Half of Brits are cutting back on food to pay energy bills

Half of adults in the UK are being forced to cut back on how much food they buy in order to afford the rising cost of energy bills.

A new survey from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed that 46 per cent of adults who pay for their energy bills are facing increased difficulty in affording them. The research, carried out between July 6 and July 17, revealed an increase from 43 per cent saying the same in the previous two-week period.

The ONS also revealed that one in five of those that participated in the study reported borrowing more money or taking out more credit over the last month, compared to the same period a year ago. The survey also found that 46 per cent said they would be unable to save any money over the next year.

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People also reported that they are forced to put less food on their tables while tackling the rising cost of living. According to the survey, exactly half of all adults said they are buying less in a good shop.

Meanwhile, the same amount said they are spending more than they usually do on their normal shop. It comes as inflation reaches a 40-year high in recent months.

Recent data shows that households are now spending an average of £9.40 more for every £100 they spent compared to the same things they bought a year ago. Rising global energy prices are also pushing up the cost of heating in homes as well as the cost of many everyday essential items that require energy.

The survey also looked at other related problems facing UK residents. For example, one in seven people went abroad over the last four weeks, while a third of those noted that they experienced travel