UK Cost of Living Statistics 2026

89%

Cost of living remains the UK's most commonly reported major issue

89% of adults in Great Britain said the cost of living was an important issue facing the UK.

66%

Two-thirds of adults reported another monthly rise in their cost of living

66% of adults said their cost of living had increased compared with the previous month.

63%

Nearly two-thirds remained worried about rising living costs

63% of adults reported being very or somewhat worried about rising costs of living.

69%

Adults aged 30–49 were most likely to report cost-of-living worries

69% of adults aged 30 to 49 said they were very or somewhat worried about rising living costs.

93%

Food was the biggest reported driver of rising household costs

Among adults reporting a rise in their cost of living, 93% cited the price of food shopping.

77%

Fuel prices were another major source of financial pressure

Among adults reporting a rise in their cost of living, 77% cited the price of fuel.

61%

Energy bills remained a major contributor to higher living costs

Among adults reporting an increased cost of living, 61% cited gas or electricity bills.

61%

Six in ten adults had cut spending on non-essential items

61% of adults reported spending less on non-essentials because of increases in the cost of living.

41%

Four in ten adults were cutting back on food and other essentials

41% reported spending less on food shopping and essentials because of increased living costs.

35%

More than a third were using less household energy

35% of adults said they were using less gas or electricity at home because of rising living costs.

8%

Almost one in twelve adults had been unable to access essential food

8% of adults said they had been unable to buy or access essential food items they needed in the previous two weeks.

13%

Thirteen per cent said household income did not cover minimum living expenses

13% disagreed or strongly disagreed that their household income covered their household's minimum living expenses.

2.6%

UK CPI inflation was 2.6% in June 2026

Consumer Prices Index inflation was 2.6% in the 12 months to June 2026.

0.1%

Monthly consumer prices increased by 0.1%

CPI increased by 0.1% between May and June 2026.

1.7%

Food inflation stood at 1.7%

Food and non-alcoholic beverage prices were 1.7% higher than a year earlier.

21.3%

Motor fuel prices were more than a fifth higher than a year earlier

Motor fuel prices increased by 21.3% in the 12 months to June 2026.

3.6%

Overall household costs were rising faster than headline CPI earlier in 2026

The ONS Household Costs Index showed household costs rising by 3.6% in the year to March 2026.

3.7%

Low-income households experienced 3.7% household-cost inflation

Households in income decile 2 saw costs rise by 3.7%.

3.5%

High-income households experienced 3.5% household-cost inflation

Households in income decile 9 saw costs rise by 3.5%.

3.7%

Private renters faced 3.7% annual household-cost inflation

Private renting households saw household costs rise by 3.7% in the year to March 2026.

3.7%

Social renters also faced 3.7% household-cost inflation

Social renting households saw household costs rise by 3.7% in the year to March 2026.

33.9%

Five-year household-cost inflation was nearly 34% for low-income households

Cumulative Household Costs Index inflation for low-income households over the preceding five years was 33.9%.

-0.8%

Real household disposable income per head fell in early 2026

Real household disposable income per head decreased by 0.8% in the first quarter of 2026.

8.9%

The household saving ratio fell to 8.9%

The UK household saving ratio was 8.9% in the first quarter of 2026.

-0.7 percentage points

The saving ratio fell by 0.7 percentage points in one quarter

The household saving ratio fell by 0.7 percentage points compared with the previous quarter. This is a percentage-point change, not a percentage change.