The rising cost of groceries is a main issue concerning locals ahead of the election on May 7, with the cost of living crisis changing weekly shopping habits. According to BBC News - UK, customers are becoming more savvy and buying smaller amounts. Some business owners have noticed rising costs for items like tomatoes and peppers, attributed to rising oil prices.
Butchers are selling more sausages and seeing increased business at the end of the month when people get paid, with more cash payments indicating careful spending. Constituency boundaries have changed for this year's election, with Maesteg now in the new Afan Ogwr Rhondda constituency, which has the highest proportion of pupils entitled to free school meals and the highest economic inactivity rate in Wales. Some locals have lost faith in politicians and doubt the Welsh Parliament's ability to help the town.
A business owner in Swansea works seven days a week but earns less due to rising bills and taxes, with income decreasing, and according to GB News, the business owner believes the government penalizes people for working and that something needs to change. It remains unclear what specific policies locals want to address the cost of living crisis or how widespread the loss of faith in politics is beyond Maesteg and Swansea, and the impact of the new constituency boundaries on election outcomes and representation for towns like Maesteg has not been determined.