High inflation driven by rising energy and food costs are causing a severe cost of living crisis in Europe. As of September 2022, the majority of people surveyed in seven European countries advised they had curbed their spending as a consquence, ranging from 69 percent in Italy to 54 percent in Sweden.

In May 2022, 49 percent of people in the United Kingdom advised that they were highly dissatisfied with the government's response to the cost of living crisis. High inflation has caused an economic crisis in the UK, with 87 percent of people reporting an increase in their cost of living as of March 2022.

In response to the cost of living crisis, the government of the United Kingdom announced a series of measures to help households in the country. The most widespread of these packages was a 400 British pound energy bill grant announced in 2022, which was allocated to all households in the country. The measure with the highest overall value was the cost of living payment, which will saw approximately eight million UK households on low income receive 650 pounds in two separate payments in 2022, and a further 900 pounds paid in three installments throughout the 2023/24 financial year.

A rapid and unexpected increase in global prices lead to an unprecedented cost-of-living crisis in 2022/23, affecting pupils and their schools who are often the first-line of support for families. This project gathered evidence around the overarching scale of challenges in schools in England, how these varied across settings and groups of pupils, and what steps schools took to mitigate the impacts of the crisis. It drew on nationally representative surveys of teachers and senior leaders in mainstream and special schools, to provide insights into the overarching impact of the cost-of-living crisis on pupils, how day-to-day provision in schools has been affected and the support which schools are providing.

According to a survey conducted by Voxburner in 2022, approximately ** percent of members of students in the United Kingdom advised that due to the Cost of Living crisis, they would cut down on non-essential spending.

A rapid and unexpected increase in global prices lead to an unprecedented cost-of-living crisis in 2022/23, affecting pupils and their schools who are often the first-line of support for families. This project gathered evidence around the overarching scale of challenges in schools in England, how these varied across settings and groups of pupils, and what steps schools took to mitigate the impacts of the crisis. It drew on nationally representative surveys of teachers and senior leaders in mainstream and special schools, to provide insights into the overarching impact of the cost-of-living crisis on pupils, how day-to-day provision in schools has been affected and the support which schools are providing.A rapid and unexpected increase in global prices in 2021 and 2022 lead to an unprecedented cost-of-living crisis in 2022/23, affecting pupils and their schools who are often the first-line of support for families. This project gathered evidence around the overarching scale of challenges in schools in England, how these varied across settings and groups of pupils, and what steps schools took to mitigate the impacts of the crisis. It drew on nationally representative surveys of teachers and senior leaders in mainstream and special schools, to provide insights into the overarching impact of the cost-of-living crisis on pupils, how day-to-day provision in schools has been affected and the support which schools are providing. Primary data collection was via a survey of school senior leaders , and a separate survey of school classroom leaders. NFER’s Teacher Voice Omnibus Survey was used to send survey links out. This was complemented by sending the survey links via email to target schools not in the Teacher Voice sample and special schools. Further, the survey link was shared within known where appropriate to maximise response rates. The data collected was matched to the Department for Education’s Get Information About Schools and School Performance Data, to enable analysis by factors such as school type, size, SEND representation, geographic location, disadvantage, school attainment outcomes, types of young person needs catered for (for special schools) and Ofsted judgment.

According to a survey conducted by Voxburner in 2022, approximately ** percent of students in the UK, that were planning on cutting costs due to the Cost of Living crisis, would cut back on eating out.

As of June 2022, 84 percent of people in the United Kingdom advised that they had spent less on clothes for themselves in an attempt to save money long term due to the cost of living crisis. Other actions taken include travelling less to meet friends, putting off a big purchase, and cutting back on trips in the car all at 72 percent of respondents.

As of April 2022, a week after Ofgem's cap on energy cost was increased, around **** percent of survey respondents reported their car purchasing intentions were impacted by the cost of living crisis in the United Kingdom. Around **** percent of consumers mentioned looking to buy a cheaper car as a result of the crisis, while around **** percent of car buyers were not influenced by the price increases.

According to a survey conducted by Voxburner in 2022, approximately 69 percent of students in the UK thought that the government should be responsible for providing financial support during the Cost of Living Crisis.

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered social and economic stagnation worldwide, significantly impacting people’s lives. In addition, the Russia-Ukraine war that began in 2022 resulted in rising food prices globally, severely affecting low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to examine the impact of these unprecedented crises on individual values, focusing on Senegal’s urban population. This study is the first to quantitatively assess changes in the values of urban Senegalese during this global crisis. Surveys were conducted in Saint-Louis, Senegal, in August-September 2018 and June-July 2022. The timing of these studies coincides with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 and the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022. The findings revealed a 19.9% decrease in the average monthly cost of living per capita between 2018 and 2022, attributed to the combined effects of rising food prices and unemployment. Furthermore, the proportion of households spending less than $3.50 per person per day—below the lower-middle-income class poverty line—increased by 11.05%. Our analysis indicates a decline in values such as benevolence, universalism, hedonism, and self-direction. In contrast, values related to power and achievement significantly increased following the pandemic. These results suggest that individual values are flexible and may change in response to external factors such as global crises.

