86% of homeworkers in an ONS survey reported increased spending on utility bills (Lauren Hurley/PA)
(Picture: PA Archive)Homeworking Brits are wrestling with a surge in living costs as almost 9 in 10 report higher bills, new data from the Office for National Statistics shows.
86% of respondents to an ONS survey reported increased spending on energy bills as they worked from home, while around a quarter said they spent more on broadband fees.
However, many homeworkers reported spending less on food, petrol, parking and public transport compared with going into the office.
36% of respondents to a January ONS survey said they worked from home at least one day in the past week despite relaxed coronavirus restrictions, a 6% increase compared to August 2021.
Earlier in February, the Bank of England put up interest rates after warning that households can expect a 2% fall in their disposable incomes in 2022 amid rising energy prices and higher production costs.
In a press conference, Governor of the Bank of England Andrew Bailey said: “You know, this is a lot of pressure on households and we have to be very clear, a lot of pressure on those households who are less able to afford it.”
“I know it’s a hard message. I’m not going to hide from that but if we don’t take this action it’ll be worse.”
Google Workplace Mobility data and Bank of England payment data show a strong correlation between working-from-home patterns and reduced credit card spending, indicating that continued working from home trends could lead to reduced consumer spending in the long term.
