Consumer Pulse

At 42.1 in September 2022, the Consumer Pulse was down 6.3 on August’s print and 38.9 lower than a year ago. Households were more apprehensive about the economy and job prospects this month, and with energy bills for all and mortgage repayments for some on the rise, they were gloomier about their personal finances too. One in three is just managing to make ends meet according to September’s survey, though this varies across the income distribution – the figure for households at the bottom end was 53% for example, compared with 16% for those at the top end.