UK households cutting back on food to pay energy bills

More people are struggling to pay their energy bills, new research shows, with half of UK households cutting back on how much food they buy.

A new survey from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed that 46% of adults who pay energy bills are finding it very difficult to afford them.

The research was carried out between July 6 and July 17 and shows an increase from 43% saying the same in the previous two-week period.

READ MORE: Grocery bills set to rise by £380 as supermarket food prices soar by 8.3%

The ONS said one in five of those questioned reported borrowing more money or taking out more credit over the last month compared with the same period a year ago.

The survey also found that 46% said they would not be able to save any money over the next year.

But it is not just savings that are taking a hit.

People are putting less food on their tables because of the rising cost of living.

Exactly half of all adults said they are buying less in a food shop, with an equal proportion saying they are spending more than usual to do their normal shop.

The twice-monthly survey continues to show a deteriorating position for UK households, with the most recent data showing that households now must spend £9.40 more for every £100 they spent a year ago to buy the same things.

A large part of this is because of rising global energy prices, which have not only pushed up the cost of heating homes, but also the cost of buying many everyday items that need energy.

The news comes as UK inflation – the measure of how much more expensive things are getting for households – reaches its 40-year high as prices soar.

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