The private sector helps us out despite government attacks

The government is out to blame the oil and gas companies and the food retailers for price gouging when it is government actions and high taxes that are putting up the cost of living. High business rates for shops and a big tax rise on jobs compounds the problems. High energy prices and carbon taxes threaten many UK businesses. The failure to provide enough police to stop a tidal wave of shop lifting and violence in stores adds to the private sector misery.

I usually undertake a weekly food shop in one of three national chains with stores in my area, rotating between them to stay in touch and hear from them on how things are going. This week I went to a store which offered me £12 off £80, so I decided to restock some items that can be stored to get up to the  spend level.

I also optimised the spend by using in store shelf edge promotions. It meant I could buy around £90 of goods for £68 combining £10 of product promotions with the £12 voucher. That was a useful 24% discount which helps with the weekly budget. What a contrast with the grasping wasteful Lib Dem Council demanding 5% more of my money under threat of imprisonment for non payment. They specialise in spending on road wrecking and bad investments that annoy me greatly. My Council Tax bill along with all the other people’s bills is way above the value of what they do for the local community.

The state is by far and away my biggest cost as I work away to pay the soaring tax bills. They never offer a discount for early payment or for good conduct or for not using some of their services which are badly run or pointless. There is no government loyalty card.

A lot of smaller shops, restaurants and pubs are closing thank to high taxes and the squeeze on consumers. This is visible on our shrinking High Streets. So too are many of our high energy using industries. Denby’s ceramics went under this week, adding to the rout in that industry. Royal Staffordshire  and Heraldic have also gone recently and Moorcroft needed refinancing. The government  does not  care as it bulldozes its way through the private sector, blaming it for its own disasters.