balance it out now and just take away things that you know we used to have as luxuries." |
| For new mother Chantelle Bearder in Guernsey, it is a similar balancing act. | For new mother Chantelle Bearder in Guernsey, it is a similar balancing act. |
| Mother-of-one Chantelle Bearder has changed her shopping habits because of increasing prices | Mother-of-one Chantelle Bearder has changed her shopping habits because of increasing prices |
| She said she had taken time off to look after her daughter, which meant her husband was the sole income. | She said she had taken time off to look after her daughter, which meant her husband was the sole income. |
| She said: "Obviously I'm out of work at the moment, looking after my little one, because work versus childcare is the balance. | She said: "Obviously I'm out of work at the moment, looking after my little one, because work versus childcare is the balance. |
| "There is a lot more to balance when you are living off one wage. There is a lot more I'm having think about, like what is affordable to buy versus what is then also going in the bin." | "There is a lot more to balance when you are living off one wage. There is a lot more I'm having think about, like what is affordable to buy versus what is then also going in the bin." |
| The BBC contacted the States of Guernsey on Tuesday 22 July to ask what it was doing to assist people with the cost of living crisis locally. | The BBC contacted the States of Guernsey on Tuesday 22 July to ask what it was doing to assist people with the cost of living crisis locally. |
| So far, there has been no response. | |
| In Jersey, Minister for Social Security, Deputy Lyndsay Feltham said she appreciated the impact the cost of living was having on families. | In Jersey, Minister for Social Security, Deputy Lyndsay Feltham said she appreciated the impact the cost of living was having on families. |
| To support people with the cost of living crisis, Feltham said the States was "transitioning towards a living wage, with the first step made in April when the minimum wage increased to £13". | To support people with the cost of living crisis, Feltham said the States was "transitioning towards a living wage, with the first step made in April when the minimum wage increased to £13". |
| She added: "There is also help available through income support, with rates increasing by 8.6% in 2024 and again by 4% this January." | She added: "There is also help available through income support, with rates increasing by 8.6% in 2024 and again by 4% this January." |
| Nausheena Nackwa's family have noticed the oncreasing price of groceries compared to their native South Africa | Nausheena Nackwa's family have noticed the oncreasing price of groceries compared to their native South Africa |
| Every Tuesday, Bright Beginnings Children Centre in St Sampson's hosts a free stay-and-play session for parents at a loose end as to what to do with their little ones. | Every Tuesday, Bright Beginnings Children Centre in St Sampson's hosts a free stay-and-play session for parents at a loose end as to what to do with their little ones. |
| New mother Nausheena Nackwa was there with her six-month-old daughter. | New mother Nausheena Nackwa was there with her six-month-old daughter. |
| She said: "We have only been here for two years, but we've seen a noticeable increase in prices. | She said: "We have only been here for two years, but we've seen a noticeable increase in prices. |
| "The price of food has increased, and daycare costs too, which is serious for us as we do not have a support system over here, so we will have to rely on daycare. | "The price of food has increased, and daycare costs too, which is serious for us as we do not have a support system over here, so we will have to rely on daycare. |
| "Then, of course, there is the actual housing situation - that is the other real big cost that really gets us." | "Then, of course, there is the actual housing situation - that is the other real big cost that really gets us." |
| On Guernsey's High Street, the cost of housing came up as one of the biggest concerns for people living on the island | On Guernsey's High Street, the cost of housing came up as one of the biggest concerns for people living on the island |
| Hospitality worker Sheikh Sakib, who recently had his first child in Guernsey, said: "The rental costs are bad here." | Hospitality worker Sheikh Sakib, who recently had his first child in Guernsey, said: "The rental costs are bad here." |
| On Guernsey's High Street, he said his biggest overhead every month was his rent. | On Guernsey's High Street, he said his biggest overhead every month was his rent. |
| He said: "The grocery costs is getting increasing, as well as rent, but the biggest expense is always rent. | He said: "The grocery costs is getting increasing, as well as rent, but the biggest expense is always rent. |
| "I have seen some of the places in London cheaper than here. Especially when I went to Edinburgh: I found a three-bedroom flat in the city centre, £1,200 | "I have seen some of the places in London cheaper than here. Especially when I went to Edinburgh: I found a three-bedroom flat in the city centre, £1,200 |
| "Outside of the city is £700 or £900. | "Outside of the city is £700 or £900. |
| "But, in Guernsey, you can see for a two-bedroom flat it needs to be at least £2,000, plus the bills and other things." | "But, in Guernsey, you can see for a two-bedroom flat it needs to be at least £2,000, plus the bills and other things." |
| Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk. |