Study finds London's low-income households pay hundreds more for standard goods and services

A study by Fair by Design has found that low-income households in London pay an average of £493 more annually than wealthier households for identical goods and services, rising to over £600 in the worst affected areas.

• The study identified food shopping as the single largest driver of the premium, with 39% of families relying on local convenience stores instead of larger supermarkets.
• Prepayment meter users pay £129 more a year than those on competitive fixed direct debit tariffs, and drivers in deprived postcodes pay £153 extra on motor insurance.
• Manny Hothi, chief executive of Trust for London, called for regulators to consider the effect of their markets on people in poverty.
• A government spokesperson said ministers were determined to turn the tide on poverty and pointed to a £1bn crisis and resilience fund and statistics showing household incomes up 5% in real terms.