News about cost of living

Tens of thousands of people across major European cities protested over the weekend against rising living costs, housing shortages and strained public services. In France, about 550,000 people joined nationwide demonstrations on Saturday that turned violent, with 997 police officers and gendarmes injured, seven of them seriously, and 2,397 people arrested. Clashes also broke out in Milan and Brussels, with about 50 demonstrators detained in Milan, while tens of thousands rallied in Portugal demanding affordable housing. European leaders condemned the violence, and a Eurofound senior research manager said the benefits of macroeconomic stability are failing to reach the bottom half of the income distribution.

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets across several European cities over the weekend to protest rising living costs, housing shortages and strained public services. In France, some 550,000 people joined nationwide demonstrations on Saturday, which quickly turned violent, leaving 997 police officers and gendarmes injured, seven seriously, and 2,397 people arrested nationwide. In Milan, Italy, protesters threw firecrackers and bottles at police, injuring at least four officers and 20 demonstrators, with about 50 detained. Clashes also broke out in Brussels, and tens of thousands marched in Portuguese cities demanding affordable housing. Analysts warn that failing to address these hardships risks further eroding public trust and deepening social divisions.

Tens of thousands of people marched across European cities over the weekend, protesting surging living costs, housing shortages and strained public services. In France, about 550,000 people joined nationwide demonstrations on Saturday, and clashes left 997 police officers and gendarmes injured and 2,397 people arrested. In Milan, four officers and 20 protesters were hurt and about 50 people were detained, Brussels saw clashes, and tens of thousands in Portugal demanded affordable housing. French President Macron and Italian Prime Minister Meloni condemned the violence and vowed to prosecute those responsible. Eurofound's Eszter Sandor warned that the benefits of macroeconomic stability are not reaching the bottom half of the income distribution, eroding trust in governments.

Tens of thousands of people rallied across major European cities over the weekend against rising living costs, housing shortages and strained public services. In France, nationwide protests on Saturday drew about 550,000 people and turned violent, with 997 police and gendarmes injured and 2,397 people arrested. In Milan, protesters threw firecrackers and bottles at police, leaving at least four officers and 20 protesters hurt, while clashes also broke out in Brussels and tens of thousands in Portugal demanded affordable housing in Lisbon and Porto. Leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the violence. Eszter Sandor, a senior research manager at Eurofound, warned that the benefits of macroeconomic stability are not reaching the bottom half of the income distribution, deepening public distrust.

On Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the nation after weekend riots and looting across mainland France and its overseas territories, announcing measures to ease the cost of living, engage youth and restore order. He linked rising fuel prices to the Persian Gulf conflict, said he would travel to the Gulf states to secure fuel and gas supplies, and noted that the government has coordinated with fuel distributors so these efforts are reflected in prices. A structured dialogue with students will begin this week, and a government platform has already gathered over 100,000 contributions; the Prime Minister will chair a crisis unit to deliver aid to affected businesses. Macron pledged uncompromising legal action against violent rioters, asked Interior Minister Laurent Nunez to examine intelligence failures, and stressed that peaceful protesters must not be confused with those who vandalized and looted.

Hundreds of thousands of people protested across Belgium, France, Italy and Portugal on October 17-18 over rising living costs. In France, the Interior Ministry counted over 550,000 participants, and the marches turned violent, with looting in several cities, a fire that nearly destroyed the 140-year-old Limoges city hall, and 1,200 arrests and 150 injured police, according to Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu. Police used tear gas and water cannon in Brussels and Liège, while tens of thousands marched in Lisbon over housing costs and low wages. In Milan, clashes left at least 2 officers injured and about 50 people arrested, many of them minors, and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the violence. Alberto Alemanno of HEC Paris said discontent is spreading, with early signs of protests in Greece, Germany and Austria expected next week, as Europe prepares for a major run of national elections in the next 12 months.

