Financial wellbeing in September 2026

Key findings

• All three of our consumer confidence measures fell this month, with forward looking confidence dropping significantly. Confidence in future household finances fell six percentage points to -13, while confidence in the future of the UK economy fell eight percentage points to -44 points. These measures had previously been rising month on month since April.
• Just over half (51%) of households in the month to 11th September made financial adjustments to cover essential spending. This is an increase of five percentage points from the prior month. The rate of missed payment of household bills was essentially unchanged at 7.1% from 6.9% in the prior month.
• The pressures of the cost of living in the last few years has ‘substantially’ impacted approximately 8 million households in one or more of the following: ability to cover essential spending; needing to take on short-term debt; householders’ emotional wellbeing; the timing of major life decisions.

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

Consumer confidence in the future has fallen

Confidence in the future UK economy now stands at -44 points. This has fallen from -36 points in August, though it is much higher than the 2026 low in April of -62 points. The -44 points arises from 58% saying they think it will get a little worse or a lot worse, compared to just 15% who think it will get a little better or a lot better. This means close to six in 10 households have a negative view on the future of the UK economy, but it is in line with the average over the last five years which is -41 points. 

Confidence in future household finances now stands at -13 points in September down from -7 points in August. The -13 points value is still an improvement from the 2026 low of -23 points in April, and again is broadly in line with the average over the last five years which is -16 points.

Consumer confidence in their current household financial situation fell slightly and now stands at +19 points. This measure has been more consistent over the last five years where it has averaged +21 points.

Figure 1. Consumer confidence ratings in September 2026

Figure 2. Consumer confidence over the last five years (since October 2021)

Levels of financial difficulty have held steady

About half of households (51%) reported making a financial adjustment in the last month to cover essential spending (such as cutting back on essentials, dipping into savings, selling possessions or borrowing). This is an unwelcome increase of five percentage points from the 46% level in August.

In the month to 11th September those that missed any household payment (that is a household bill, credit card payment, or mortgage/rent payment) was 7.1% which is essentially an unchanged value from the prior month’s figure of 6.9%.

Figure 3. Percentage of households that made financial adjustments in the prior month and rates of missed payment each month.

Cost of living pressures have substantially impacted approximately 8 million households

The cost of living has been high on the political agenda, with the Prime Minister’s ‘breathing space’ agenda having prominence recently. To explore what cost of living pressures really mean for the public we asked how pressures over ‘the last few years’ over four key domains have affected people’s: ability to cover essential spending; the need to take on short-term debt; their emotional wellbeing; and any effect on timing of major life decisions.

a)  ability to cover essential spending

15% of people told us that increased cost of living had had a substantial impact on their ability to cover essential spending, with a further 27% saying they had been reasonably impacted. People reported making trade-offs between cheaper and more expensive foods, reducing heating usage, and cutting out meat from their diets due to high costs. 

'There has been very little money left over to do anything other than pay bills. Sometimes there has not been enough to cover bills that we had to pay late and had to cut back on basics such as food' - male aged 35 to 44

'When your family is not earning much more than minimum wage, it becomes increasingly difficult to afford to live let alone spend for yourself' - male aged 18 to 34

A smaller number of respondents have had to resort to more severe measures as a result of financial pressure, including skipping meals, switching to cheaper processed foods, and relying on community food projects. 

'Cannot afford to put the heating on. I can no longer afford to eat lunch and have had to cut down drastically on buying food. I can only afford to have a bath once a week. I have had to give up my car' - female, aged 55 to 64

b)  emotional wellbeing

A third of people (33%) said the cost of living had impacted the emotional wellbeing of themselves or someone in their household either substantially (15%) or to a reasonable degree (18%). People described a widespread psychological toll, with a block of comments indicating that financial worries are a persistent source of stress.

'Money is at the forefront of every single decision now. I can't get it out of my mind or stop thinking about it. It just feels like there's no escaping it wherever you go' - male, aged 25 to 34

To cope with these financial strains, many individuals are cutting back on discretionary spending and pulling back from social activities, which frequently results in feelings of isolation.

