Around 6 in 10 adults (59%) reported that their cost of living has increased in the last month; this proportion has been declining since April 2025 (72%), but remains higher than July 2024 (45%).
Younger adults (aged under 50 years) were more likely to report the cost of living as an important issue facing the UK today, while older adults (aged over 50 years) were more likely to report the NHS.
The most commonly reported reasons for a rise in the cost of living were increases in the price of food shopping (95%), energy bills (57%), and fuel (45%); the proportion reporting fuel as a reason has increased from 37% in May 2025.
Damon Hopkins, Head of DC Workplace Savings at Broadstone, said: “Britain’s cost-of-living crisis is proving stubbornly hard to shift, with 85% of adults naming it their number one concern – ahead of even the NHS and the economy – and 6 in 10 reporting an uptick in costs in the last month alone.”
“Sharp increases in food, fuel and energy prices are continuing to eat into household budgets, particularly for younger adults who are more likely to cite the cost of living as the UK’s most pressing challenge.
“While some households have seen marginal relief, these latest figures show we are still a long way from a meaningful recovery. This persistent pressure risks forcing longer-term saving – especially for retirement – onto the back burner. That’s a worrying trend which could leave millions unprepared for later life.
“In this climate, employers have a real opportunity to step in and support staff. Offering practical financial education – from day-to-day budgeting skills to long-term savings planning – can give employees the resilience and confidence to weather ongoing uncertainty and financial challenges.”
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