Menu
03/12/2012
Ten Million Households Feel The Financial Squeeze This Christmas
More than a third of the population (39%) are feeling the financial squeeze this month.
The Squeezometer, a new tracker based on the monthly Which? Consumer Insight poll, shows 10.2 million households are feeling the pinch.
This includes 2.3 million households that have defaulted on a loan, bill or housing payment, and 1.5 million households that have taken out one or more unauthorised overdrafts or payday loans just to make ends meet.
The latest Which? Consumer Insight Tracker has also found:
A third (32%) of people are finding it difficult to cope on their current level of income. Consumers’ top financial worries are the price of fuel (85%), energy (85%) and food (78%). Two thirds of people are worried about interest rates on their savings (68%) and the value of their pensions (68%).
Ahead of the Government’s Autumn statement, Which? executive director Richard Lloyd said:
"With 10 million households feeling the squeeze and consumer confidence remaining low, the Government has a job on its hands to convince people that everything possible is being done to keep unavoidable costs like energy and food bills under control. We’re looking for further progress in reforming the energy market, an end to misleading food price promotions, and more competition in banking to take some of the pressure off hard-pressed consumers."
Almost two thirds (65%) of people said the UK economy is having a negative impact on their personal finances.
(GK)
The Squeezometer, a new tracker based on the monthly Which? Consumer Insight poll, shows 10.2 million households are feeling the pinch.
This includes 2.3 million households that have defaulted on a loan, bill or housing payment, and 1.5 million households that have taken out one or more unauthorised overdrafts or payday loans just to make ends meet.
The latest Which? Consumer Insight Tracker has also found:
A third (32%) of people are finding it difficult to cope on their current level of income. Consumers’ top financial worries are the price of fuel (85%), energy (85%) and food (78%). Two thirds of people are worried about interest rates on their savings (68%) and the value of their pensions (68%).
Ahead of the Government’s Autumn statement, Which? executive director Richard Lloyd said:
"With 10 million households feeling the squeeze and consumer confidence remaining low, the Government has a job on its hands to convince people that everything possible is being done to keep unavoidable costs like energy and food bills under control. We’re looking for further progress in reforming the energy market, an end to misleading food price promotions, and more competition in banking to take some of the pressure off hard-pressed consumers."
Almost two thirds (65%) of people said the UK economy is having a negative impact on their personal finances.
(GK)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
01 September 2012
Drop In The Number Of Workless Households
There has been a reduction in the number of workless households. In April to June 2012 there were 3.7 million UK households with at least one member aged 16 to 64 where no-one was currently working, new figures from ONS show. This represented 17.9 per cent of households and was a fall of 0.
Drop In The Number Of Workless Households
There has been a reduction in the number of workless households. In April to June 2012 there were 3.7 million UK households with at least one member aged 16 to 64 where no-one was currently working, new figures from ONS show. This represented 17.9 per cent of households and was a fall of 0.
29 August 2012
Workless Households Decrease By 153,000
In April to June 2012 there were 3.7 million UK households with at least one member aged 16 to 64 where no-one was currently working, new figures from ONS show. This represented 17.9 per cent of households and was a fall of 0.8 percentage points, or 153,000 households, on a year earlier, the second consecutive fall. In all, 1.
Workless Households Decrease By 153,000
In April to June 2012 there were 3.7 million UK households with at least one member aged 16 to 64 where no-one was currently working, new figures from ONS show. This represented 17.9 per cent of households and was a fall of 0.8 percentage points, or 153,000 households, on a year earlier, the second consecutive fall. In all, 1.
24 November 2003
Longer contracts could reduce energy bills, says government
Consumers could benefit from lower bills and help to combat climate change by being able to sign up to longer contracts with energy companies through a new pilot project announced today by government ministers.
Longer contracts could reduce energy bills, says government
Consumers could benefit from lower bills and help to combat climate change by being able to sign up to longer contracts with energy companies through a new pilot project announced today by government ministers.
04 July 2013
Councils Urged To Push For Young People To Join Electoral Register
Some £4 million will be shared out amongst councils in an effort to get more 16 to 24-years-old on to the electoral register. The councils are being urged to come up with creative ways to encourage the under-represented group to register to vote.
Councils Urged To Push For Young People To Join Electoral Register
Some £4 million will be shared out amongst councils in an effort to get more 16 to 24-years-old on to the electoral register. The councils are being urged to come up with creative ways to encourage the under-represented group to register to vote.
07 June 2004
Pension Credit uptake passes three million mark
Government figures out today have revealed that over three million people are receiving Pension Credit. The figures, published by the Department for Work and Pensions, found that as of the end of May there are now 3.03 million individuals (2.
Pension Credit uptake passes three million mark
Government figures out today have revealed that over three million people are receiving Pension Credit. The figures, published by the Department for Work and Pensions, found that as of the end of May there are now 3.03 million individuals (2.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be a dry and warm day with plenty of sunshine. The best of the sunshine will be in the morning with patchy clouds building in the afternoon. Light southerly winds. Maximum temperature 22 °C.Tonight:It will remain dry through the evening and overnight. There will be some clearer spells through the night between areas of patchy high cloud. Minimum temperature 9 °C.
