Publications Losing energy How have households across the country responded to fuel-price shocks? 10 August 2026 by Zachary Leather and Amber Rajham The huge rise in energy prices following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has forced families to adjust to a new reality of high energy prices. Indeed, while energy use has fallen… Continue Reading
Publications Billing me softly How to design targeted energy discounts by Mike Brewer and Alex Clegg and Jonathan Marshall Less than a month after Britain’s new Prime Minister took office, and despite a day one decision to cut VAT from electricity bills, yet another escalation in the war in… Continue Reading
Comment Trimming the VAT Breathing space, off-target support and unfunded policies 21 July 2026 by Jonathan Marshall Jonny Marshall breaks down the upsides and limitations of the Burnham Government’s first new policy. Andy Burnham has promised to lead a ‘cost-of-living Government’, and the millions of households struggling… Continue Reading
Comment Higher energy prices could leave typical British households £480 worse off this year Mike Brewer and the RF team unpack what the current conflict in the Middle East means for living standards 15 April 2026 by Mike Brewer This post was originally published on our Substack. Never has the phrase ‘fog of war’ been more apt. The fighting in the Middle East had looked all set to escalate… Continue Reading
Publications Power struggle Assessing the options for supporting families with the rise in the cost of energy 18 March 2026 by Alex Clegg and Ruth Curtice and Zachary Leather and Jonathan Marshall and James Smith and Lalitha Try Conflict in the Middle East has driven oil prices from around $70 to $100 per barrel, with wholesale gas prices also rising by over 60 per cent. The duration and… Continue Reading
Publications Power cut What the Government’s energy bill discount means for households, and what comes next 21 February 2026 by Jonathan Marshall Next week, Ofgem is expected to announce that the Q2 2026 energy price cap will be nearly £120 below current levels. This reduction is overwhelmingly driven by the Government’s energy… Continue Reading
Events Explaining the consumption gap Keynote speech by External MPC member Dr. Catherine L. Mann Thursday 9 October 2025 Register to attend in person or to receive an access link for online viewers. In recent years, UK households have faced a number of economic challenges, contributing to subdued growth… Continue Reading
Publications The bare necessities Unpacking the rising cost of essentials for low-to-middle income Britain 30 June 2025 by Simon Pittaway and Lalitha Try This briefing note examines how prices have changed over time in three key areas of spending: energy, food and transport. We also propose policy changes that can make essential costs… Continue Reading
