A recent UK-wide assessment shows a rising strain in household finances during the winter of 2022–2023. By January 2023, around one in five Britons reported experiencing serious problems with public service payments. In terms of scale, this equates to roughly 10.9 million adults, up from about 7.8 million the previous May. The finding comes from a formal communication by the Financial Conduct Authority, commonly known as the FCA, which monitors consumer finance trends across the country.
According to the FCA’s message, the share of people who feel that paying public service bills is a heavy burden grew notably. The proportion rose from 15 percent of the population, or about 7.8 million individuals, to 21 percent, or roughly 10.9 million people. This shift signals a significant perception change among households about the pressure created by ongoing bills and charges in the era of tighter household budgets.
Cash-flow pressures extended beyond perceptions of burden. The FCA noted an increase in late bill payments, with the number of citizens who paid late rising by about 1.4 million to a total of 5.6 million by January 2023. This pattern suggests that the timing of income and regular outlays became more challenging for many households, potentially raising concerns for creditors and service providers alike.
Several expenditure categories saw notable growth in the share of households affected. In particular, nearly a third of respondents reported higher mortgage payments, while more than one in three households saw rent costs rise. When these changes are combined with the broader set of payment pressures, about three-quarters of those surveyed faced some increase in payments for essential services and living costs overall.
The FCA conducted this study between December 6, 2022, and January 16, 2023, as part of its ongoing evaluation of economic dynamics affecting British households. The intention behind the survey is to capture real-time shifts in consumer finances and expectations, with the formal results set to be published subsequently. The analysis involved 5,286 British adults who completed the survey, with a small portion of responses (about 2 percent) excluded because participants indicated uncertainty or non-responses in certain questions, ensuring the results reflect active respondents only. [FCA study: economic dynamics 2022–2023 attribution]