Cost of Living Crisis 2026: 3 Million UK Households Now Skipping Meals

Cost of Living Crisis 2026: 3 Million UK Households Now Skipping Meals

The cost of living crisis in 2026 has deepened sharply. Research from consumer group Which?, published on 30 April 2026, shows that around 3 million UK households are now skipping meals to cope with rising costs. Consumer confidence has dropped to its lowest point since 2022, and the majority of adults expect the economy to get worse before it gets better.

This is not a gradual drift. The data shows a measurable deterioration in household finances over just a few months, driven by rising food and fuel prices linked in part to conflict in the Middle East and its knock-on effect on oil and raw material costs.

What's Happening

Which?'s consumer insight tracker, covering the month to 10 April 2026, recorded a consumer confidence score of -62. That is the lowest reading since the peak of the cost of living crisis in 2022, and a fall from -56 the previous month.

Consumer confidence is a measure of how optimistic or pessimistic households feel about their financial situation and the wider economy. In plain terms: a score of -62 means far more people feel things are getting worse than feel they are getting better.

Key figures from the Which? data:

• 3 million households (roughly one in ten) are skipping meals
• One in seven households are going without certain foods entirely
• 85% of adults are worried about food prices, up from 83% in February 2026
• 80% are worried about fuel prices, up sharply from one in seven in February 2026
• 71% believe the UK economy will deteriorate in the next 12 months
• Only 9% expect the economy to improve
• Missed bill payments have risen to an average rate of 7.5% over the past three months, up from 5.7% at the end of 2025

Why It Matters

The scale of the shift matters. Worry about food prices is not new, but the jump in concern about fuel costs — from roughly 14% to 80% in just two months — is striking. Which? links this to the conflict in the Middle East, which has pushed up oil prices and, in turn, the cost of goods and transport.

Rocio Concha, Which?'s director of policy and advocacy, said: "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. Without meaningful interventions, the number of people taking drastic measures is likely to increase."

The social dimension is also notable. More than two-thirds of UK adults are now changing their driving habits — cutting leisure trips and visits to family and friends — because of fuel costs. Financial pressure is beginning to affect how people live day to day, not just what they buy at the supermarket.

Who Is Affected

The Which? data does not break down results by income band in the summary available, so it is not possible to say with certainty which groups are hardest hit. However, the headline figures suggest the pressure is widespread rather than confined to the lowest-income households.

Households already managing tight budgets — renters, those on fixed incomes, families with children — are likely to feel the squeeze most acutely. The rise in missed bill payments to 7.5% suggests a growing number of people are struggling to keep up with regular outgoings, not just discretionary spending.

To manage costs, households are already making practical changes:

• 43% are buying cheaper products
• 37% are switching to supermarket own-brand or budget ranges
• 31% are buying extra items when on sale to stock up

These are rational responses, but they indicate that many households have already exhausted easier options and are now making harder trade-offs.

What to Do Next

If your household is feeling the pressure, there are some practical steps worth considering — though the right action depends on your specific situation.

On food costs:

• Switching to supermarket own-brand products is already the most common response, and price differences between branded and own-label goods can be significant.
• Meal planning and buying to a list can reduce waste and impulse spending.
• Some supermarkets offer loyalty pricing that requires a free card or app — worth checking if you are not already using one.

On fuel and energy costs:

• If you have not reviewed your energy tariff recently, it is worth checking whether a better deal is available. Energy prices remain volatile, and the right tariff depends on your usage and circumstances.
• Reducing non-essential car journeys where practical can lower fuel spend, though this is not always possible depending on where you live or work.

On bills and missed payments:

• If you are struggling to pay a bill, contacting the supplier early is generally better than waiting. Many energy, water, and broadband providers have hardship schemes or payment plans that are not always advertised prominently.
• Which? has launched a cost of living manifesto in parliament calling for policy changes to address these pressures. The outcome of that campaign is not yet known.

For households looking to check whether they are on a competitive energy or broadband deal, Taupia lets you compare household bills in one place.

Sources

• The Guardian: Rising costs forcing 3m UK households to skip meals, Which? report finds — published 30 April 2026