Soaring food and fuel costs 'giving Brits a raw deal'

The high cost of food, fuel, cigarettes and alcohol means that Britons are getting a raw deal compared to their European counterparts, according to a study by Uswitch.

It found that the quality of life was poorer in the UK than other European countries because of the combined effects of the recession, increasing unemployment, high prices and the older retirement age.
These factors may also be encouraging Brits to turn to high interest credit cards to pay their bills and everyday costs of living.

Ann Robinson, director of consumer policy at uSwitch.com, said: "We earn substantially more than our European neighbours, but this level of income is needed just to keep a roof over our heads, food on the table and our homes warm."

The news comes after the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development said that as many as one in ten UK men will be unemployed by 2010 as the male employment rate heads toward a record low.