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner. The Poverty in Scotland study was commissioned by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) to fill knowledge gaps in our understanding of poverty, economic security and the cost of living crisis (2022) in Scotland. Phase 1 of the survey was undertaken online with participants by Savanta ComRes between 11 July - 2 August 2022 with adults aged 18+. Phase 2 was also conducted online, between 19-29 March 2023.The study explores a range of financial factors and economic security indicators as well as people’s reactions to the cost of living crisis. It captures a range of personal and economic characteristics and includes derived variables related to the Scottish Government’s Priority Families. Data are weighted to be representative of Scotland by age, gender, region, ethnicity and social grade.Further information can be found in the latest JRF Poverty in Scotland report.Latest edition informationFor the second edition (July 2023), data and documentation from the Phase 2 survey were added to the study. Main Topics: Demographic data, income, social welfare benefits, debts, financial resources, cost of living, expenditure. Convenience sample Web-based interview

The UK's average credit card debt per household grew by 151 British pounds between December 2021 and December 2022, the first increase since 2020. Standing at 2,229 British pounds at December 2022, the figure contrasts with the decline in 2020 – when the debt declined from 2,594 British pounds to 2,083 British pounds. That particular drop was likely a result of Covid-19's economic impact, and consumers trying to get rid of their credit card debt. The increase in 2022 may be caused by growing interest rates and the cost of living crisis beginning to take shape.

As of April 2025, 20 percent of people in the UK thought that the Labour Party would be the best at handling the economy, compared with 16 percent who believed that the Conservatives would be the best, while six percent thought the Liberal Democrats would handle the economy the best.

Our data takes the form of in-depth interview transcripts discussing the relationship between local independent businesses and Cambridge as a place. The first round of data collection took place in 2017 to discover, explore and evaluate the relationship between small and medium-sized businesses and community development within Cambridge. At the time of rapid change and a turbulent economic environment it was important to understand how local independent businesses interact with, and rely on, the locale and community in which they are based. Leading on from the first phase, this project and a second round of data collection was employed to return to Cambridge in 2022 to further investigate how the implementation of Brexit and the arrival of the pandemic has impacted upon local independent businesses and the original issues uncovered. The aim is to drive debate and discussion towards a more diverse local business environment. This is of key significance given micro, small, and medium sized firms (SMEs) are most at risk of failure post-pandemic and in the escalating energy crisis. Such SMEs are not just important local employers but are also the main way to increase regional resilience and make Cambridge feel like a ‘home town’ with distinctive independent retailers as opposed to how the New Economics Foundation refers to the city as a ‘clone town’ full of national chain stores and devoid of local character. Topics covered included local networking, local enterprise support, belonging, power, community development and inequality. Our recent research found that such businesses agreed that without the University of Cambridge, its unique communication channel and supply of labour, the city would be much less successful as it finds itself today. However, many businesses also felt the increased growth has led to increased pressures within the city due to constrained land supply and a tightly-drawn green belt. This, coupled with the current cost of living crisis, has seen business costs rise excessively increasing demands on already stretched independent businesses. A recurring theme throughout our study, therefore, was ‘them versus us’ regarding the power dynamic between local independent businesses (who form an integral part of the local economy) and the key stakeholders and policy makers within Cambridge. While some firms may find they succeed, it appears to be the smaller independent businesses who struggle the most within the city as they may not have sufficient footfall, nor the capital reserves required to loudly market themselves and/or overcome the high costs associated with being located within Cambridge. As such, many of these independent businesses felt unappreciated, overlooked, and under-supported.

Descriptive statistics of respondents in the 2018 and 2022 surveys.

Wood product sales are heavily dependent on the level of construction activity. Revenue has grown during the past five years, lifted mainly by a surge in timber prices in 2022. As global timber prices swelled, manufacturers increased selling prices to pass some of the burden of rising input costs on to customers, boosting revenue and profit. Government support for residential construction has also propelled revenue, boosting demand from a key market for wood-based panels. Overall, revenue is expected to rise at a compound annual rate of 2.5% over the five years through 2025-26 to £1.8 billion. The industry suffered a significant decline in revenue in 2022-23, as the cost-of-living crisis devastated many of its downstream markets. The construction sector, the primary user of veneer sheets and wood-based panels, was hit hard by high interest rates and low consumer confidence, denting manufacturers’ sales. Timber prices fell dramatically in 2023, when a decline in global demand led to an excess supply of timber. This drove a corresponding reduction in manufacturers’ product prices, lowering revenue. Import competition from cheaper Chinese wood panels also limited sales. At the same time, rising cost pressures and a lower revenue base curtailed profit. Timber prices have since started to stabilise as construction demand becomes more consistent, with revenue following suit. Climbing construction demand is anticipated to drive a 1.1% hike in revenue in 2025-26. Revenue is forecast to edge up at a compound annual rate of 2.3% over the five years through 2030-31 to £2 billion. Heightened construction activity thanks to government support, like the £39 billion directed to a new 10-year Affordable Homes Programme announced in June 2025, is forecast to boost orders of wood products in the coming years – wood-based panels are heavily used in residential building projects, for flooring, wall and ceiling panels, cabinetry and furniture. However, the number of new builds is under contention due to labour supply shortages and supply chain capacity, so the extent of revenue growth from this housebuilding market may be limited. New EU trade developments aimed at reducing border checks and the upcoming EU Deforestation Regulation could make exporting to Europe easier, helping raise revenue.

