New research by Which? has found that one in seven people have skipped meals due to the rising cost of living. The consumer watchdog is calling on the government and essential businesses – such as energy companies, supermarkets and telecoms firms – to take action to help consumers.
According to the latest findings from Which?’s Consumer Insight Tracker, 15% of people said they had skipped meals – compared to 12% in November. The study also showed nearly one in ten (9%) had prioritised meals for other family members above themselves and 4% had used a food bank as rising energy prices leave people with less room in their grocery budget.
One consumer surveyed by Which? said: “Basic groceries have gone up to stupid levels – the loaf of bread I usually buy has gotten smaller and more expensive.”
People are also looking for ways to save on their energy bills – with seven in ten (72%) saying they have put the heating on less due to rising prices, four in 10 (39%) using less hot water and one in five (19%) having had fewer cooked meals.
The Consumer Insight Tracker also found that an estimated 2.3 million households said they missed or defaulted on a vital payment – such as a mortgage, rent, credit card or bill payment – in the last month.
Six in ten (59%) people made at least one financial adjustment – such as cutting back on essentials, selling items or dipping into savings – in the last month to cover essential spending. This equates to an estimated 16.5 million households.
With consumers facing even higher energy bills from next month, Which? is calling on businesses to ensure that people have access to the best value products and services across the UK.
For example, the consumer watchdog believes supermarkets should increase the availability of affordable and healthy own-label budget ranges throughout their branches. Telecoms providers should cancel 2023 inflationary price hikes for financially vulnerable consumers – and allow all customers to leave without penalty when prices are hiked mid-contract.
“It’s hugely worrying that households across the country are forced to go hungry and sit in cold homes as they cannot afford basic essentials this winter,” said Rocio Concha, Which? Director of Policy and Advocacy.
“Which? is calling on the government and essential businesses to do more to support their customers through this extraordinary cost of living crisis.”
