Ipsos Issues Index: September 2022

• Inflation remains the biggest issue facing the country, although the level of concern has fallen eight points since August
• Four in ten mention the economy as a concern, up five points in a month to the highest level since June 2020
• The level of public concern about the environment and petrol prices fall back compared with August levels 

The September 2022 Ipsos Issues Index shows public concern about the economy rising close to the level of concern about inflation, which remains seen as the biggest issue facing the country.

Forty-six per cent of the British public say prices and inflation are a big issue facing the country: while this is a significant decline from the August score of 54% it remains the biggest public concern and the second-highest score for this issue since the early eighties. 

Sixty-one percent of the public mention at least one issue related to the cost of living (inflation, low pay, petrol prices and poverty/inequality), down from two thirds in August. Concern on these topics is higher among 18-34 year olds and public sector workers (both 68%) as well as people living in cities (67%), while the over 65s (52%) are less likely than average to mention these issues.

While concern about inflation might have fallen slightly, there has been an increase in public worry about the UK economy: 41% mention this as an issue this month, up five points since August and the highest score for this topic since June 2020. 

Fieldwork covered the period 21 – 27 September, meaning most interviews occurred after the announcement that household energy bills would be capped for two years. The government’s “mini budget” was published on 23 September, meaning that about half of interviews are likely to have occurred in its aftermath. 

Other significant shifts in the top ten issues for the country include an eight percentage point drop in concern about the environment (returning close to the level recorded in July), a seven point decrease in the proportion mentioning a lack of faith in politics and politicians as an issue, and a six point fall in worry about petrol prices.

While inflation and prices is seen as a big issue across most demographic groups, concern about the UK economy shows greater variability: for instance there is a 21-point difference in concern between people in social grades AB and DE.

Degree holders, those from social grades AB and people living in the south of England outside London are significantly more likely than average to mention the economy as an issue (55%, 52% and 51% respectively) – indeed for all three groups this is a bigger concern than inflation (45%, 44%, and 42% see inflation as a big issue for Britain). 

Other groups who are more likely to see the economy as a bigger issue than inflation include home owners (48% vs 42%), those on household incomes over £50,000 per annum (55% vs 44%), private sector workers (48% vs 42%) and people living in suburban areas (46% to 41%).

Mike Clemence, a researcher at Ipsos, said:

“Concern about inflation has abated slightly compared with August, although it remains a significant issue for almost half of the British public. Six in ten see key issues tied to the cost of living crisis as a big concern for the country.
However, with fieldwork at the time of the UK government’s ‘mini budget’ we have also recorded an increase in concern about the UK economy, with concern higher among higher earning households and those in professional jobs”

Technical note
Ipsos' Issues Index is conducted monthly and provides an overview of the key issues concerning the country. Ipsos interviewed a representative sample of 1,018 adults aged 18+ across Great Britain. The answers are spontaneous responses, and participants are not prompted with any answers. 
Ipsos’ telephone omnibus was used for this survey. Interviews were conducted between 21 and 27 September 2022 across Great Britain. Data are weighted to match the profile of the population.