The food you buy needs to be transported by vehicles using fuel.
rents have gone up - as most landlords are trying to get out the market asap. Less supply - same demand - price goes up.
Landlords (as I have recently discovered) seem to be happy with a 5% interest rate in a savings account compared to 6-7% yield on a property and have all the extra hassle of repairs / non payments / unable to get non payers out etc.
There is a lot to be said for a safe and steady economy and growth - since covid / ukraine the waters have been somewhat choppy