People in Great Britain's experiences of and actions following increases in their costs of living, and how these differed by a range of personal characteristics.

According to an April 2023 survey by We Are Social and Statista Q, 40 percent of U.S. consumers feel highly affected by the ongoing cost of living crisis, whereas only 6 percent don't feel affected at all.

Real household disposable income per person in the United Kingdom is expected to grow by 2.6 percent in 2024/25, with disposable income growth slowing from that point onwards. In 2022/23, disposable income fell by two percent, after falling by 0.1 percent in 2021/22, and 0.3 percent in 2020/21.

In a survey carried out in August 2023, about ** percent of respondents in the United Kingdom stated that they were eating less healthily to save money. More concretely, about ** percent stated they were eating more ready meals and processed foods.

This statistic illustrates the impact of the ongoing cost of living crisis on UK consumers in 2023. According to the survey by We Are Social and Statista Q conducted in April 2023, around one-third of the consumers feel highly affected by the situation, whereas only 2 percent respondents don't feel affected by the cost of living crisis at all.

Description and Purpose This data companion pack is a resource intended to frame and be read alongside the linked rapid review of evidence for interventions to address the cost of living crisis (available on the Institute of Health Equity website) . The resource provides intelligence and context on the cost of living crisis in London only, while the accompanying rapid review of evidence for interventions to mitigate the impacts of the rising cost of living on London, contains the recommendations for action.​ This pack is intended to provide a high-level overview of the impacts of the costs of living crisis on London and the need Londoners have for support to deal with the cost of living crisis through intelligence available in the public domain.  This pack identifies how certain groups in the population already experiencing health inequalities are at greatest risk of poverty and worsening health due to the cost of living crisis. Given there are significant gaps in intelligence available, this pack also highlights these gaps and limitations in our understanding. Audience It will be useful for health leaders, analysts, officers, and policy makers from local and regional government, integrated care systems, NHS, academia, VCS organisations and partners across London to support their work to address the costs of living crisis by​ Advocating for the need for action to address the rising cost of living given impacts on health and health inequalities ​ Framing the context for the interventions highlighted in the linked rapid review of interventions​ Engaging communities ​ ​Development of this resource The Institute of Health Equity (IHE), Greater London Authority (GLA) Health, GLA City Intelligence Unit, Office for Health Improvement and Disparities London (OHID), Association of Directors of Public Health London (ADPH), and NHSE have collaboratively produced this report, as part of the Building the Evidence (BTE) programme of work The sources of data available and topics included have been identified from existing published data, working in partnership through iterative discussion The resource is provided in PDF and PowerPoint format to support colleagues in their work to There is no current plan for periodic updates of this resource, though this will be discussed on completion of this programme of work

In October 2025, 63 percent of households in Great Britain reported that their cost of living had increased in the previous month, compared with 72 percent in April. Although the share of people reporting a cost of living increase has generally been falling since August 2022, when 91 percent of households reported an increase, the most recent figures indicate that the Cost of Living Crisis is still ongoing for many households in the UK. Crisis ligers even as inflation falls Although various factors have been driving the Cost of Living Crisis in Britain, high inflation has undoubtedly been one of the main factors. After several years of relatively low inflation, the CPI inflation rate shot up from 2021 onwards, hitting a high of 11.1 percent in October 2022. In the months since that peak, inflation has fallen to more usual levels, and was 2.5 percent in December 2024, slightly up from 1.7 percent in September. Since June 2023, wages have also started to grow at a faster rate than inflation, albeit after a long period where average wages were falling relative to overall price increases. Economy continues to be the main issue for voters Ahead of the last UK general election, the economy was consistently selected as the main issue for voters for several months. Although the Conservative Party was seen by voters as the best party for handling the economy before October 2022, this perception collapsed following the market's reaction to Liz Truss' mini-budget. Even after changing their leader from Truss to Rishi Sunak, the Conservatives continued to fall in the polls, and would go onto lose the election decisively. Since the election, the economy remains the most important issue in the UK, although it was only slightly ahead of immigration and health as of January 2025.

