A third of people cutting back on eating out and takeaways as cost of living soars

24-May-2022 - Last updated on 24-May-2022 at 13:49 GMT

More than a third of people have been forced to reduce or stop spending on eating out and takeaways over the past six months in the face of rising costs and inflation, according to a YouGov poll.

The poll of 2,132 adults conducted in May found that 39% have had to cut back on dining out and that 38% have reduced or stopped spending on takeaways as a direct result in the rise of the cost of living.

Inflation in the UK has reached a 40-year high of 9%, with warnings of future rises, which is impacting on the spending power of consumers.

Dining out and takeaways are among the top five areas where customers are making cutbacks, with the biggest reduction in spending being in clothes. Non-essential items and luxury items make up the rest of the top five.

Delivery sales have so far plateaued in 2022, according to the latest edition of the CGA & Slerp Hospitality at Home Tracker.

April's delivery and takeaway sales across Britain’s leading managed restaurant and pub groups were 34% below the levels of the same month last year, when the country was emerging from strict lockdown and venues were starting to reopen.

However, when compared to pre-pandemic levels, the appetite for delivery remains high, with sales in April 357% higher than April 2019.