EPISODE · Feb 19, 2026 · 33 MIN
Voters don't care about GDP. They just want lower bills.
from Mouthy Money: Building wealth with long term investing and saving strategies · host Mouthy Money | UK finance podcast on building wealth
Politicians keep telling us the economy is improving. GDP is growing. Inflation is falling. So why does it still feel like we’re getting poorer?In this episode of Mouthy Money, we dig into the widening gap between headline economic data and everyday reality. Polling expert Scarlett Maguire, founder of Merlin Strategy, explains why voters don’t associate economic growth with improvements in their own lives - and why energy bills, housing costs, food prices and tax matter far more than GDP figures.We explore why anger at regulators and utility companies is rising, why demands for direct Government intervention are growing and how this disconnect is fuelling political instability on both the left and the right.Even if growth returns, will people actually feel better off?*Chapters*00:00 GDP Growth vs Cost of Living Crisis (UK Economy Explained)01:15 Who Is Scarlett Maguire? Political Polling & Economic Research02:10 Why UK Voters Don’t Care About GDP Growth04:30 What “Cost of Living” Really Means (Housing, Energy, Food, Tax)07:20 Inflation Falling – Why Prices Still Feel High09:05 Has the Pandemic Made Britain Poorer?12:40 Economic Anxiety and the Rise of Populism15:10 The Misery Index: Inflation + Unemployment Explained17:45 Why UK Energy Bills Are So High20:50 Ofgem, Price Caps and Energy Market Regulation23:35 Should the Government Cut Energy Bills?25:15 Why Brits Don’t Invest (Savings, Pensions, Risk)28:05 Are We Heading for UK Economic Recovery?31:00 Youth Unemployment and the Housing Crisis33:30 What Happens If Growth Returns – Will Voters Feel It?MOUTHY MONEY*Our substack* mouthymoney.substack.co.uk *Get in touch* [email protected] DISCLAIMERThis video is produced for general informational purposes only. It should not be construed as investment, legal, tax, mortgage or other forms of financial advice. If in any doubt about the themes expressed, consider consulting with a regulated financial professional for your own personal situation. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you started with. Investments are speculative and can be affected by volatility. Never invest more than you can afford to lose. For more information visit www.fca.org.uk/investsmart. Please note, video captions are auto-generated and may not be 100% accurate.
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Voters don't care about GDP. They just want lower bills.
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