'We have missed out on special occasions because we can't afford to attend' -  female, aged 25 to 34

'I’ve much less disposable income, which has impacted certain plans and I’ve had to ramp back massively on normal social activities. This has made me less happy with life in general and has increased my stress levels' - male aged 45 to 54

Some are moving back with family to save costs but this has emotional consequences

'I am living in a shared house at 48 years old... not possible if I want to save for a house deposit. Living in a HMO at 48 years old really affects my mental health' - female, aged 45 to 54

Furthermore, several respondents noted that these ongoing financial pressures are placing significant strain on relationships within their households, as well as with friends and family.

'Caused arguments, depression and lack of intimacy' - female, aged 45 to 54

c)  the timing of major life decisions (e.g. moving home, changing job)

15% of people said the cost of living has had a substantial impact in this way and respondents described financial strains spilling over into major life milestones, causing individuals to defer long-term commitments. 

A notable subset reported putting off wedding plans, delaying parenthood, or holding back on home acquisitions and property maintenance, with some even relocating back into parental homes or shared house shares.

'Couldn't afford rent and saving, moved back in with a parent' - female, aged 35 to 44

'We are unable to get married like we planned because we are unable to save' - male, aged 45 to 54 

In addition, some people reported pushing back retirement , taking on supplementary employment or working additional hours to keep pace with mounting expenses.

'I was due to retire but now I have delayed that due to family financial issues' - male, aged 65 to 74

d)  needing to take on short term debt

10% of people said that the cost of living has had a substantial impact on their need to take on short term debt (eg credit cards, loans) and a further 13% said it has had a reasonable impact. The theme of comments on this subject centred around loss of financial buffers and for a sub-group credit dependency. 

'Increased use of credit cards, buy now pay later. I have no emergency funds available' - female aged 35 to 44

A fair number in this theme used emergency savings, liquidated long-term assets to purchase essentials like food and utilities.

'Most of my savings has gone due to the cost of everything, I'm self employed and struggling to find work, as people just don't have the disposable incomes' - male, aged 45 to 54 

'I can't even afford food on buy now pay later, and I've had to liquidate a pension to pay my rent' - female, aged 55 to 64 

While this provides some short-term respite, it will negatively impact consumers in the long term as they lose critical financial security. This theme is particularly prevalent among low-to-middle-income households, renters, and single parents. 

Summary

Consumer confidence in their current household finances, future financial situation and view of the UK economy have all dropped after an improving picture in the months since April 2026. 

The cost of living pressures have a substantial impact across one or more of the four areas asked for 28% of households, equivalent to 8.0 million households (four areas: ability to cover essential spending, needing to take short-term debt, emotional wellbeing, and timing of major life decisions). The examples of the human impact behind the numbers illustrate the types of hardships some of these households have been through.

This report shows the Government’s look at ways to ease the cost of living are both needed and urgent. We urge the Government to consider recommendations in our manifesto to help those financially struggling with the core costs of living. 

Methodology

Fieldwork for Which?'s Consumer Insight Tracker since 2021 has been conducted monthly by Yonder on behalf of Which?.  Each wave, the data is weighted to represent the adult population of the UK by age, gender, region, social grade, working status and housing tenure. The latest wave of data collection took place online between 11th to 13th September and the number of respondents was 2,087. Estimated number of households used the ONS’s 2025 estimate of there being 29.0 million households in the UK. 

Percentage point differences stated in the document are rounded to whole numbers; in some cases these may appear one point higher or lower than the two component numbers, but this is because they take into account the component numbers’ underlying decimals. 

The question on cost of living impact was: Thinking about the increased cost of living over the past few years, what level of impact, if any, has this had on each of the following? 1) You/your household’s ability to cover essential spending (e.g. food, bills) 2) You/your household needing to take on short-term debt (e.g. credit card, loans); 3) Your/others in your household's emotional wellbeing; and 4) The timing of major life decisions (e.g. moving home, changing job). Answer options: No real impact; A small impact; A reasonable impact; and A substantial impact; Don’t know; and Prefer not to say.