Households confident over their 2025 finances

The majority of UK households are heading into 2025 feeling financially secure, but more people think the health of the economy is worsening than improving according to KPMG’s UK Consumer Pulse survey.

The analysis shows that 57% of people feel financially secure, while just a fifth (21%) feel insecure. While half of those polled said they could spend freely, just 3% said they could not pay essential bills or were incurring debt to do so. While respondents were optimistic about their own finances, sentiment for the overall economy was less positive, with 4 in 10 saying the economy was worsening, compared to a quarter saying it’s improving.

Pessimism about the UK economy is highest among two-thirds of those aged 65 and over, with those aged 25-34 the most optimistic. Regionally, London is the most upbeat, with the North East the most downbeat about the economy.

Despite mixed opinions on the economic outlook, 80% of consumers plan to make big ticket purchases next year – most commonly saying they will spend on a holiday (39%). A fifth of consumers are planning minor home improvements, with one in ten intending to purchase a new car, and a further tenth planning to buy a mobile phone.

To save money in 2025, (a quarter of) people are most commonly targeting switching car insurance providers, with a quarter also aiming to switch their home insurance to get a more competitive price.

A wage rise would be the most likely reason to increase an individual’s spending beyond 2024’s levels. A third of consumers say that retailer promotional events could convince them to part with more money during the course of the year, with a quarter saying improved loyalty scheme prices would.

Reflecting upon the findings, Linda Ellett, Head of Consumer, Retail and Leisure for KPMG UK, said “Whether due to confidence in their ability to spend or their ability to manage household bills, it is positive news that the majority of UK households are heading into 2025 feeling financially secure.

“Despite four in ten people saying the UK economy is worsening, a higher amount than those thinking it is improving, planned spending on big ticket items over the next twelve months looks healthy. Whether that spend comes to fruition will depend on a range of factors, including continued reduction in interest rates and whether perception about economic worsening becomes a reality in the form of increased job insecurity.”

Comparing their spending in the last three months (Sept, Oct, Nov) to the previous (June, July, Aug), eating out was the activity consumers most commonly spent less money on, with groceries the number one category for those spending more money.

A quarter of consumers reported buying promotional or discounted items more over the last three months, while half of consumers said they bought big ticket items – most commonly on a holiday, followed by household appliances.

Ellett added: “Promotional periods and the value consumers place on loyalty pricing throughout the year have all demonstrated that shoppers remain savvy when it comes to searching out better deals. This will continue in 2025 and our research shows that up to a third of consumers may increase their overall spending levels if retailer offers are sufficiently appealing to them. Retailers will be looking to capitalise on this by using customer data and AI to ensure offer targeting is increasingly personalised in the coming twelve months.”