Over half (56%) of Britons are buying fewer groceries, with the same proportion skipping meals, a BBC commissioned survey revealed.

The survey which had 4,011 respondents also showed that people had been cutting on spending clothes and socialising with some claiming their mental health had been affected.

Specifically, 66% of those who have been negatively affected by the cost of living crisis said it was affecting their mental health and 45% said it was affecting their physical health. Two-thirds also expressed that government support provided so far was insufficient.

READ MORE: Just Eat founder is government’s new ‘cost of living business tsar’

The survey responses come has inflation has hit a 40 year high with the Institute of Grocery Distribution estimating food inflation to peak at 15% this summer.

To mitigate effects and save money, 82% of Britons have had their lights switched off in the previous week, 84% have said they spent less money on their clothes in the last six months and 52% expect to work more hours in the next six months.

In terms of government support, a £400 discount on all energy bills in October as well as payments totalling £650 to people on means-tested benefits.

However, 64% of those asked said the support was insufficient to help people with the rising cost of living.

The news comes as Tesco bosses have warned they are seeing “early indications of changing customer behaviour” due to pressure on households from soaring inflation.

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