Description and Purpose

This data companion pack is a resource intended to frame and be read alongside the linked rapid review of evidence for interventions to address the cost of living crisis (available on the Institute of Health Equity website) .

The resource provides intelligence and context on the cost of living crisis in London only, while the accompanying rapid review of evidence for interventions to mitigate the impacts of the rising cost of living on London, contains the recommendations for action.​

1. This pack is intended to provide a high-level overview of the impacts of the costs of living crisis on London and the need Londoners have for support to deal with the cost of living crisis through intelligence available in the public domain.
2. This pack identifies how certain groups in the population already experiencing health inequalities are at greatest risk of poverty and worsening health due to the cost of living crisis.
3. Given there are significant gaps in intelligence available, this pack also highlights these gaps and limitations in our understanding.

Audience

It will be useful for health leaders, analysts, officers, and policy makers from local and regional government, integrated care systems, NHS, academia, VCS organisations and partners across London to support their work to address the costs of living crisis by​

• Advocating for the need for action to address the rising cost of living given impacts on health and health inequalities ​
• Framing the context for the interventions highlighted in the linked rapid review of interventions​
• Engaging communities ​

​Development of this resource

The Institute of Health Equity (IHE), Greater London Authority (GLA) Health, GLA City Intelligence Unit, Office for Health Improvement and Disparities London (OHID), Association of Directors of Public Health London (ADPH), and NHSE have collaboratively produced this report, as part of the Building the Evidence (BTE) programme of work

• The sources of data available and topics included have been identified from existing published data, working in partnership through iterative discussion
• The resource is provided in PDF and PowerPoint format to support colleagues in their work to
• There is no current plan for periodic updates of this resource, though this will be discussed on completion of this programme of work

In an August 2025 survey on domestic travel in the United Kingdom, 22 percent of respondents planned to spend less on eating out during domestic overnight trips in the next six months due to the cost of living crisis. Choosing cheaper accommodation and looking for more free activities were other popular strategies planned by domestic travelers for saving money.

According to an April 2023 survey conducted by We Are Social and Statista Q, about 68 percent of UK consumers spend less on non-essentials in reaction to the cost of living crisis, whereas 63 percent pay more attention to bargains, good deals, or offers (when shopping). Similarly, more than half of respondents use less gas and electricity in their homes to deal with the situation.

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.

According to a December 2023 study, roughly eight in ten surveyed Britons believed that the rising cost of living might impact their vacation plans. While ** percent of respondents aged 35 to 44 reported thinking that inflation could influence holiday planning, around ** percent of interviewed Britons aged 45 to 54 stated the same.

As of April 2022, approximately ** percent of UK respondents reported the cost of living crisis in the United Kingdom had an impact on their car purchasing intentions. The increased cost of energy bills was the second factor most impacting car buyers, with ** percent of respondents reporting this would make them delay their purchase, or buy a smaller or cheaper vehicle.

In July 2025, 95 percent of households in Great Britain that reported a cost of living increase in the previous month advised that that their food bills had increased, with 57 percent reporting increased gas or electricity bills.

