LV= Wealth and Wellbeing Research Programme, edition 10

Since June 2020, we have shared our quarterly and longitudinal insights, helping build industry understanding of the issues consumers are facing in regard to their finances and wellbeing. 

Our findings are based on a robust, nationally representative sample of 4,000 UK adults allowing us to have confidence that these reflect the views of UK consumers. We explore a variety of topics including people’s changing finances, their plans for retirement and how the rise in the cost of living is affecting them. 

This quarter we have tested the validity of our findings in relation to other UK economic metrics and have shared some of this insight in this edition.

In this edition

Edition 10 explores how consumers are keeping up with the cost of living, since many workers’ pay is not keeping up with the sharp rise in prices. We also looked at consumers' attitudes towards investing, in particular their views on the climate impact of their investments. Additionally, we asked workers about their understanding of pensions and found that many are not clear on details of the state pension, making it difficult to plan for a comfortable retirement.  

Of those surveyed this quarter:

• 12% of workers whose pay has not matched the increased cost of living have taken on a second job 
• 33% of UK adults (18m) will be cutting down on spending money on leisure activities and holidays to pay their heating bills 
• 41% of investors would like to invest in ESG funds, if it achieves comparable returns to a non-ESG fund.
• Just 23% of working adults know how much the current State Pension is