Protests over living costs and declining public services turned violent in France this weekend, with almost 2,400 people arrested and nearly 1,000 police officers and gendarmes injured, according to the interior ministry. Shops were looted and buildings torched, including the 143-year-old town hall in Limoges, while a protester died of cardiac arrest in Paris. About 550,000 people marched nationwide, including 110,000 in Paris, but the violence came from fringe groups. President Emmanuel Macron ordered a review of intelligence and police preparedness and asked for concrete proposals to address the crisis. It comes as Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s minority government seeks €54 billion ($61 billion) of 2027 budget savings amid a record €3.6 trillion public debt, or 119% of GDP.

Protests in France began in late September as student demonstrations over failing public schools and have grown into a nationwide movement against rising living costs, especially fuel prices. Some marches saw violence and looting; the interior minister said about 1,800 people were arrested, and a retail group estimated about 1,500 businesses were damaged, with losses in the hundreds of millions of euros. The interior ministry put Saturday's turnout at 550,000 people, while the CGT union put it at 800,000. The government plans to deploy 3,000 more substitute teachers, involve students in school decisions and drop a planned rise in some university registration fees, though the interior minister has signaled limits to further concessions.

The movement began with student protests in late September over run-down public schools and has grown into a nationwide movement against rising living costs, including high fuel prices. Protesters cited teacher shortages, dilapidated classrooms and an opaque university admissions system, while fuel costs rose partly due to the Middle East war. Violence and looting in several cities led to about 1,800 arrests, damage to about 1,500 businesses, and around 500 police, firefighters and paramedics injured. The government plans to deploy 3,000 more substitute teachers and drop a planned rise in university registration fees, but has signaled limits to further concessions. The interior ministry estimated 550,000 people joined nationwide protests, while the CGT put turnout at 800,000.

French President Emmanuel Macron, addressing the nation on Monday after widespread riots and looting, condemned “unbridled violence” and pledged uncompromising legal action against rioters, including the arson of Limoges' town hall and attacks on sites in Lyon, Marseille and Bordeaux. He announced measures to ease the cost of living and fuel prices, which he linked to the Persian Gulf conflict, including a trip to the Gulf states to secure fuel and gas supplies and government coordination with fuel distributors on prices. A crisis unit chaired by Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu will deliver aid to affected businesses, and a structured dialogue with high school and university students will begin this week. Macron also ordered a review of intelligence failures and stressed that peaceful protesters, who marched against living costs, must not be confused with those committing violence.

The TUC estimates UK households have paid an extra £13,961 on bills on average since 2021, or £2,792 a year, amid soaring inflation and a difficult backdrop including the Covid crisis, war in Ukraine and war in Iran. TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said working people have borne the brunt of successive crises and that high bills are squeezing consumer spending and holding back the economy. A Resolution Foundation study found working families are £2,900 a year worse off over the past five years compared with inflation at around 2 per cent a year. Its chief economist James Smith said any new help must be targeted at the poorest families, starting with energy bills, as public finances leave less room than ever to provide support.

Nationwide protests over the cost of living, which the Interior Ministry put at 550,000 participants (the CGT union said 800,000), turned violent in Paris and other cities including Marseille, Bordeaux, Nice and Strasbourg, with hundreds of shops looted. Paris police made a record 855 arrests on Saturday, and 557 people remained in custody, about a third of them minors. Around 1,500 businesses were damaged, with losses estimated in the hundreds of millions of euros, and around 500 police, firefighters and paramedics were hurt. US President Donald Trump blamed immigration and urged France to tighten its migration rules, while French political leaders traded blame over who was responsible. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu was to chair a crisis meeting on insurance, aid for shops and the prosecution of those behind the violence.

