- ENDS -
Notes to Editors:
One Poll, a member of the British Polling Council, surveyed 3000 UK consumers online between December 2 and 9 for KPMG UK. The questions posed were as follows:
Thinking about your monthly essential costs (i.e. mortgage/rent, utilities, fuel, food, medicine, etc.) and your remaining discretionary spending budget (including savings), how secure or insecure do you currently feel about your financial security?
- 57% Secure
- 21%: Neither secure nor insecure
- 21% Insecure
- 1%: Prefer not to say
Which, if any, of the following best describes your current financial situation? [Select best match]
- 39%: Comfortable - I able to spend freely each month, but have to plan larger purchases
- 32%: Managing - I budget discretionary spending each month
- 13%: Impacted – I am having to limit or cut discretionary spend to pay for essential costs
- 11%: Confident - I am able to spend freely each month on whatever you choose
- 3%: Troubled – I am unable to pay essential bills or incurring debt in order to do so
- Prefer not to say: 1%
Do you think the health of the UK economy of currently improving or worsening?
- 43%: Worsening
- 25%: Staying the same
- 25%: Improving
- Not sure: 7%
Comparing your monthly discretionary spending over the past three months (Sept, Oct, Nov) to the three months previous (June, July, Aug), which, if any, of the following have you been spending LESS on? [Select all that apply]
- 38%: Eating out
- 32%: Takeaway food
- 29%: Clothes and footwear
- 27%: Drinking out
- 23%: Live entertainment (e.g. cinema, gig or theatre tickets)
- 20%: Groceries
- 17%: Beauty products (e.g. make-up)
- 16%: Beauty services (e.g. pedicure)
- 14%: Recreational (non-commuting) vehicle / public transport use
- 12%: TV (Satellite, cable, streaming) or Music services
- 12%: Gym or fitness classes
- 12%: Health services (e.g. massage)
- 11%: Health products (e.g. vitamins or protein powder)
- 9%: Mobile phone contract
- 9%: Children’s clothing and accessories
- 8%: Pet food and products
- None of the above: 27% (818 consumers)
- Prefer not to say: 2%
Comparing your monthly discretionary spending over the past three months (Sept, Oct, Nov) to the three months previous (June, July, Aug), which, if any, of the following have you been spending more on? [Select all that apply]
- 31%: Groceries
- 11%: Clothes and footwear
- 10%: Children’s clothing and accessories
- 9%: Eating out
- 9%: Health products (e.g. vitamins or protein powder)
- 9%: Pet food and products
- 8%: TV (Satellite, cable, streaming) or Music services
- 8%: Mobile phone contract
- 7%: Live entertainment (e.g. cinema, gig or theatre tickets)
- 7%: Health services (e.g. massage)
- 7%: Recreational (non-commuting) vehicle / public transport use
- 6%: Drinking out
- 6%: Takeaway food
- 6%: Gym or fitness classes
- 6%: Beauty products (e.g. make-up)
- 5%: Beauty services (e.g. pedicure)
- None of the above: 41% (1217 consumers)
- Prefer not to say: 2%
Comparing when you were shopping over the past three months (Sept, Oct, Nov) to the three months previous (June, July, Aug), which, if any, of the following did you do LESS of? [Select all that apply]
- 22%: Saving
- 19%: Buying full-price branded produce
- 17%: Shopping online
- 14%: Shopping in-store
- 11%: Using credit card(s) when making purchases
- 10%: Using buy now pay later when making purchase
- 9%: Buying lower-cost branded produce
- 9%: Using retailer loyalty schemes to get lower prices
- 9%: Buying products or services due to their sustainable or ethical credentials
- 8%: Buying own brand / value products
- 8%: Buying promotional or discounted items
- 8%: Shopping at a lower-cost retailer
- 8%: Buying pre-owned goods
- None of the above: 37% (1098 consumers)
Comparing when you were shopping over the past three months (Sept, Oct, Nov) to the three months previous (June, July, Aug), which, if any, of the following did you do MORE of? [Select all that apply]
- 24%: Buying promotional or discounted items
- 23%: Using retailer loyalty schemes to get lower prices
- 21%: Buying own brand / value products
- 19%: Buying lower-cost branded produce
- 19%: Shopping at a lower-cost retailer
- 16%: Shopping online
- 14%: Shopping in-store
- 13%: Saving
- 12%: Buying pre-owned goods
- 11%: Using credit card(s) when making purchases
- 7%: Buying products or services due to their sustainable or ethical credentials
- 7%: Using buy now pay later when making purchase
- 5%: Buying full-price branded produce
- None of the above: 30% (907 consumers)
In the past three months which, if any, of the following ‘big ticket’ items have you spent money on? [Select all that apply]
- 21%: Holiday(s)
- 16%: Home appliances (e.g. fridge or washing machine)
- 14%: Minor home improvements (e.g. painting of one room)
