New polling has revealed that 47% of parents with children under the age of 5 are experiencing financial vulnerability.
Between the 4th and 18th of September, 1,560 residents in Greater Manchester were polled on the cost of living crisis.
The questions in the poll – conducted by Greater Manchester Combined Authority – related to the ability to cope with an unexpected expense, the ability to save, borrowing behaviour and the affordability of energy bills.
The data shows 30% have had difficulties financially generally, but this figure increases when looking at parents with children under 5.
This percentage also rises to 43% for parents aged 35-44.
📊 The @ONS have a measure of financial vulnerability, based on four questions regularly asked in national surveys that we mirror in our GM Residents’ Survey.
— Greater Manchester Combined Authority (@greatermcr) October 12, 2023
💷 The questions relate to ability to cope with an unexpected expense; ability to save; borrowing behaviour; and… pic.twitter.com/oeTfnVjaIk
The data comes from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority in partnership with the market research agency BMG Research.
They also asked Mancunians about their experience of inflation and the cost of living crisis.
Over two thirds of those polled say their energy bills have increased, whilst 86% reported an increase in the price of their food shop.
Nearly a third of renters and mortgage holders have experienced a rise in the cost of their rent of mortgage payments as well.
🍽️Greater Manchester residents continue to report increases in food costs although this percentage has reduced since July.
— Greater Manchester Combined Authority (@greatermcr) October 12, 2023
⚡Energy, rent and mortgage payments also continue to be significant costs for residents. pic.twitter.com/PXH3lKGQW5
Indeed, over half of Greater Manchester residents are concerned about heating their home, with 11% having missed or defaulted on a household bill in the last month.
As the winter months draw closer, this worry will likely grow as an issue for Mancunians.
Food security also remains a problem, as 39% reported being unable to afford to eat balanced meals, while 36% are worried about whether their food would run out before getting to money to buy more.
Yet 73% of Mancunians say they are satisfied with their local community as a place to live, which is not too dissimilar to the national average in England at 76%.
📍 We also asked residents about their local area.
— Greater Manchester Combined Authority (@greatermcr) October 12, 2023
📊To understand how Greater Manchester compares to England as whole a benchmark is provided from the@DCMS Community Life Survey. pic.twitter.com/dl87SyG5Gt
Greater Manchester Combined Authority explained the importance of collating this data in their report, which will continue on a regular basis until at least spring 2024.
It said: “These regular ongoing insights are designed to give stakeholders information about where to target support, communications/engagement activities and resources to improve the lives of Greater Manchester residents.”
The local government’s website offers help and support to those who need it during the cost of living crisis, via their ‘Helping Hand’ scheme. This page can be found here.
A link to the Combined Authority’s survey can also be found here.
Feature image by Julian Hochgesang.