An update to the author’s 8 October 2026 post on the French protests says that after 8 October, lycée student blockades declined but the movement broadened into a wider anti-government mobilisation over education, public services, inequality and the cost of living. School closures fell to 214 on 13 October from 224 on 8 October, while the Interior Ministry counted 161,500 participants nationwide that day and student organisations claimed 480,000. On 17 October, a joint action with unions, Yellow Vests and others drew about 550,000 people according to the Interior Ministry and about 800,000 according to the CGT, though violent groups clashed with police and looted shops, and the arrest count rose to at least 1,800 by 18 October. The government’s deployment of 3,000 substitute teachers was seen by student groups as inadequate against their demand for a €10 billion education plan.

Violent protests spread across France for another day, with more than half a million people in the streets and several cities looted and set on fire. The demonstrations, which began over the cost of living, education standards and President Emmanuel Macron's government, were mostly peaceful, but more than 1,200 people were arrested. According to a retail and trade federation cited in the report, around 1,500 businesses were damaged, with losses estimated at hundreds of millions of dollars. In an emergency address, Macron condemned all violence, promised a firm line against rioters and asked prosecutors to act as firmly as possible, while also pointing to a Ministry of Education platform that had received 100,000 contributions from students and teachers.

The November 3, 2026 midterm elections will decide whether Republicans keep control of Congress, with all 435 House seats, 35 Senate seats and 36 governorships up for grabs. Republicans hold a 53–47 Senate advantage, and Democrats need a net gain of four seats to take control. A Pew survey found only 30% of Americans approve of Trump's performance while 68% disapprove, and a Harris Poll found 61% believe the country is effectively in a recession. Competitive Senate races are emerging in Trump-won states including Alaska, Kansas, Iowa, Ohio and Texas, where Democrat James Talarico leads Republican Ken Paxton 50% to 47% in a University of Texas poll.

Cosatu's newly elected leadership, led by general secretary Zingiswa Losi, used its reconvened 15th National Congress to call for faster talks on the next phase of the two-pot retirement reform and for tax relief for highly indebted workers. Critics argue the system offers less relief than expected because withdrawals are taxed at marginal income tax rates. The federation also pledged to strengthen its living wage campaign, defend collective bargaining, oppose retrenchments, labour broking and outsourcing, and develop a workers' cost-of-living index. It further demands greater transparency in retirement funds, better tax thresholds, and more union representation on the board of the Public Investment Corporation, where the law allows three union representatives.

At a CBS News town hall in Michigan, Vice President JD Vance blamed high gas prices mainly on decisions made under Joe Biden, saying about 20 percent of US refining capacity went offline during that term and that restoring it takes time. He linked current price pressure to Iran's attacks on oil shipping and said he does not think gas prices will come down once the conflict ends. Asked about everyday costs and the economy, Vance argued that a bipartisan, multi-generational failure to invest in American workers and manufacturing caused the problems, and that fixing them will take more than 18 months. Host Tony Dokoupil noted it has been almost 2 years and asked how long the temporary period Vance had earlier described would last.

Protests in France, led by students, teachers, trade unions and figures linked to the Yellow Vest movement over rising living costs and declining public services, turned violent in several cities. Violent groups looted shops, set fires and attacked public buildings; the city hall in Limoges was reportedly set on fire deliberately, and Lyon's tourist office was also set alight. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu accused far-left groups and criminals of exploiting the unrest ahead of next year's presidential election, while President Emmanuel Macron vowed to prosecute those responsible. Police reportedly arrested at least 1,800 people nationwide. US President Donald Trump blamed immigration for the violence, an interpretation the article presents as his own, while smaller protests were also reported in Belgium, Portugal and Italy.

Protests over soaring living costs and deteriorating public services turned violent across France on Saturday, with cars burned, shops looted and clashes in Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Lille. French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said more than 2,000 people were arrested and more than 600 police officers, gendarmes and firefighters were injured, according to provisional figures. In Limoges, masked rioters set fire to the City Hall built in 1883, causing its roof to collapse and destroying about two-thirds of its facade. The unrest follows weeks of student-led protests that began on September 17 over teacher shortages and overcrowded classrooms, and a survey found 45 percent of respondents cited inflation and purchasing power as main concerns. Macron vowed that those responsible would be prosecuted, while the government pledged around 3,000 additional teachers ahead of the presidential election on April 18 and May 2, 2027.

A Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll conducted Oct. 9-13 found that 33% of Americans approve of Trump's job performance, 66% disapprove, and 52% strongly disapprove, down four points from July and eight from a year ago. Among likely voters, 38% approve, and only 28% approve of his handling of the economy, while roughly three in four Americans disapprove of how he has managed inflation and the cost of living. The poll gives Democrats an eight-point edge for controlling the House after the Nov. 3 midterms. Republicans hold a 53-47 Senate majority, so Democrats would need to flip at least two seats in states Trump won by double digits in 2024, which would let them block his nominees and subpoena witnesses in investigations.

Voters in California, Florida and Massachusetts will decide on Nov. 3 measures on zoning, permitting and property taxes tied to housing affordability. In Massachusetts, Question 7 would cap minimum lot sizes at 5,000 square feet and needs more than a simple majority, with Yes votes equal to at least 30% of all ballots cast; supporters have raised more than $1.7 million. Florida requires 60% approval, and Amendment 3 would raise the homestead exemption to $250,000 in 2028, but a University of North Florida poll in July found support falling from 61% to 45% once voters learned the budget impact. In California, Proposition 45 would set deadlines for CEQA environmental reviews and court challenges, but California YIMBY has taken no position.

Violent protests and looting on Saturday caused widespread damage across France, with 1,800 people arrested and a historic town hall in Limoges set on fire. In Paris, a record 855 arrests were made on Saturday, and 557 people remained in custody, about a third of them minors. Around 1,500 businesses were damaged, with losses estimated in the hundreds of millions of euros, and about 500 police, firefighters and paramedics were injured. The unrest occurred alongside nationwide cost-of-living protests that the interior ministry said drew 550,000 people. President Macron is set to address the nation, while US President Donald Trump blamed immigration for the unrest and political leaders traded accusations over its causes.

According to Business Insider, white bread averaged 36 cents per pound in 1975, and a 20-ounce Wonder loaf cost 45 cents, while Walmart sells the same loaf for around $2.47 today. Adjusted for inflation, the 1975 price equals $2.26 per pound in today's dollars, so the 20-ounce Wonder loaf would cost $2.83 at 1975 prices, yet the average bread price in 2026 is only $1.85 per pound. The article notes that inflation changed eating habits: Hamburger Helper helped stretch expensive ground beef in the 1970s, and today many shoppers buy less beef and consider cheaper proteins or plant-based alternatives. In 2023, an Italian consumer group called for a week-long pasta boycott over prices rising more than double the inflation rate, but the government acted to bring prices down and the boycott was called off before it began.

A Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll puts Trump's approval at a record-low 33%, down four percentage points from July and eight from a year ago. Among likely voters, 38% approve, and on the economy only 28% approve, with roughly 3 in 4 Americans disapproving of his handling of inflation and the cost of living. For the first time in over 10 years, Americans trust Democrats more than Republicans on the economy. Two weeks before the Nov. 3 midterms, Democrats hold an eight-point advantage for controlling the House and have a real shot at the Senate, where Republicans hold a 53-47 majority, while Republicans privately worry his disapproval is a liability.

Violent protests across France on Saturday, held alongside nationwide demonstrations over the cost of living, led to 1,800 arrests, looting and widespread damage. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said investigations are ongoing, with a record 855 arrests in Paris, where about 1,500 businesses were damaged and losses are estimated at hundreds of millions of euros. A 19th-century town hall in Limoges was destroyed by a fire that was deliberately set, a tourist office in Lyon was burned, and roughly 500 police, firefighters and paramedics were injured, while a 17-year-old lost a hand after a crowd-control grenade exploded in Saint-Étienne. The Interior Ministry estimated 550,000 participants in the protests, while the CGT union put the figure at 800,000. Political leaders disagreed on blame, with the government and Marine Le Pen pointing to ultra-left groups, while Jean-Luc Mélenchon accused authorities of worsening tensions.

