Q. Compared to 12 months ago, are you spending more or less on the following –
| Total spending more | Total spending less | Spending a lot more | Spending a little more | Spending about the same | Spending a little less | Spending a lot less | Don’t know | |
| Food and groceries | 60% | 10% | 20% | 40% | 30% | 7% | 3% | 1% |
| Gas and electricity | 70% | 9% | 36% | 34% | 20% | 5% | 4% | 1% |
| Telephone and internet services | 38% | 11% | 11% | 27% | 49% | 9% | 2% | 1% |
| Entertainment such as cinemas and restaurants | 20% | 39% | 5% | 15% | 38% | 20% | 19% | 3% |
| Retail products such as clothing and electrical goods | 20% | 38% | 5% | 15% | 41% | 22% | 16% | 1% |
70% say they are spending more on gas and electricity and 60% say they are spending more on food and groceries. But they were more likely to be spending less on entertainment (20% more/39% less) and other retail products (20% more/38% less).
Perceptions of spending on food and groceries is similar across demographic groups. However, older respondents are more likely to say they are spending more on gas and electricity (80% of those aged 55+) and less on entertainment (46% of those aged 55+). For those aged under 35, 28% are spending more on entertainment and 34% less.
There is a similar pattern for spending on retail products – for those aged under 35, 27% are spending more and 32% less while for those aged 55+, 15% are spending more and 44% less.