The cost of living is still biting - and many are feeling the strain

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) looked at how people were coping with the cost of living between 1 October 2025 and 4 January 2026. The picture they found was a tough one.

For many households, things aren’t easing up, and for some, they’re getting harder.

Living costs are still going up

Nearly two in three adults (62%) said their cost of living had increased compared with the previous month.

That pressure isn’t felt evenly. Disabled people are being hit harder, with 70% saying their costs had gone up, compared with 58% of non‑disabled adults.

When prices rise across the board, those with less room to manoeuvre feel it first and feel it most.

Food and energy are driving the squeeze

For people who said their costs had increased, the main reasons were familiar:

• Food shopping (94%)
• Gas or electricity bills (68%)
• Fuel prices (46%)

To cope, many households are cutting back wherever they can. That includes:

• Eating out less (58%)
• Buying cheaper food (51%)
• Buying discounted food (38%)

Some households are going without food

Worryingly, around one in 30 adults said their household had run out of food in the past two weeks and couldn’t afford to buy more.

In the poorest areas, that figure rises to 8%. It’s also higher among disabled people and renters.

What people are most worried about right now

When asked what concerns them most, people were clear:

• The cost of living (88%)
• The NHS (86%)
• The economy (71%)

Rising bills, stretched public services and economic uncertainty tend to pile up at the same time, and this only adds to the pressure people are already feeling.

Energy bills remain a major pressure

Around one in three adults (34%) who pay energy bills said they found them very or somewhat difficult to afford.

Again, some groups are feeling this more sharply than others, including:

• People renting from a council, housing association, or charitable trust (58%)
• Asian or Asian British adults (51%)
• Black, African, Caribbean, or Black British adults (46%)
• Those living in the most deprived areas of England (46%)
• Disabled adults (45%)

Support is out there

Behind every percentage is a household juggling impossible choices, between heating and eating, between paying bills and keeping a roof over their head.

If you’re struggling, you’re not alone. Organisations like Money Wellness and Citizens Advice can offer practical support and a listening ear if you need one.