A survey conducted by the Office for National Statistics in Britain revealed that more than a quarter of single-parent households in the country have recently run out of food and can no longer afford to buy more. The survey, carried out between February 8 and May 1, involved nearly 15,000 families. Five percent reported that their food ran out in the previous two weeks, and they were unable to purchase more. This percentage rose to 28% for single-parent households with at least one child.
Consumer price inflation reached its highest level in 41 years at 11.1% in October 2022. In March, food price inflation reached its highest since 1977, exceeding 19%. British retailers state that prices have begun to decline now; however, figures released by the British Retail Consortium showed that prices in June were still approximately 15% higher compared to the previous year. The Office for National Statistics is set to release inflation data for June next Wednesday.
Main social welfare benefits in Britain increased by 10.1% in April, and the government provided additional support for energy bills. Despite this, the Office for National Statistics reported that 21% of benefit recipients indicated that they had run out of money designated for food purchases.
Pressure is mounting on large families, as support payments have been limited to a maximum of two children per household since 2017, with few exceptions. The Office for National Statistics survey also showed that individuals living in rental homes generally face greater financial stress compared to homeowners paying mortgages. Forty-three percent of renters stated that it is very or somewhat difficult to afford rent, compared to 28% of those with mortgages.
