Record Number of UK Adults Struggling to Afford Food Amid Soaring Costs and Wage Stagnation

The report also showed that young adults and renters were among the groups worst hit by rising prices.

The ONS analysis, which looked at the impact of the cost of living crisis from February to the start of May, before mortgage rates began increasing, found that people who couldn't afford to buy food were most likely to be supported by charities, be lone parents, and those in receipt of benefits or financial help.

Ethnically diverse people, black, African, Caribbean and black British adults, along with renters and disabled adults were also more likely to struggle with food costs.

The report also found that food price inflation stood at 18.3%, far higher than the 8.7% rate of overall inflation.

As a result, renters were more likely to report difficulty paying rent, with 43% reporting it was very or somewhat difficult, compared to 28% of mortgage holders who said it was difficult to afford their mortgage.

In addition, the ONS report showed that more than a quarter (28%) of mortgage holders found it difficult to afford their mortgage, while 43% of renters reported it was very or somewhat difficult to afford rent.

The report also found that renters spent an average of 21% of their disposable income on rent, compared to 16% of mortgage holders.

The effect of food poverty has been seen in the nation's food banks, with almost three million emergency food parcels handed out in the last year, a 37% increase compared to 2022.

The ONS also found that people who could not afford to buy food were more likely to have run out of food and be behind on energy bills.

The ONS report also highlighted that disabled adults faced greater financial difficulties than non-disabled adults.

Across the population, around a third (35%) said it was difficult to afford their rent or mortgage payments.

The report comes as the government announced public sector pay rises of between 5% and 7% this week and official figures showed wage growth