The Poverty in Scotland study was commissioned by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) to fill knowledge gaps in our understanding of poverty, economic security and the cost of living crisis (2022) in Scotland. Phase 1 of the survey was undertaken online with participants by Savanta ComRes between 11 July - 2 August 2022 with adults aged 18+. Phase 2 was also conducted online, between 19-29 March 2023.

The study explores a range of financial factors and economic security indicators as well as people’s reactions to the cost of living crisis. It captures a range of personal and economic characteristics and includes derived variables related to the Scottish Government’s Priority Families. Data are weighted to be representative of Scotland by age, gender, region, ethnicity and social grade.

Further information can be found in the latest JRF Poverty in Scotland report.

Latest edition information
For the second edition (July 2023), data and documentation from the Phase 2 survey were added to the study.

As of June 2025, approximately 22 percent of people in the UK would vote for the governing Labour Party in a potential general election, behind Reform UK on 28 percent, with the Conservatives third on 18 percent. Since returning to power, support for the Labour Party has fallen considerably, with the government's sinking approval rating approaching the unpopularity of the previous government. Labour's return to power in 2024 On May 22, 2024, Rishi Sunak announced his decision to hold the 2024 general election on July 4. Sunak's surprise announcement came shortly after some positive economic figures were released in the UK, and he may have hoped this would boost his poor job ratings and perhaps also his government's low approval ratings. This was a long-shot, however, and as predicted in the polls, Labour won the 2024 general election by a landslide, winning 412 out of 650 seats. The sting in the tale for the Labour Party was that despite this large majority, they won a relatively low share of the votes and almost immediately saw their popularity fall in the second half of 2024. Sunak's five pledges in 2023 After a tough 2022, in which Britain suffered through its worst cost of living crisis in a generation, the economy was consistently identified as the main issue facing the country, just ahead of healthcare. To respond to these concerns, Rishi Sunak started 2023 with five pledges; halve inflation, grow the economy, reduce national debt, cut NHS waiting times, and stop small boats. By the end of that year, just one pledge can be said to have been fully realized, with CPI inflation falling from 10.1 percent at the start of 2023 to 4 percent by the end of it. There is some ambiguity regarding the success of some of the other pledges. The economy shrank in the last two quarters of 2023 but started to grow again in early 2024. National debt increased slightly, while small boat arrivals declined compared to 2022, but were still higher than in most other years. The pledge to cut NHS waiting times was not fulfilled either, with the number of people awaiting treatment rising in 2023.

In terms of monthly light vehicle sales in the United States, Toyota was the top brand in December 2023 with Ford and Chevrolet in second and third place. Customers in the U.S. bought nearly 182,500 Toyota-badged vehicles in December 2023. What was the effect of the pandemic on sales? U.S. vehicle sales tanked in March 2020 but bounced back soon thereafter. Due to the global chip shortage, sales fell again through 2021 and 2022. U.S. auto dealers sold around 1.27 million light vehicles in December 2022, an increase of 5.39 percent year-on-year. These figures can be seen as a consequence of the dwindling supply while automakers halted manufacturing due to a lack of semiconductors for vehicle production. Raw material price inflation and the cost of living crisis recorded in 2022 had also impacted the supply and demand for new vehicles. Pre-crisis plateau Slightly under 14.5 million light vehicles were sold to U.S. auto dealers in 2020. Retail sales are estimated to have slowly recovered in 2021, falling short of the 15 million mark. New sales of light vehicles remained relatively flat between 2017 and 2019 albeit on a high level. 2019 car and light truck retail sales of just under 17 million units put the industry’s new light retail sales figures 1.4 percent lower in 2019 than in 2018. It was particularly passenger cars that did not move off the shelves easily, as light truck sales reached a peak in 2019. Passenger cars now only represented less than one-third of all light vehicle sales in the U.S. While the market recovered through 2023, passenger cars remained the less popular alternative to the larger light trucks for U.S. consumers.