Cost of Living
17 countersThe UK cost of living crisis has pushed inflation costs to over £1,900 per average household annually. Energy bills, food prices, rent and council tax have all risen sharply since 2021. Over 6.5 million households are in fuel poverty and the Trussell Trust distributed over 3 million food bank parcels in 2023/24. These counters track the real financial impact of the cost of living crisis on UK households using ONS, Ofgem and DWP data.
Inflation Cost to Average Household This Year
Inflation Cost to Average Household Since You Opened This Page
Total UK Energy Bill Cost Today
Energy Cost to Average Household Today
Energy Cost to Average Household This Year
People in Fuel Poverty Right Now
Food Bank Parcels Given Out Today
Food Bank Parcels Given Out This Year
Council Tax Collected Today
Council Tax Collected This Year
Average Annual Council Tax Bill (Band D)
Pint of Beer: 2014 vs 2024
Litre of Milk: 2014 vs 2024
Average Household Debt Right Now
Average Household Debt Added Since You Opened This Page
Purchasing Power of £100 (2000 vs 2024)
Real Wages vs Inflation Gap (since 2008)
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Based on official UK government data
How much has the cost of living crisis cost UK households?
The UK cost of living crisis has pushed additional inflation costs to over £1,900 per average household annually, according to ONS analysis. Energy bills, food prices, rent and council tax have all risen sharply since 2021, with over 6.5 million households in fuel poverty. The scale of government support measures has also added to the growing UK national debt — track it live on the UK debt clock.
How many food bank parcels are distributed in the UK each year?
The Trussell Trust distributed over 3.1 million food bank parcels in 2023/24, the highest number ever recorded. This equates to approximately 8,500 parcels distributed every day across their network of food banks in the UK.
What is the average UK energy bill in 2026?
The average UK household energy bill is approximately £1,690 per year, based on Ofgem price cap figures. Total UK energy spending across all households amounts to approximately £60 billion per year, with millions of households still classified as being in fuel poverty.
How high did UK inflation peak during the cost of living crisis?
UK CPI inflation peaked at 11.1% in October 2022 — the highest rate since 1981 and the worst inflation shock in a generation. Food price inflation peaked even higher at 19.2% in March 2023, meaning the typical weekly shop cost nearly a fifth more than a year earlier. By mid-2024, CPI had returned to around 2%, though cumulative prices remained 20–25% above pre-crisis levels.
Did real wages fall during the cost of living crisis?
Yes. Real wages (earnings adjusted for inflation) fell for approximately 22 consecutive months between mid-2021 and early 2023, according to ONS data. At the worst point, real regular pay was falling by over 3% per year — the steepest real-terms decline in decades. Wage growth did not sustainably exceed inflation again until late 2023. The National Living Wage rose 28% over three years, partially protecting the lowest-paid workers.
How much did the government spend supporting households during the cost of living crisis?
The UK government spent approximately £100 billion on cost of living support between 2022 and 2024. The Energy Price Guarantee alone cost around £37 billion. Targeted Cost of Living Payments totalling £650 in 2022/23 and £900 in 2023/24 went to approximately 8 million households on means-tested benefits. A universal £400 energy rebate was paid to all households from October 2022 to March 2023.
UK Cost of Living — Key Indicators Over Time
How key cost of living measures changed between 2020 and 2025. Sources: ONS, Ofgem, Trussell Trust.
| Indicator | 2020 | 2022 (peak) | 2025/26 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPI Inflation (annual %) | 0.7% | 11.1% | ~3.3% | ↓ Falling |
| Typical energy bill (annual) | £1,042 | £2,500 (capped) | £1,690 | ↓ Lower than peak |
| Food price inflation | 0.5% | 16.2% | ~2% | ↓ Back near target |
| Trussell Trust food bank parcels | 1.9m | 2.2m | 3.1m | ↑ Record high |
| Real wages (annual % change) | +1.2% | −3.1% | +2.3% | ↑ Recovering |
| BoE base rate | 0.10% | 3.50% | 3.75% | ↓ Cutting |
Sources: ONS Consumer Price Inflation, Ofgem, Trussell Trust annual statistics, ONS Average Weekly Earnings, Bank of England
The UK Cost of Living Crisis in Numbers: Inflation, Energy Bills and Food Banks
Our detailed analysis of the UK cost of living crisis — the inflation timeline from 0.7% to 11.1% and back, the energy price cap story and the £37bn Energy Price Guarantee, food bank records and what drove them, the real wage squeeze, housing costs, and what the legacy of the crisis looks like.
Read the full analysis →