18th May 2026
The April 2026 ONS bulletin reveals how cost of living pressures are felt differently across age groups, and when woven together, the picture is one of a society grappling with shared challenges but experiencing them in distinct ways.
For younger adults, particularly those aged 16 to 29, the cost of living crisis is most sharply defined by the struggle to afford housing and secure stable employment. Nearly all in this group reported rising living costs, with housing cited as a pressing concern. Their financial anxieties are compounded by job market pressures, making them more likely to cut back on discretionary spending and to feel pessimistic about saving in the year ahead. This generation’s outlook reflects both immediate price shocks and longer‑term structural issues in housing affordability and labour market stability.
In contrast, older adults, especially those aged 70 and above, frame the cost of living challenge through the lens of healthcare and essential services. While they too report rising food and fuel costs, their top concerns are the NHS, immigration, and international conflict. For them, the squeeze on household budgets is intertwined with worries about access to medical care and the broader stability of the country. Their coping strategies often involve reducing energy use and limiting non‑essential journeys, reflecting both financial caution and health‑related priorities.
Middle‑aged groups sit between these poles, balancing the rising costs of everyday essentials with responsibilities such as mortgages, childcare, and supporting older relatives. They are among the most likely to report cutting back on non‑essential spending and shopping around for cheaper options, showing a pragmatic approach to managing household finances.
Taken together, the ONS findings illustrate that while the cost of living crisis is universal, its impact is generationally specific. Younger people feel trapped by housing and employment pressures, older groups are anxious about healthcare and national stability, and middle‑aged households juggle multiple financial responsibilities. The shared theme is resilience in the face of rising costs, but the strategies and anxieties differ, painting a nuanced portrait of how Britain is coping with economic strain in 2026.
Main points
The following information is from data collected from 1 to 26 April 2026, based on adults in Great Britain.
The most commonly reported important issues facing the UK today were the cost of living (90%), the NHS (80%), and the economy (74%).
The proportion of adults reporting international conflict as an important issue (63%) was the same as last month, but has increased since February 2026 (50%); this is currently the highest it has been since we started asking this question in October 2022.
The most commonly reported important issues among younger adults aged 16 to 29 years were the cost of living (96%), the NHS (72%), and the economy (70%); the most commonly reported issues among older adults aged 70 years and over were the NHS (88%), the cost of living (83%), and immigration (76%).
Around 4 in 5 adults (79%) reported that their cost of living had increased compared with one month ago; this is an increase from 67% who reported this in March 2026, and 56% who reported this in February 2026.
Just over half of adults (51%) agreed or strongly agreed that elections in the UK are fair and democratic, while 28% neither agreed nor disagreed, and 20% disagreed or strongly disagreed.
Almost 4 in 5 adults (78%) reported being most concerned about the spread of misinformation, disinformation, and “fake news”; this makes it the most commonly reported issue when thinking about future elections in the UK.
Read the full ONS report HERE