UK households bracing for new cost of living crisis, report finds
British households are bracing for a new cost of living crisis, as the impact of the Middle East conflict dampens confidence in the economy and personal finances, a survey has suggested.Consumer confidence in the UK has dipped over the last three months at the fastest rate since June 2022, when inflation in the UK was soaring as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the spike in commodity prices.The quarterly survey from the accountancy firm PwC, which measures factors such as consumers’ spending intentions and how well off they feel, recorded a score of -13 in April, a sharp fall from -1 in January and the lowest level since autumn 2023.PwC said confidence about household finances was down across all age groups, although young people were still more optimistic than older people, despite there being a 20% fall in those under 35 who feel financially healthy and a 9% increase in those who are struggling or in trouble with their bills and finances.Almost 90% of 2,068 consumers surveyed by PwC said they were concerned about the cost of living, and almost 80% plan to cut back on their spending in the next three months.
The proportion of those who say they will drive less to save money on rising fuel costs has doubled from 12% to 24% since January,“Rising costs are prompting shoppers to pull back spend across the board, and it’s expected sentiment will get worse before it gets better, as consumers face higher energy and food costs later in the year,” said Sam Waller, the leader of industry for consumer markets at PwC UK,The PwC report mirrors other consumer confidence surveys, with the data company GfK also reporting last month that UK consumer confidence slid in April to its lowest level since October 2023, amid the mounting economic fallout from the Iran war,It also reflects the situation in the US, after data on Friday showed consumer confidence there fell to a fresh record low on concerns about higher prices,The Bank of England said last week that higher inflation in the UK was going to be “unavoidable” due to the Middle East conflict, which will push up the price of fuel, food and energy.
The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics showed the rate of UK inflation, as measured by the consumer prices index, rose to 3.3% in March, up from 3% in February and well above the Bank’s 2% target.Consumer-facing businesses such as the hospitality sector are hoping the World Cup this summer will provide a welcome boost to trade, while the jet fuel crisis may help domestic hotels if there is a staycation boom because of flights being cancelled or becoming too expensive.Consumer confidence is also being affected by people’s worries about their jobs.A separate report from KPMG and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation said there was a faster fall in permanent staff appointments across the UK in April, compared with the previous two months.
The report said this was due to “heightened market uncertainty amid the war in Iran and rising business costs”.Job vacancies also declined in April, falling for the 30th successive month.However, the pace of reduction in staff appointments remained weaker than the average recorded over 2025 and was modest overall, the survey said.The report suggested employers were instead relying more heavily on flexible work, with the strongest rise in temporary billings in two-and-a-half years and up for the first time in three months.
Dubois rewrites quitter narrative in strangely uplifting night for boxing
New heavyweight champion climbed off the canvas twice before overwhelming Fabio Wardley in a battle that finally silenced his doubters“I was in there with a live dog and I loved it,” Daniel Dubois said in the early hours of Sunday morning as, looking suitably gladiatorial without a shirt, the new WBO world heavyweight champion reflected on the monumental battle he had just shared with the valiant Fabio Wardley in Manchester. “He came to win and it was a real crowd-pleaser. We had a great fight.”At ringside it had been a sobering privilege to see the courage and resolve of both men in a contest that captured the glory and the damage of boxing in equal measure. Dubois rose from the canvas twice, with the first knockdown coming a mere 10 seconds after the opening bell, but Wardley endured a sustained form of punishment which became increasingly worrying
Scotland’s Six Nations slump raises questions for new era under Sione Fukofuka | Sarah Rendell
The Scots could collect the wooden spoon a year after their historic World Cup run. Why has progress stalled so dramatically?Is it a World Cup hangover? Or a growing injury list? Or something else? These are the questions Scotland supporters are asking themselves in the midst of a disappointing Women’s Six Nations. This was a tournament where legends such as Donna Kennedy were hoping for a third-place finish; the fact the team could end up with the wooden spoon is staggering, especially considering their historic World Cup run last year.Scotland reached the last eight for the first time since 2002 and did so in convincing fashion. They defeated Fiji, their win over Wales was dominant and they challenged Canada, the eventual runners-up, in their final pool match
Hull KR set up clash of titans in Challenge Cup final against Wigan
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AFL to plough funds into addressing racism as league grapples with Indigenous drop-off
The AFL will divert around $300,000 from Indigenous guernsey sales towards initiatives designed to address culturally unsafe environments and racism, as the league grapples with a growing trend of First Nations players leaving the game.The number of Indigenous players in the league has dropped every year since its peak of 87 in 2020, to now where it sits at 62. Under its five-year strategy drafted last year, the AFL has targeted an increase to 89 by 2030.AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said First Nations teenagers are getting drafted at a higher rate than their overall share of the league, but more work needs to be done to ensure players can fulfil their potential.“What we did see last year was nine Indigenous players drafted in the men’s competition, which was a bigger proportion of the 80-or-so players drafted – percentage-wise, that was a really high percentage,” he said
‘What does that mean?’: Wembanyama confused after playoff ejection for elbowing Reid
Victor Wembanyama was ejected for the first time in his NBA career after an elbow to the jaw and neck of Naz Reid as the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the San Antonio Spurs to level their playoff series at two games apiece.Wembanyama was whistled for an offensive foul as soon as he struck Reid, who had swarmed the Spurs star outside the paint along with teammate Jaden McDaniels after the 7ft 4in Wembanyama rebounded a missed three-pointer by the Spurs.After a video review of the play, with the fans at Minnesota’s Target Center chanting, “Kick him out! Kick him out!,” the foul was upgraded to a Flagrant 2 for excessive contact above the neck. The penalty triggered an automatic ejection, and the Timberwolves went on to win 114-109. However, despite the ejection the Wolves never fully took advantage of the gift created by his absence
Middlesex, Durham and Essex wrap up wins: county cricket, day three – as it happened
A memorable three-wicket over from Naavya Sharma, sailing in from the Brian Statham end, whippy action and fast arm, knocked the beans out of Lancashire, who slumped to a high-drama six-wicket defeat against their promotion rivals Middlesex after being sent packing for 84.Sharma’s first ball of the morning was nibbled to slip by Matty Hurst, then a flat-footed Tom Hartley parried the next behind. Tom Bailey survived the hat-trick ball but survival was brief as he fenced the final delivery also to slip. Sharma polished things off in his next over to finish with best bowling figures of four for 17.Ryan Higgins also banked four, including the bizarre dismissal of Mitch Stanley, who lost his leg bail despite the ball brushing off stump
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