Economy

On weekends, 52% say they are going to restaurants less than a year ago, 43% to bars/clubs less, and 58% reducing shopping for non-essentials due to rising cost of living.

Latest Ipsos polling shows that public opinion is split towards day of multiple-union strike action

57% of Britons think the economy will get worse over the next twelve months, down from 69% in December 2022

This edition of Understanding Society covers a diverse and varied array of topics relating to the cost-of-living crisis, and how the rising costs have been affecting British society. Ipsos researchers consider food insecurity, sustainable living, the housing market, generational divides, and much more.

Through an economist's lens, Dr Linda Yueh shares her take on key challenges of the cost of living crisis, thoughts on economic policy and growth, and some possible glimmers of good news.
Dr Linda Yueh is an economist at Oxford University and London Business School, and the author of The Great Economists: How Their Ideas Can Help Us Today.

The cost of living crisis takes many forms. There’s the national crisis, the political crisis and the social crisis. In each case, social research has a vital role to play in exploring what rising prices mean for individuals and different groups, as we ultimately seek to answer: what is the real cost of the cost of living crisis?

Mike Brewer, Chief Economist and Deputy Chief Executive of the Resolution Foundation joins Gideon Skinner, UK Head of Political Research at Ipsos to analyse the cost of living crisis and the future of the economy. Mike and Gideon delve into the cost of living crisis and share their thoughts on how the cost of living crisis has impacted the UK economy, what future impacts we should expect, and what the government can do to boost the economy going forwards.

Following a very challenging couple of years in 2020 and 2021, many people around the world feel 2022 has been a little better. However, uncertainty about both short- and longer-term futures prevails. Global citizens are struggling to be optimistic about 2023 as most express concern about the state of the economy, the environment and world security.

Public support for upcoming strikes is lower than previous actions as we approach the festive season