Inflation affects everyone. But how do different households experience these higher prices in their daily lives? A survey of nearly 3,000 households shows that many people are worried about their finances and their future.
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In 2025, 2,852 households were asked how they felt about the price increases over the past four years. The results are clear: inflation is a cause for concern for many, as shown in the figure.
32.3% are concerned about the economy
23.7% are concerned about their children’s future
17.4% think they will have to tap into their savings
16% are unsure whether they will be able to continue paying for basic necessities
12.7% experience more stress
At the same time, around 38% of people say that price increases have not affected them much at all.
The figure shows that not everyone experiences inflation in the same way. The lowest income groups have the greatest concerns about inflation, which is unsurprising. They tend to worry more about their savings. They experience greater levels of stress, and they worry about paying their monthly bills. Higher-income households tend to feel the impact to a lesser degree. They are more likely to say that price increases have little impact on them.
It is striking that job security is not a major concern for either group. Only a small proportion of people are worried about losing their jobs.
When faced with money worries, people tend to adjust their spending. They spend less and are more likely to put money aside.
This has implications for the economy:
Lower spending slows down the economy
Consumer confidence falls
Growth may slow down
This effect may persist for a long time, even if prices rise at a slower rate.
How people experience inflation also depends on broader circumstances. When unemployment is low, people tend to feel somewhat more confident about finding a job. Major events, such as an energy crisis, can actually exacerbate people’s concerns. Personal experiences from the past are play a major role. All these factors mean that households experience inflation differently.
This article is part of the inflation series. In this series, we explore different aspects of inflation and its development. Read the previously published articles here.
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