BackgroundSmoking and excessive drinking place a strain on household budgets. We aimed to examine the impact of the cost-of-living crisis in Great Britain on the nature of smoking cessation and alcohol reduction attempts, and explore changes in health professionals offering support.MethodsData were from 14,567 past-year smokers and high-risk drinkers (AUDIT-C ≥5) participating in monthly representative surveys, January-2021 through December-2022. We estimated time trends in cost as a motive driving the most recent (smoking cessation/alcohol reduction) attempt, use of paid or evidence-based support, and receipt of GP offer of support for smoking cessation or alcohol reduction, and tested for moderation by occupational social grade.ResultsThe proportion of attempts motivated by cost did not change significantly over time among smokers (25.4% [95%CI = 23.8–26.9%]), but increased between December-2021 and December-2022 among high-risk drinkers from less advantaged social grades (from 15.3% [95%CI 12.1–19.3] to 29.7% [20.1–44.1]). The only change in support use was an increase in smokers using paid support, specifically e-cigarettes (from 28.1% [23.7–33.3] to 38.2% [33.0–44.4]). Among those visiting their GP, the proportion who received an offer of support was similar over time among smokers (27.0% [25.7–28.2]) and high-risk drinkers (1.4% [1.1–1.6%]).ConclusionsThere is limited evidence that the 2021/22 cost-of-living crisis affected the nature of attempts to stop smoking and reduce alcohol consumption, or receipt of GP offer of support. It is encouraging that use of evidence-based support has not declined and that use of e-cigarettes in quit attempts has increased. However, cost is increasingly motivating alcohol reduction attempts among less advantaged drinkers, and rates of GPs offering support, especially for alcohol reduction, remain very low.

In 2018-19 the GLA first undertook a Survey of Londoners. At the time it provided vital evidence on Londoners that had never been collected before in such detail. In 2021-22, the GLA conducted another Survey of Londoners, following the same methodology as the Survey of Londoners 2018-19, an online and paper self-completion survey of adults aged 16 and over in London. The survey, which received responses from 8,630 Londoners, aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 and associated restrictions on key social outcomes for Londoners, not available from other data sources. It is important to understand the context in which the Survey of Londoners 2021-22 took place. Survey fieldwork began in November 2021; so, up to that point, it had been four months since most legal limits on social contact had been removed. However, after fieldwork had started, some restrictions due to the emergence of the Omicron variant were introduced. This may or may not have had some effect on the data. Given these changing circumstances, caution should be applied when interpreting the results. The Survey of Londoners 2021-22 also took place just before the full effects of the cost-of-living crisis began to set in. It is highly likely that the situations of Londoners have changed while analysis was taking place. On this page there is a headline findings report, published on 30 September 2022, which provides descriptive results for the key headline measures and supporting demographic data collected by the survey. Accompanying this report are more detailed tables documenting the key results of the survey by a range of demographic and other characteristics, a short summary document presenting key findings from the survey, and a technical report for those interested in the survey’s methodology. Further to these, a series of pen portraits, providing snapshots of particular groups of Londoners, as captured at the time of the Survey of Londoners 2021-22, were first added on 31 October 2022. Also on this page, there is an initial findings report, that was published on 2 September 2022. This was published to provide timely evidence from the survey to support the case for further targeted support to help low-income Londoners with the cost-of-living crisis. We have launched an online explorer where users can interrogate the data collected from the two surveys, conducted in 2018-19 and 2021-22. This is the first iteration, so we welcome any feedback on it - GO TO THE EXPLORER The record-level Survey of Londoners dataset can be accessed via the UK Data Service, University of Essex. The dataset is available for not-for-profit educational and research purposes only. Finally, as the North East London (NEL) NHS funded a 'boost' in their sub-region to enable a more detailed analysis to be conducted within, they produced an analytical report in September 2022. This is also available for download from this page.

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.

Is entrepreneurship a matter of place? This was the question that my PhD research undertaken across four case studies in East Anglia, UK (Cambridge, Great Yarmouth, Ipswich, Norwich) answered, showing how, when and where everyday entrepreneurship occurs and the different mechanisms of entrepreneurial attachment to place in terms of individual entrepreneurs' temporal orientations: place as it was, place as it is, and place as it could be. It is the notion of 'evolving places' that goes hand-in-hand with the societal struggles for power and the distribution of resources and opportunities in shaping the policy need to think about maintenance of entrepreneurial attachment if we want places to be cared for by their people and to influence change, bridging the gaps between 'unequal' stakeholders. This has become increasingly pertinent within a post-Brexit, Covid-19, reduced migratory context - the emphasis is now firmly placed on local contexts and how they perform, driving the proposed PDF.

