After months of pay freezes and sharp increases in food, domestic energy and motoring costs, the controversial sales tax today rose from three to five per cent.
And, following a series of failed attempts by politicians to exempt food and domestic energy, the tax will apply to almost every item and service bought in Jersey. The tax rise will further increase the strain on Islanders who have faced significant increases in the cost of living since the tax was first introduced in May 2008.
The JEP has learned that since the tax was brought in, food prices have increased by 18 per cent, motoring costs have risen by 11 per cent and domestic heating and lighting costs have soared by 27 per cent.
Full story in today’s JEP
