Insight article

Financial wellbeing in November 2025

Your regular update on consumer confidence and financial wellbeing, including a look at consumer concerns
4 min read
Rob AshfordSenior Policy Researcher

Summary

  • Consumer confidence in the future UK economy fell by five points in the month to November 12th to -55, the lowest level in almost three years.
  • Consumers’ concern for food and energy prices and housing costs have remained at similar high levels to three months ago - 83% are worried about food prices, 83% about energy prices, and 76% about housing costs.
  • Our financial difficulty measures - the proportion of UK households who reported missing a housing, bill, loan or credit card payment and the proportion of households making at least one adjustment to cover essential spending - are at similar levels to those seen throughout 2025.

You can view more data and articles from our monthly tracker survey on our dedicated Consumer Insight Tracker page.

Consumer confidence in the future UK economy hits the lowest level in almost three years

Consumer confidence in the future UK economy fell by five points in the month to November 12th to -55, the lowest level in almost three years. This score of -55 reflects that less than one in 10 (9%) UK adults think the UK economy will improve over the next 12 months and almost two thirds (64%) think it will worsen. Whilst not yet reaching the depths of consumer confidence seen at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic (-78 in April 2020) and during the cost of living crisis (-70 in June 2022), this score of -55 is a dramatic fall from when the Labour party assumed office in July 2024, when confidence in the future UK economy was 0.

Between early-2021 and mid-2024, consumer confidence in their future household situation closely mirrored their confidence in the future UK economy. Starting in August last year we have seen a divergence in these measures. Whilst consumers are extremely pessimistic about the UK economy, their confidence in their future household financial situation has remained relatively stable throughout 2025, sitting at -13 in the month to November 12th. 

Consumer’ confidence in their current household situation fell slightly in the month to November 12th to +20, down two points. 

Consumer confidence in the future UK economy continued to fall

Approximately 2,000 respondents per wave. UK level data are weighted to represent the adult population of the UK by age, gender, region, social grade, working status and housing tenure. Future measures ask consumers if they think things will get better or worse over the next 12 months.

Worry high prices

Consumers’ concern about food and energy prices and housing costs have remained at similar high levels to three months ago. 83% of people reported being worried about food prices, 83% about energy prices, and 76% about housing costs. 

Whilst concern about food and energy prices fell from record levels at the height of the cost of living crisis in 2022, they have remained persistently high over the past two years.

The vast majority of consumers remain worried about high prices and living costs

Approximately 2,000 respondents per wave. UK level data are weighted to represent the adult population of the UK by age, gender, region, social grade, working status and housing tenure. Respondents had the option to select not applicable if they felt that consumer issue did not apply to them. If they selected not applicable they are not included in the proportion. Respondents who own their home outright are excluded from the housing cost data.

Financial difficulty is at similar levels seen throughout 2025

The month’s missed payments figures rose and adjustment levels fell. Whilst the fall in adjustments was a significant change, both changes represent revisions towards the mean levels this year, following record levels for the year last month.

The proportion of UK households who reported missing a housing, bill, loan or credit card payment was 7% in the month to November 12th, very similar to the average this year of 6.7%. Similarly, the proportion of households making at least one adjustment to cover essential spending was 48%, compared to an average of 49% this year.

Missed payments rose in the month to November 12th, while financial adjustment fell

Summary

Reflecting on the year to date, most of the measures in the Consumer Insight tracker have remained relatively stable. Consumer confidence in their current and future household financial situation has remained stable, worry about high prices and housing costs have remained persistently high and financial difficulty remains relatively high, albeit down from the heights of the cost of living crisis. The exception to this is consumers’ confidence in the future UK economy, which is currently at the lowest level in almost three years, having fallen 15 points from the end of last year.

Methodology

Fieldwork for Which? 's Consumer Insight Tracker is conducted monthly by Yonder on behalf of Which?. The latest wave of data collection took place between 12th to 13th of November.  A sample of 2,092 UK adults were surveyed online and weighted to be nationally representative.