Builders / handymen, etc round our way are doing okay. Really difficult to get them to even come round and give a quote. And when they do, you often don't actually get a quote. If you are lucky enough to do so, and you accept the quote - you never hear from them again.
PS - it's not just...
We've been offered 1.75%. Our 'real' wage is 25% lower than in 2010.
Unison balloted members on whether they would consider taking action. Only 1 in 7 responded.
So I guess 'we' are happy with 1.75%...