Five posts

Today, five posts. I'm one of millions who take a daily aspirin tablet, medically advised. Mine come in packets of 100 and at the start of the year that packet cost £1.99. I went to the pharmacy yesterday to buy some more but they weren't on the shelf behind the desk any more. Staff went hunting and came back with a box costing £3.60.... but there were only 28 tablets in it. "How much?!" I asked, "for how few?!" They apologised because there's been a shortage, abruptly raising prices. They checked locally and this was genuinely the best price available. To do the maths... • Previously 100 tablets cost £1.99, i.e. 2p each • Now 28 tablets cost £3.60, so 13p each • That's a 6-fold increase in six months! (technically a rise of 540%) At these prices a year's-worth of aspirin would cost £47 (previously £8) The reason is significant product shortages. According to the news back in January, "the UK is witnessing a country-wide shortage of aspirin, with pharmacies being unable to meet demand…