Violent protests across France have led to about 1,800 arrests, with shops looted and a 19th-century town hall in Limoges destroyed by fire. In Paris, police reported a record 855 arrests and more than 500 people remained in custody, while 160 were held in Lyon. Nationwide cost-of-living demonstrations drew 550,000 people according to the Interior Ministry and 800,000 according to the CGT union. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said around 500 police officers, firefighters and paramedics were injured, a figure that remains provisional. Both the government and Marine Le Pen blamed “ultra-left” groups for the violence, adding pressure on President Emmanuel Macron in the final months of his presidency.

Mass demonstrations across France protested the repression of the high school student movement, along with rising energy prices and cost of living. After mass arrests of students and police injuries, clashes broke out in many cities. The Interior Ministry revised its estimate to 550,000 demonstrators nationwide, while local organisers put the total at 800,000; in Bordeaux, the prefecture counted 7,000 while the CGT counted 100,000. Protesters burned down the Limoges city hall and burst into those in Marseille and Lille, and leaders from Macron and Bruno Retailleau to Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Marine Le Pen voiced concern about the unrest. The article argues that the inter-union alliance has called only a one-day action on November 5 and calls for independent action committees to prepare a general strike.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said 1,800 people had been taken into custody after violent protests that caused widespread damage and looting, and investigators are working to identify those responsible. More than 500 police officers, gendarmes and firefighters were injured, and several hundred merchants suffered considerable material damage. According to the Haute-Vienne police prefect, the 143-year-old town hall in Limoges was deliberately set on fire, and its roof largely collapsed. During Saturday's nationwide marches against rising inflation, protesters also broke into town halls in Marseille and Lille, and dozens of shops were looted, many of them in Marseille. Over 300 protesters tried to move toward the Champs-Elysees before police used tear gas to block their way.

Xcel Energy, Minnesota's largest electric utility, proposes freezing its electricity rates for two years and postponing any rate increase requests until at least November 2028. In exchange, it wants regulators' permission to use federal tax credits from five planned battery storage projects sooner than expected. The company says the plan would still allow it to invest almost $4.5 billion in the state's electric system over the next two years. The proposal comes as customers complain about rising utility costs following a 5.8% increase over two years approved in June, which drew strong opposition. Attorney General Keith Ellison and consumer advocates asked regulators to reconsider, but the Public Utilities Commission declined and instead launched a statewide investigation into the affordability of electric and natural gas service.

France was reeling after violent protests on Saturday that led to 1,800 arrests, the torching of a historic town hall in Limoges and widespread looting. Paris police reported a record 855 arrests, and around 1,500 businesses were damaged, with losses estimated in the hundreds of millions of euros. The interior ministry counted 550,000 protesters at the nationwide cost-of-living demonstrations, while the CGT union put the figure at 800,000, and about 500 police, firefighters and paramedics were injured. Eurasia Group analyst Mujtaba Rahman said the violence came from an ultra-left fringe and opportunistic gangs, while most of the real demonstrations were peaceful, and that this was good news for Marine Le Pen. A 17-year-old boy lost his right hand to a crowd-control grenade in Saint-Etienne.

France is assessing the damage from violent protests on October 17 against the high cost of living, which led to 1,800 arrests. In Paris, police reported a “record” 855 arrests, with shops looted and barricades set on fire. Local officials said the 19th-century town hall in Limoges was deliberately set on fire. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said more than 500 police, gendarmes and firefighters were injured, a figure that remains provisional. Macron's government and far-right candidate Marine Le Pen both blamed “ultra-left” groups, while Jean-Luc Melenchon urged demonstrators to avoid looting.