Drawing on my PhD's work and returning to one of my case studies with the PDF objectives in mind, I plan to publish about entrepreneurial (im)mobility in both prosperous and depleted places, whilst arguing towards a 'place-based' understanding of policy and more contextually relevant use of public spending. This counters mounting criticism of scholarly work paying insufficient attention to spatial and contextual factors when examining entrepreneurial phenomena (Welter et al 2019) and is particularly fitting in Covid-19 times with the pandemic unfolding unevenly across different socioeconomic groups, geographical areas and localities in the UK (Dorling 2020). Indeed, with reports in a surge of would-be homebuyers moving out of cities to smaller places as people conclude that home working is here to stay (Jones 2020), spatially discriminatory inequalities come to the forefront especially when the pandemic itself can be considered racist (Channel 4 Documentary 2020). Empirically examining evolving places for everyday entrepreneurship in this manner is crucial from a policy perspective to mitigate the uneven spatial impact of the crisis on the economy and create (or sustain) local jobs. Given that the UK is already one of the most inter-regionally unequal countries in the developed world (McCann 2020) and the 'levelling-up' mantra is now even harder to achieve due to Covid-19 (Brown and Cowling 2021), there is increased need for targeted, contextualised regional policy (less spatially blind) to alleviate the territorial dimensions of inequality and social exclusion and overcome the pandemic's scarring socioeconomic effects.

Complementing the academic impact of publishing, presenting and disseminating the above research with non-academic audiences is a key feature of the PDF. High impact value initiatives such as a stakeholder workshop generating debate about the spatial dimension of social exclusion, patterns of spatial segregation, and how urban disadvantage can impact localised (self)employability extends the reach of the proposed body of work, ensuring an accessible way for important local stakeholder groups to connect anew and benefit from the PDF's impact as the starting point for a wider, less power-driven, conversation. Redressing the, now increasingly severe, spatially expressed inequalities heeds recommendations to map social exclusion at a lower level to tailor the need for political counter action (Talbot et al 2015). Invited stakeholders will include business associations, tourism boards, chambers of commerce, HAs, guilds, business forums, business support organisations, Cambridge [University] Hub and local councils amongst others. In doing so, this can turn potentially negative personal relationships with place into a positive; countering the frequently made claim 'there's nothing here for us' instead giving hope through bridging societal struggles for power and embracing the positive available aspects of 'evolving places'.

Descriptive statistics of respondents in the 2018 and 2022 surveys.

Consumers’ growing awareness of fast food’s nutritional content and shift towards healthier eating habits have challenged demand for fast food and takeaway food services. In response, fast food brands have expanded their menus to include more nutritious, premium options with reduced fat, sugar and salt. Major companies have adapted to this trend, with McDonald's expanding its premium burger range and KFC focusing on fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The number of chicken-based fast food, which is considered healthier than traditional fast food, is also increasing. The recent cost-of-living crisis has had a mixed impact on the industry as consumers ‘trade down.’ Although people are refraining from overspending on eating out, they’re preferring to spend on fast food meals instead of paying for full meals at restaurants. Industry revenue is expected to have grown at an annualised 2.6% over the five years through 2024-25 to $29.6 billion. This trend includes an anticipated 2.9% jump in 2024-25. Consumers’ surging reliance on online delivery platforms during the pandemic boosted industry revenue but also pressured profitability, since online delivery platforms charge commissions per order. Rising food inflation has led businesses to increase menu prices to offset higher purchasing costs, with most major franchises able to pass on costs downstream to consumers, which has driven profitability growth over the five years through 2024-25. Shifting consumer preferences and evolving business models will drive industry growth over the coming years. Companies will increasingly focus on offering plant-based alternatives, reshaping their menus, with major brands set to expand their vegetarian and vegan options to capture rising demand for sustainable, health-conscious meals. Refranchising will also improve industrywide profitability, as fast food giants will reduce their operational costs by shifting company-owned stores to franchisees. This model allows brands to focus on marketing and innovation while franchisees manage day-to-day operations. These strategies, alongside international expansion, will boost competition and industry growth. Revenue is forecast to rise at an annualised 4.3% over the five years through 2029-30 to reach $36.6 billion.

