Release highlights
Around 9 in 10 adults continue to report their cost of living had risen over the past month
89% of adults in Great Britain continued to report their cost of living had risen over the past month, according to our Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OPN) for 3 to 14 August. This is an increase since the question was first asked in the period 3 to 14 November 2021 (62%).
The survey also revealed that around three-quarters of adults (76%) were very or somewhat worried about the rising cost of living.
Energy bills were also a concern for 45% (more than 4 in 10) of adults who pay them, who said found it very or somewhat difficult to afford them.
 Source: Public opinions and social trends, Great Britain: 3 to 14 August 2022 – ONS
Annual inflation was 0.9 percentage points higher for low income households than high income households in the year to June 2022
Rising energy prices pushed low-income households' inflation rates above those for high-income households in the first half of 2022, with food and non-alcoholic beverages also contributing more to inflation for low-income households.
The Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers' housing costs (CPIH) is our most comprehensive measure of consumer price inflation.
Experimental data show that CPIH annual inflation stood at 8.7% for low-income households (those in the second income decile) and at 7.8% for high-income households (those in the ninth income decile) in the year to June 2022, compared with an all-households rate of 8.2%.
The gap between low-income households and high-income households of 0.9 percentage points is the largest since June 2010, when higher-income households saw a higher inflation rate than low-income households.
Source: CPIH-consistent inflation rate estimates for UK household groups: April to June 2022 – ONS
The largest increases in prices in July 2022 came from housing and household services, transport and food
The rate at which the prices of goods and services bought by households was 8.8% in the 12 months to July 2022, up from 8.2% in June, according to the Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers’ housing costs (CPIH). For more information about the definitions of inflation, a glossary is available in our Consumer price inflation, UK: July 2022 bulletin.
The largest upward contributions to the annual CPIH inflation rate in July 2022 came from housing and household services (mainly from electricity, gas and other fuels, and owner occupiers' housing costs), transport (mainly motor fuels), and food and non-alcoholic beverages.
Source: Consumer price inflation, UK: July 2022 - ONS
Average UK pump prices decreased in recent weeks but remain much higher than this time last year
According to data from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, on 22 August 2022, unleaded petrol prices were 3.1 pence per litre lower than the week before but 36.5 pence per litre higher than last year. Diesel prices were 2.2 pence per litre lower than the week before but 45.8 pence per litre higher than last year.
Source: Weekly road fuel prices: 23 August 2022 - BEIS
Both real total and regular pay fell, with a record fall for real regular pay
Average pay including bonuses (total pay) fell by 2.5% in the year to April to June 2022.
After taking inflation into account and excluding bonuses (real regular pay), it fell by 3.0% – the biggest fall since records began in 2001.
 Source: Average weekly earnings in Great Britain: August 2022 – ONS
UK average house prices increased by 7.8% in the year to June 2022
UK average house prices increased by 7.8% in the year to June 2022, down from 12.8% in May 2022.
The average UK house price was £286,000 in June 2022, £20,000 higher than this time last year. Despite UK house prices increasing between May and June 2022, annual house price inflation has slowed due to the rises in prices seen in June 2021, which were the result of tax break changes.
Average house prices increased over the year in England to £305,000 (7.3%), in Wales to £213,000 (8.6%), in Scotland to £192,000 (11.6%) and in Northern Ireland to £169,000 (9.6%).
Source: UK House Price Index: June 2022 - ONS
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