Energy bills remain an area of significant concern for some households, despite a fall in household bills and wholesale energy prices over the past year. Photograph: iStock
However, he said June’s 70.5 index reading remained “some distance below the long-term series average of 84.5″, suggesting households remain anxious about the cost of living. But the cost-of-living crisis continues to weigh heavily on consumers’ minds, the survey indicates. Although households have expanded their spending plans, “there is little sense that economic and financial strains have eased to the point where a substantial step-up in spending is now envisaged”, Mr Hughes said.
Energy bills remained the most significant area of difficulty for consumers, according to the survey, despite declining wholesale energy prices over the past year.