调查显示：英国有三分之二成年人吃不起圣诞晚餐

Two-thirds of adults are worried that they will not be able to afford Christmas dinner, according to a survey, commissioned by the Salvation Army.

救世军协会是一个国际慈善组织，总部设在英国伦敦。它在133个国家开展活动，经营慈善商店，为无家可归者和救灾者提供庇护，并向发展中国家提供人道主义援助。

The survey, commissioned by the Salvation Army, calculated the cost of Christmas dinner at £7.50 per head but as the price of food is continuing to rise, the cost has increased since the survey was carried out on 22 October. The concern is greater among those aged 65 and over 81% and those in the east of England — 80%.

Some 16% are planning to use a food bank to get items for their meal, while 38% are likely to skip meals if they have an unexpected expense such as a broken boiler.

The Salvation Army's Lieutenant Colonel Dean Pallant said: "Christmas should be the season of joy, not sorrow. If so many people are worried they can't even afford one of the most important meals of the year, it's a red flag that poverty is creeping further into our communities."

The poll also found that 14% of people cannot afford to buy their children a present this Christmas, and 18% expect to spend time in a building that is free to visit — just so they can keep warm.

Lt Col Pallant said measures announced in the autumn statement show the government is trying to help, but "its ability to stop the creep of poverty has been dangerously reduced due to rising inflation and the overall bleak economic outlook".

He continued: "We expect this Christmas to be one of our busiest ever and are providing as many emergency food parcels as possible for those in urgent need and Christmas dinner for isolated older people.

"And our Present Appeal is giving gifts to children who would otherwise have nothing to open on Christmas Day. We also offer a warm space in many of our buildings to people who can't afford to heat their homes and will support rough sleepers so they aren't forced to spend a cold Christmas on the streets."

11月25日，一名女子在英国伦敦牛津街购物。来源：新华社

In October, figures from the Office for National Statistics showed that almost half of UK adults were finding it difficult to afford energy bills, rent, or mortgage payments. This comes against a background of tax hikes and inflation that is rapidly outpacing wages.