Workers' remittances refer to the money sent back home by individuals who are employed in foreign countries, typically to support their families or communities in their home country. For Bangladesh, remittances are a crucial component of the national economy, playing a significant role in poverty alleviation, foreign exchange reserves, and overall economic development. Bangladesh is one of the top recipients of remittances in South Asia, with millions of its citizens working overseas, especially in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America.

Importance of Workers Remittance in Bangladesh:

Economic Contribution: Workers' remittances are a major source of foreign exchange in Bangladesh, helping stabilize the national currency and supporting the balance of payments. They help Bangladesh offset trade deficits and reduce reliance on foreign loans. The remittance inflows also support the growth of sectors like real estate, retail, and small businesses.

Poverty Reduction: Remittances directly support households in rural and urban areas by providing financial assistance for education, healthcare, housing, and other essential needs. This inflow helps to reduce poverty and improve the standard of living for millions of families.

Social Impact: Many families rely on remittances to meet daily expenses and maintain a decent standard of living. Remittances also contribute to social mobility by enabling families to invest in education, which in turn has long-term positive effects on the workforce and future generations.

Economic Stability: Remittances provide a buffer against economic crises, such as natural disasters or economic downturns. During times of economic instability, remittances often serve as a critical lifeline, ensuring that the affected population has access to essential resources.

Trends in Workers Remittance: The trends in remittances fluctuate depending on factors such as:

Global Economic Conditions: Economic conditions in major remittance-sending countries affect the flow of funds. For instance, during periods of economic recession or crisis in host countries, remittance flows might decrease. Migration Patterns: Changes in migration patterns due to geopolitical factors, labor demands, or government policies also affect the volume of remittances. Exchange Rates and Banking Systems: The stability of exchange rates and the efficiency of banking systems and remittance services (e.g., Western Union, MoneyGram) influence the ease and cost of sending remittances. Impact on Bangladesh’s GDP: Remittances contribute significantly to Bangladesh's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). They not only help with household income but also boost domestic consumption, which drives economic growth. As a result, the country has seen improvements in its infrastructure, poverty rates, and social services due to the continuous inflow of remittances.

Challenges in Managing Remittances: Despite the positive impacts, there are several challenges associated with workers' remittances:

High Transaction Costs: Remittance senders often face high transaction fees, especially when using informal channels. The government and financial institutions are working to reduce these costs by promoting digital banking and remittance services. Dependence on Remittances: Over-reliance on remittances may create economic vulnerabilities, as families might become dependent on external sources of income rather than local economic development and job creation. Policy and Regulation: Governments need to establish policies that facilitate the easy transfer of remittances while ensuring that the system is transparent and secure. File Format: CSV

Description: The "Workers Remittance" dataset provides a detailed record of the monthly remittance inflows to Bangladesh from January 2017 to March 2024. It is crucial for understanding the economic role that remittances play in the country, particularly for millions of Bangladeshi families who rely on money sent by relatives working abroad. The dataset is structured with the following columns:

Year: The year of remittance data. Month: The month of remittance data. Unit (Tk. in Million): The total remittance amount received, expressed in millions of Bangladeshi Taka (Tk.). This data is particularly valuable for economists, policymakers, and financial analysts who are interested in studying the trends in remittance inflows, their impact on the national economy, and their contribution to the livelihoods of the Bangladeshi population. Workers' remittances are a significant source of foreign exchange and play a critical role in the socio-economic development of Bangladesh.

Source: http://data.gov.bd/dataset/table-9-workers-remittance-jan-2017-mar-2024

**More Dataset:: ** https://www.kaggle.com/shuvokumarbasak4004/datasets

…………………………………..Note for Researchers Using the dataset………………………………………………………………...