29 January 2013

The latest Legal & General MoneyMood Survey shows 4.5 million households across the country are in fuel poverty in January, a small rise since October 2012. However, the results show that some regions fare better than others.

One in five in fuel poverty…

The number of homes who say they are "In fuel poverty" is 22% this month, slightly higher than the total figure for October (21%).  However, there are some big changes if we look at the results by region.

The number of homes in fuel poverty has risen significantly since October in the East Midlands (up 52%), the South West (up 50%), Scotland (up 35%), South East (up 21%), the North East (up 20%) and Wales (up 10%).

The biggest falls in the number of households saying they are in fuel poverty are in East Anglia (down 46%) and London (down 38%).

MoneyMood Survey® Do you think you are in fuel poverty? "YES" Oct 2012 versus Jan 2013
To view the chart showing fuel poverty by region please click on the link on the right of this page.

Last year the MoneyMood survey began monitoring how many households say they are in fuel poverty (Question: The Government says that households who spend more than 10 per cent of their income on gas and electricity are classified as in "fuel poverty" - do you think you are in fuel poverty now?).

Our latest survey shows 1 in 5 households across the country, 4,461,000 homes said they are in fuel poverty in January.

Wales (34%), East Midlands (29%), West Midlands (27%) and Yorkshire and Humberside (26%) have recorded the highest percentage of households who say they are in fuel poverty as we enter the winter months.

Commenting on these findings Mark Gregory, Legal & General Chief Executive Savings said; "In its inflation report for December* the ONS stated increases in gas and electricity bills were one of the main upward pressures on prices. 

The impact of this is revealed in our latest research. Several parts of the country have shown a significant rise in the number of homes who now say they are in fuel poverty. The highest percentage, with 1 in 3 households who say they are in fuel poverty is Wales, making this region the worst affected so far.

We believe the cost of fuel is already making balancing household finances even harder for those with lower incomes. Any further rise in the amount spent on fuel is likely to have a significant impact on how the less well off households cope with paying bills.

We will be monitoring this through the winter to see whether the fuel poverty situation changes.

Note:* Source - ONS Consumer Price Indices, December 2012 released on 15 January 2013 - 'The largest upward pressure came from the price increases in gas and electricity bills'

REGIONAL DATA - Do you think you are in fuel poverty now?

To view the table showing the number of households in fuel poverty by region please click on the link on the right of this page.

Notes to editors

SURVEY - METHODOLOGY
TNS Omnibus carried out research for the Legal & General MoneyMood Survey.

Telephone interviews were conducted among a nationally representative sample (in GB) of around 1,000 adults (age 18+) between 26-28 October 2012 and 18-20 January 2013.

The Legal & General Group, established in 1836, is one of the UK's leading financial services companies.

As at 30 June 2012, we were responsible for investing £388 billion worldwide on behalf of investors, policyholders and shareholders.  We also had over seven million customers in the UK for our life assurance, pensions, investments and general insurance plans.

THE LEGAL & GENERAL MoneyMood Survey is registered by Legal & General plc.

For more information please contact:

Mike Connolly

Legal & General Assurance Society Limited.

Registered address:
One Coleman Street
London EC2R 5AA.
Registered in England 166055.

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