Cost-of-living crisis affecting shopping habits
More than half of Brits (59%) have changed how they shop as living costs surge, according to new research.
Price tracking and comparison website PriceRunner surveyed around 2,100 people across the UK in June.
Of those whose shopping habits have changed, around seven in 10 (69%) say they’ve avoided buying certain items which are more expensive.
Meanwhile, six in 10 (60%) say they try to buy as many discounted products as possible, while 57% have cut back on food.
Shoes and clothes were found to be the area shoppers are cutting back on most, followed by beauty products and home accessories.
Others say they’ve also cut back spending on hobbies, gadgets, perfume and furniture.
PriceRunner also analysed how prices had changed between January and June. It found the average price of shoes increased by 3% during this time. Women’s clothing prices increased by 5% and men’s by 3%. Fragrances were up 8% in price on average – but cosmetics overall decreased by 3%.
While we’ve often been trying to buy less, there are some cases where surging living costs have been pushing people to buy more items.
Some people surveyed say they’ve bought more books or children’s toys, for example, to keep families entertained at home. Others stocked up on more food and alcohol to enjoy at home.
Nearly a quarter (23%) of those surveyed say rising energy bills have affected them a lot. More than half (51%) have tried to reduce their electricity use, while 41% have used less gas, and more than a third (37%) have used less petrol.