- 14%: Personal technology (e.g. a computer or smart watch)
- 12%: Home electronics (e.g. TV or sound system)
- 11%: Furniture (e.g. a sofa or dining table)
- 10%: Mobile phone
- 10%: Major improvements (e.g. extension or wide-scale redecorating) to your current home
- 5%: A brand-new car
- 5%: A used car
- 4%: Moved home
- None of the above: 43% (1283 consumers)
In the next three months which, if any, of the following ‘big ticket’ items do you plan to spend money on? [Select all that apply]
- 25%: Holiday(s)
- 16%: Minor home improvements (e.g. painting of one room)
- 11%: Major improvements (e.g. extension or wide-scale redecorating) to your current home
- 11%: Personal technology (e.g. a computer or smart watch)
- 10%: Mobile phone
- 10%: Home appliances (e.g. fridge or washing machine)
- 10%: Furniture (e.g. a sofa or dining table)
- 9%: Home electronics (e.g. TV or sound system)
- 6%: A brand-new car
- 5%: A used car
- 5%: Moving home
- None of the above: 44% (1312 consumers)
Over the past three months, which, if any, of the following have been your top purchasing drivers when buying everyday items? [Select up to three]
- 67%: Price
- 49%: Quality
- 28%: Convenience
- 22%: Loyalty benefits
- 13%: Health benefits
- 12%: Customer experience
- 12%: Environmental sustainability
- 5%: Data privacy
- 4%: Other ethical considerations
- None of the above: 3% (96 consumers)
- Don’t know / None in particular: 8% (233 consumers)
Over the past three months, which, if any, of the following have been your top purchasing drivers when buying one-off larger purchases? [Select up to three]
- 47%: Price
- 42%: Quality
- 17%: Convenience
- 12%: Loyalty benefits
- 12%: Customer experience
- 10%: Environmental sustainability
- 9%: Health benefits
- 6%: Data privacy
- 2%: Other ethical considerations
- Don’t know/ None in particular: 4% (129 consumers)
- I haven’t made any larger purchases during the past three months: 25% (740 consumers)
In 2025, which, if any, of the following ‘big ticket’ items do you plan to spend on? [Select all that apply]
- 39%: Holiday(s)
- 21%: Minor home improvements (e.g. painting of one room)
- 14%: Major improvements (e.g. extension or wide-scale redecorating) to your current home
- 14%: Home appliances (e.g. fridge or washing machine)
- 13%: Furniture (e.g. a sofa or dining table)
- 12%: Personal technology (e.g. a computer or smart watch)
- 11%: Mobile phone
- 10%: Home electronics (e.g. TV or sound system)
- 10%: A brand-new car
- 7%: Moving home
- 7%: A used car
- None of the above: 27% (820 consumers)
In 2025, which, if any, of the following do you plan to switch your provider for in order to save money? [Select all that apply]
- 27%: Car insurance
- 26%: Home insurance
- 21%: Energy
- 19%: Broadband
- 15%: Mobile phone
- 9%: Mortgage
- 5%: Car lease
- None of the above: 48% (1425)
In 2025, which, if any, of the following would make you more inclined to spend more money on the things you want to buy compared to 2024? [Select all that apply]
- 39%: A wage increase
- 30%: Retailer promotion or discount events
- 30%: A bonus
- 23%: Improved retailer loyalty scheme prices
- 12%: Lower savings rates
- None of the above: 20% (590 consumers)
- Not sure: 16% (470 consumers)
In 2025, which, if any, of the following will be your top purchasing drivers when buying everyday items? [Select up to three]
- 71%: Price
- 56%: Quality
- 27%: Convenience
- 22%: Loyalty benefits
- 13%: Customer experience
- 12%: Health benefits
- 12%: Environmental sustainability
- 5%: Data privacy
- 2%: Other ethical considerations
- Don’t know/ None in particular: 7% (224 consumers)
- None of the above: 2% (72 consumers)
In 2025, which, if any, of the following will be your top purchasing drivers when buying one-off larger purchases? [Select up to three]
- 58%: Price
- 52%: Quality
- 18%: Convenience
- 14%: Customer experience
- 13%: Loyalty benefits
- 12%: Environmental sustainability
- 8%: Health benefits
- 6%: Data privacy
- 4%: Other ethical considerations
- I won’t be purchasing any one-off larger purchases in 2025: 13% (391 consumers)
- Don’t know/ None in particular: 6% (194 consumers)
- None of the above: 1% (29 consumers)
About KPMG UK
KPMG LLP, a UK limited liability partnership, operates from 20 offices across the UK with approximately 18,000 partners and staff. The UK firm recorded a revenue of £2.96 billion in the year ended 30 September 2023.
KPMG is a global organisation of independent professional services firms providing Audit, Legal, Tax and Advisory services. It operates in 143 countries and territories with more than 273,000 partners and employees working in member firms around the world. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee. KPMG International Limited and its related entities do not provide services to clients.