The Office for National Statistics found the cost of living, the NHS and the economy were the three most commonly reported issues facing Great Britain in the period 5 to 30 August 2026.
Eight in nine people surveyed named the cost of living as a major issue — 89 per cent of respondents to the ONS Opinions and Lifestyle Survey for the period covering 5 to 30 August 2026. The NHS came second at 79 per cent, with the economy third at 70 per cent.
The figures show almost no movement compared with July 2026, when the same survey recorded the cost of living at 88 per cent, the NHS at 78 per cent and the economy at 70 per cent. All three concerns held within one percentage point month on month.
The ONS has tracked the cost of living and the NHS among the top public concerns consistently since October 2022. That’s nearly four years of surveys pointing in the same direction — whatever else changes, those two issues don’t shift from the top of the list.
It’s worth keeping in mind what the survey actually measures. Respondents are asked about important issues facing the UK today, so the results capture perceived priorities rather than objective economic indicators. The ONS also classifies the data as Great Britain survey results, not a full UK census, so the percentages reflect the views of those who took part rather than the population as a whole. The bulletin covering this period was published on 17 September 2026.
Source: @ONS