#cost of living

#cost of living

Lidl is to open 50 new UK stores in the year ahead as it aims to overtake Morrisons as the country's fifth largest supermarket chain. The German-owned retailer, which now has more than 1,000 British stores, said it planned to invest more than 600m in UK growth, creating almost 2,000 jobs as it expands its warehouse and logistic network to supply its new outlets.

Drivers will feel some short-term relief as petrol and diesel prices edge lower, and markets are reacting strongly to the pause. But oil remains elevated, and that continues to feed through the entire economy, into prices, business costs and investment decisions.

US News & World Report evaluated 859 cities to rank the 250 best places to live, focusing on quality of life, value, desirability, job market, and net migration. Texas cities, particularly El Paso, Austin, and Fort Worth, excelled in this ranking, showcasing the state's appeal in urban living.

The increase takes effect from 1 April and will mean the average council tax for a Band D property in England will increase to £2,392 a year - up £111 on last year.

"Most officers cannot afford to live in Atlanta, so they're living an hour, sometimes an hour-and-a-half away from work and need to commute. That's probably why you may see a big difference in larger airports."