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| Which? poll says many 'borrowing money for food' | Which? poll says many 'borrowing money for food' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| One in five UK households borrowed money or used savings to cover food costs in April, a Which? survey says. | One in five UK households borrowed money or used savings to cover food costs in April, a Which? survey says. |
| It suggests the equivalent of five million households used credit cards, overdrafts or savings to buy food. | It suggests the equivalent of five million households used credit cards, overdrafts or savings to buy food. |
| The consumer group tracks the spending habits and behaviours of 2,000 people every month. | The consumer group tracks the spending habits and behaviours of 2,000 people every month. |
| Which? boss Richard Lloyd described the findings as "shocking". The government said tax and benefit changes meant working households were now better off. | Which? boss Richard Lloyd described the findings as "shocking". The government said tax and benefit changes meant working households were now better off. |
| The figures come despite official statistics last week showing that personal insolvencies had dropped to their lowest levels in five years. | The figures come despite official statistics last week showing that personal insolvencies had dropped to their lowest levels in five years. |
| The Which? monthly tracker involves researchers interviewing a cross-section of the population online. The results can then be filtered by age, income, gender or region. | The Which? monthly tracker involves researchers interviewing a cross-section of the population online. The results can then be filtered by age, income, gender or region. |
| Of the one in five households borrowing or dipping into savings to pay for food, most were low income families - half of whom earned less than £21,000 a year. | |
| Average household earnings in 2011 were about £37,000, according to the most recently available data from the Office for National Statistics. | |
| Among the group who used savings or credit to pay for food: | |
| A typical weekly food bill averages about £76, Which? researchers said, up 4% on last year. | A typical weekly food bill averages about £76, Which? researchers said, up 4% on last year. |
| Of all the people polled, the research showed: | Of all the people polled, the research showed: |
| 'Mixed economic picture' | 'Mixed economic picture' |
| Mr Lloyd, Which? executive director, said: "Our tracker shows that many households are stretched to their financial breaking point, with rising food prices one of the top worries for squeezed consumers. | Mr Lloyd, Which? executive director, said: "Our tracker shows that many households are stretched to their financial breaking point, with rising food prices one of the top worries for squeezed consumers. |
| "It's simply shocking that so many people need to use savings or credit to pay for essentials like food." | "It's simply shocking that so many people need to use savings or credit to pay for essentials like food." |
| BBC business correspondent Joe Lynam said the economic picture in Britain was decidedly mixed these days. | BBC business correspondent Joe Lynam said the economic picture in Britain was decidedly mixed these days. |
| "It's true that millions are at what Which? describes as 'financial breaking point', yet retail spending is growing, as are house prices, while the number of people in work is at a record high." | "It's true that millions are at what Which? describes as 'financial breaking point', yet retail spending is growing, as are house prices, while the number of people in work is at a record high." |
| He added that average real incomes in Britain had fallen to the same levels as a decade ago because salaries were not rising but the cost of living was. | He added that average real incomes in Britain had fallen to the same levels as a decade ago because salaries were not rising but the cost of living was. |
| "The good news is that the economy is recovering, albeit at a glacial pace. The bad news is that it's not happening quickly enough for millions who are genuinely struggling to make ends meet," he said. | "The good news is that the economy is recovering, albeit at a glacial pace. The bad news is that it's not happening quickly enough for millions who are genuinely struggling to make ends meet," he said. |
| A spokesman for Oxfam said millions of people were under pressure from a combination of rising prices and stagnant incomes - with their problems added to by cuts to services and safety nets. | A spokesman for Oxfam said millions of people were under pressure from a combination of rising prices and stagnant incomes - with their problems added to by cuts to services and safety nets. |
| Mary Creagh, Labour's shadow environment secretary, said the UK was facing a "growing epidemic of hidden hunger". | Mary Creagh, Labour's shadow environment secretary, said the UK was facing a "growing epidemic of hidden hunger". |
| "Families face a cost of living crisis and are being forced into debt or to use their savings simply to put food on the table. | "Families face a cost of living crisis and are being forced into debt or to use their savings simply to put food on the table. |
| "This incompetent government needs to wake up to the human cost of their failed economic policies and change course now," she added. | "This incompetent government needs to wake up to the human cost of their failed economic policies and change course now," she added. |
| A government spokesman said nine out of 10 working households would be better off as a result of last month's changes to the tax and benefit system - with the average working household better off by more than £300 a year. | A government spokesman said nine out of 10 working households would be better off as a result of last month's changes to the tax and benefit system - with the average working household better off by more than £300 a year. |
| "The economy is healing: the deficit is down by a third, over 1 million private sector jobs have been created and interest rates remain low," he added. | "The economy is healing: the deficit is down by a third, over 1 million private sector jobs have been created and interest rates remain low," he added. |