Millions of UK families still can't afford food, heating and clothes, report warns

Millions of Britain's poorest households are continuing to struggle to pay for basic essentials despite falling energy prices, with new research suggesting hardship has reached its highest level since the cost-of-living crisis began.

A report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) found that 7.4 million low-income households have gone without at least one essential item over the past six months, the highest figure recorded since the charity began tracking living standards in 2021.

Record levels of hardship

According to the JRF, around 62 per cent of low-income households said they had been unable to afford necessities such as food, heating, toiletries or suitable clothing.

Almost half admitted they had gone hungry, skipped meals or cut back on portion sizes during the previous month because they simply did not have enough money to buy food.

The charity estimates this affects around 5.6 million households across the UK.

Families also reported turning down their heating, taking fewer showers, cancelling social activities and delaying essential purchases in an effort to make ends meet.

Energy bills improve but pressures remain

The report found one area where conditions have improved.

The number of low-income households unable to afford adequate heating has fallen by more than half a million over the past two years, helped by lower wholesale energy prices and government support that reduced household bills.

However, the charity warned that cheaper energy has done little to ease wider financial pressures, with food and everyday living costs continuing to stretch family budgets.

For many households, lower heating costs have simply replaced one financial burden with another rather than ending the crisis.

Official figures paint a similar picture

Separate data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggests financial pressures remain widespread across Britain.

Two-thirds of adults said their cost of living had increased compared with the previous month.

Among those experiencing higher costs, 93 per cent blamed rising food prices, while 77 per cent pointed to fuel costs and 61 per cent cited gas and electricity bills.

The ONS also found that one in four adults would be unable to cover an unexpected £850 expense, highlighting how little financial resilience many households now have.

More than a third said they did not expect to save any money over the next year.

Cost of living remains Britain's biggest concern

The survey found that the cost of living continues to rank as the public's biggest worry, ahead of both the NHS and the wider economy.

Despite signs that consumer confidence has begun improving in countries such as the United States, the JRF says millions of British families remain trapped by rising everyday costs.

The charity argues that while inflation has eased and energy prices have fallen from their peaks, the financial damage caused by years of soaring household bills continues to leave many people facing impossible choices between heating their homes, buying food and paying for other basic necessities.

For millions of families, the cost-of-living crisis may have slipped from the headlines—but the struggle to afford everyday essentials is far from over.

SOURCE

didnt they get the meme ?

earth is boiling heatwaves etc, they should be thankful they cant afford heating

So BREXIT didn’t deliver prosperity and lower prices after all.

energy costs too high.

they should take advice from Trump to get the energy costs down.

3 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

energy costs too high.

they should take advice from Trump to get the energy costs down.

US energy costs year on year.....you are so full of methane

Edited 45 minutes ago45 min by MIke B Bad

4 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

energy costs too high.

they should take advice from Trump to get the energy costs down.

That’ll be renewables then.

https://www.carbonbrief.org/qa-new-uk-onshore-wind-and-solar-is-50-cheaper-than-new-gas

24 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

So BREXIT didn’t deliver prosperity and lower prices after all.

Plenty of prosperity for the Islamists living in hotels.

Not much left for white citizens though.

8 minutes ago, MIke B Bad said:

US energy costs year on year.....you are so full of methane

Quick AI search:

High energy costs have been entirely self inflicted.

Ruining the economy during the Covidiocy , totally self inflicted.

Those who were told to stay at home because they were non essential no longer want to work and would rather be paid benefits ,totally self inflicted.

Sending billions of pounds to Ukraine, totally self inflicted.

Letting in millions of immigrants and giving them housing and benefits, totally self inflicted.

Failure to actually do the exit part of BREXIT totally self inflicted.

None of this was an 'accident' it was the plan !

2 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

Quick AI search:

....and ?

2 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Plenty of prosperity for the Islamists living in hotels.

Not much left for white citizens though.

Are you suggesting there are not any non white non Muslim citizens?

7 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

That’ll be renewables then.

https://www.carbonbrief.org/qa-new-uk-onshore-wind-and-solar-is-50-cheaper-than-new-gas

Bob Dylan may be blowin' in the wind, but the sun does not always shine and the wind does not always blow.

AI :

3 minutes ago, johng said:

High energy costs have been entirely self inflicted.

Ruining the economy during the Covidiocy , totally self inflicted.

Those who were told to stay at home because they were non essential no longer want to work and would rather be paid benefits ,totally self inflicted.

Sending billions of pounds to Ukraine, totally self inflicted.

Letting in millions of immigrants and giving them housing and benefits, totally self inflicted.

Failure to actually do the exit part of BREXIT totally self inflicted.

None of this was an 'accident' it was the plan !

Talking rubbish and inflating figures.

I was out and about in London this week. On my way back from the National Gallery yesterday, I saw a filthy vagrant chowing down on a rather nice takeaway in the park next to Charing Cross station. He was enjoying the orchestra recital while he ate.

The cost of basic food at my local Waitrose and Sainsbury's is competitve with what I see in in other countries. Fresh produce was quite affordable. The smoked Scottish salmon was £4. The same type of salmon goes for 400-700 baht at Big C when it is available. I bought local rasperries for £2.50 for a package. I have to pay 300 baht+ in Thailand. I didn't see any of this hardship where I stay. Hardship is the ridiculous price I had to pay for my Nandos takeaway yesterday.

2 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

Bob Dylan may be blowin' in the wind, but the sun does not always shine and the wind does not always blow.

AI :

Not sure anyone has claimed it is fully feasible have they.......?

That's why nations also invest heavily in hydroelectric, nuclear and for the time being gas.

31 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Plenty of prosperity for the Islamists living in hotels.

Not much left for white citizens though.

Like a stuck record.