60% households in UK hit hardest by financial trouble

The number of UK households facing acute financial strain has risen by almost 60% since October and is now higher than at any point during the coronavirus pandemic, a survey found.
According to an estimate by abrdn Financial Fairness Trust and researchers at the University of Bristol, 16% of households, or 4.4 million, are in “serious financial difficulties” and a further 20% are “struggling” to get by.
The pressure on the government to do more to help comes amid a period of political turmoil after PM Boris Johnson was forced to resign last week. In May, his government announced an extra £15 billion in cost of living support but calls are growing for additional aid to be announced well before a successor for Johnson is chosen.
The report described the lengths many are going to in order to save money. Of those in serious financial difficulty, 71% have reduced the quality of food they eat, 36% have sold or pawned possessions and 27% have canceled or not renewed insurance.
Steps to save on energy bills this year include bathing and cooking less, while more than a fifth of casual workers had stopped or reduced pension contributions. Single parents, social renters and households with children are being hit hardest.