Cash crisis has hit the way we shop

NEARLY six in 10, or 59 per cent of us, have changed the way we shop as living costs have surged, according to research.

Price tracking comparison website PriceRunner surveyed more than 2100 people across the UK in June, to find out just how much rising prices are affecting shopping habits.

Of those whose shopping habits have changed, about seven in 10 (69 per cent) say they’ve avoided buying certain items which are more expensive.

Meanwhile, 60 per cent try to buy as many discounted products as possible and 57 per cent have cut back on food.

In fact, there are several products people say they’ve bought less of due to the rising cost of living. Shoes and clothes were found to be the biggest cutback, followed by beauty products, with home decoration products rounding off the top three.

Others say they’ve also cut back spending on hobbies, gadgets, perfume and furniture, with a smaller proportion reducing spending on children’s toys.

PriceRunner also analysed how some prices had changed between January and June, using its own data on thousands of products. It found the average price of shoes rose by three per cent in this period. Women’s clothing prices increased by five per cent and men’s by three per cent.

Overall, 23 per cent of those surveyed say rising energy bills have affected them a lot, while 51 per cent have tried to reduce their electricity use, 41 per cent have used less gas, and 37 per cent have used less petrol.

A package of Government support measures to help with living costs, including a £400 grant to help households with energy bills, is being delivered to households soon.