France was left reeling after a day of violent protests against the cost of living, with 1,800 people arrested, a 19th-century town hall in Limoges set on fire and widespread looting in cities including Paris, Marseille, Bordeaux, Nice and Strasbourg. Paris police recorded a record 855 arrests, and about 1,500 businesses were damaged, with losses estimated in the hundreds of millions of euros. The interior ministry put attendance at the nationwide protests at 550,000, while the CGT union said 800,000 took part, and around 500 police, firefighters and paramedics were hurt. The government and Marine Le Pen blamed ultra-left groups, while US Vice President JD Vance suggested the unrest stemmed from immigration. President Emmanuel Macron, in his final months in power, was due to address the nation on Sunday evening.

On Sunday, France woke up to devastated streets after clashes between police and protesters during marches against rising living costs. Violent protests spread across the country, bringing arrests, looting and destruction in several cities, following weeks of student protests. Shops were attacked in Paris, Bordeaux, Strasbourg, Nice and Marseille, and the town hall in Limoges was destroyed by fire, which the local prefect blamed on “a wild horde.” Interior Minister Nunez said 1,800 people had been arrested and more than 500 police officers, gendarmes and firefighters were injured, while nearly 1,500 shops and retailers were damaged, according to AFP. President Emmanuel Macron said there is “no room for violence in our Republic.”

Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets across France to protest rising living costs, but some groups used the unrest to ransack shops from Paris to Marseille, Lille and Nice. In Paris, a Céline store on Avenue Montaigne, a skincare shop and a telecom store were broken into, while in Marseille Hermès and Louis Vuitton were among dozens of shops smashed. An Apple Store in central Lille was also broken into. According to France 24, purchasing power has declined since 2024 while fuel prices have surged, and anger has grown over allegations of police violence against high school student protests. Violence has overshadowed the protesters' original demands, as France prepares for the 2027 presidential election.

Gasoline prices have risen sharply since the U.S. war with Iran began in February, with the average price of regular gasoline at $4.36 in September according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The Get the Facts Data Team built a calculator that shows how many gallons a given amount of spending buys at each month’s EIA average price. Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows the gasoline index rose 34.2% year over year in September, and a 9.1% jump in the index accounted for over half of the overall monthly increase in consumer prices, with overall inflation rising to 3.7% year over year.

Gas prices have sharply risen since the U.S. war with Iran began in February, with the average price of regular gasoline at $4.36 in September, according to the EIA. The Get the Facts Data Team's new calculator shows how many gallons a given amount of spending buys at the pump, based on EIA's monthly national average prices. The BLS reported that the gasoline index rose 34.2% year over year in September, and its 9.1% surge accounted for over half of the monthly increase in all items. Overall inflation worsened to 3.7% year over year as the ongoing war keeps oil prices elevated.

The author argues that federal, state and local governments are the biggest sources of cost-of-living pressure, with taxes and fees hidden in the prices people pay, unlike private-sector purchases that consumers can choose to avoid. He says the CPI measures only consumer goods and services and excludes income taxes, payroll taxes and property taxes, so it misses the full household financial burden. As an example, the standard Medicare Part B premium rose from $148.50 in 2021 to $202.90 in 2026, about 37% in five years, even as Social Security benefits rose 3.6% through a cost-of-living adjustment. He concludes that affordability, not just prices, should be the focus, with government taking about 40% of GDP including mandatory transfers and taxes.

France experienced its worst rioting in years, with about 1,800 people arrested, Limoges' 19th-century town hall deliberately set on fire, and shops looted in Paris, Marseille, Bordeaux, Nice and Strasbourg. Paris recorded a record 855 arrests, and about 500 police officers, firefighters and paramedics were reportedly injured. The unrest came alongside nationwide cost-of-living protests, which the Interior Ministry said drew 550,000 people, while the CGT union counted 800,000. Macron's government and Marine Le Pen both blamed ultra-left groups, while U.S. Vice President JD Vance implied the unrest stemmed from immigration. The crisis raises the stakes for Macron, who is in his final months in office before elections in six months.