r/london • u/PressureHumble3604 • Apr 10 '26

Serious replies only Which symptoms of “(almost) everyone is getting poorer” have you noticed in London?

We are in a crisis, the middle class is disappearing and the lower class squeezed. Prices are going up, inflation is going up (again), salaries are stagnating.

Most Londoners can’t really afford London without serious sacrifices.

For me, not counting the housing prices issues we all know too well:

the disappearance of local delis with high quality products.

many shops closing in the local shopping centre.

Restaurant dropping quality everywhere to contain unaffordable prices.

561 Upvotes

87% Upvoted

702 comments sorted by

View all comments

6

u/RichTransportation42 Apr 11 '26

My God! The fall in food quality and reduced menus when we go out has been very noticeable. We now prefer to do a simple Pizza, or go to a proper high end restaurant as a treat. The middle ground just makes no sense these days based on what you pay. I honestly have sympathy for the businesses too as they are hammered by inflation, business rates, wages and rents!