Three million UK households skipping meals as cost-of-living crisis deepens
A Which? report published on Thursday found that three million UK households are skipping meals, with consumer confidence falling to its lowest level since the peak of the 2022 cost-of-living crisis.
Three million UK households are skipping meals as consumer confidence falls to its lowest level since the peak of the 2022 cost-of-living crisis, according to a Which? report published on Thursday.
The consumer group's insight tracker for the month to 10 April recorded a confidence reading of -62, down from -56 the previous month. The survey found that 71% of adults believe the UK economy will deteriorate over the next 12 months, while only 9% expect improvement.
Rising food costs are a primary concern, with 85% of respondents worried about food prices, up from 83% in February. To cope, 43% are buying cheaper products, 37% are purchasing more supermarket-branded budget items, and 31% are buying extra items when on sale. One in 10 UK households are now skipping meals, and one in seven are going without some foods.
Fuel prices are also weighing on consumers: eight in 10 respondents said they are worried about fuel costs, up from one in seven in February. More than two-thirds of UK adults have adjusted their driving habits, reducing leisure trips and visits to family and friends.
The strain on household finances is reflected in missed bill payments. The average rate of missed payments over the past three months rose to 7.5%, up from 5.7% at the end of 2025.
“Our latest research highlights the deepening strain not only on household finances, but also on people’s physical and social wellbeing as cost-of-living pressures bite,” said Rocio Concha, Which? director of policy and advocacy. “Without meaningful interventions, the number of people taking drastic measures is likely to increase.”
Which? is calling for urgent policy changes outlined in a cost-of-living manifesto launched in parliament this week, which aims to address costs and widen access to essential items. “We need to see urgent action, as set in our cost of living manifesto, to address these costs and help restore confidence before even more households are pushed into serious financial difficulty,” Concha said.