Rising energy costs, rent hikes, and grocery prices have been stretching household budgets. With interest rates and utility bills climbing too, financial pressure is hard to ignore. But the latest Ipsos Cost of Living Monitor (2025) hints at something we haven’t felt in a while: relief.
Not joy. Not comfort. But a little less tension in the shoulders. Before we even get the chance to catch our breath, most of us are quietly asking: for how long?
Global Financial Comfort on the Rise: We Are ‘Doing Alright’
Let’s start with the good news: more people say they’re managing okay. The Ipsos report spans 30 countries, and the headline is surprisingly positive: 37% of people now say they’re living comfortably or at least doing fine, up from 33% last year.
But that doesn’t mean everyone’s breathing easy. 30% of people expect their disposable income to rise in 2026, while 31% expect it to fall. This reflects the economic expectations for 2026 vary significantly from country to country.
We’re not struggling the way we were, but we’re not relaxed either. It’s progress, just wrapped in uncertainty.
Inflation: the lingering worry
If 2022 was the year everyone became an expert on inflation, 2025 is the year we’re still talking about it.
Globally, 68% of people think inflation will rise again in the next year, up 3 percentage points from last year. Many people say prices still feel high, even though official inflation rates have slowed at 46%, much lower than in Nov23 (58%).
But that slowdown doesn’t quite show up at the checkout counter.
- 70% predict their food shopping will cost more
- 68% expect higher utility bills (gas, electricity, etc.)
- 66% think other household shopping will be more expensive
It’s a kind of “inflation fatigue”: we’re not panicking anymore, but we’re certainly not celebrating either.
How Ipsos iSay Visitors Around the World View the Cost of Living
💡 Fun insight: When we asked “Imagine the year 2026 as a shopping basket. Which item do you think will cost the most for you?”, groceries take the biggest bite. Rising food prices clearly top the worry list, far outweighing other everyday expenses.
Groceries 🍎 – 45%
Housing 🏠 – 27%
Utilities 💡 – 16%
Entertainment 🎬 – 12%
*These results represent Ipsos iSay web visitors in 11 Asian countries and Oceania from January 14th–31st and may not reflect the views of the general population.
When Recovery Doesn’t Feel Real
Despite cooling inflation, public confidence hasn’t quite caught up.
42% of people believe their country is currently in recession, while only 30% think it isn’t. This uncertainty is reinforced by employment concerns, with more than half (53%) expecting the number of unemployed people to rise in 2026.
Beyond the economic reports, what really matters is how it hits home: paying bills, keeping some savings, and making sure there’s still a little left for treats. When everyday life feels tight, talk of an “economic recovery” can seem far away.
The “Uneasy Decade” Continues
If you’ve followed Ipsos’ research since 2022, you’ll recognize this theme: uncertainty has become a defining part of life.
The 2025 results show that people everywhere are adapting. We’re finding ways to manage higher costs, whether that means cutting back, switching brands, or delaying big purchases. But confidence hasn’t fully returned.
So yes, we’re coping better. But there’s still an underlying sense that the ground could shift again at any time.
Over to you: How are you Feeling?
That’s what makes our community so special - your voices help make sense of what the numbers really mean.
Do you feel like things are improving for you personally? Are you more optimistic this year, or are you still tightening the budget?
Share your thoughts in our next survey and help shape how we understand the cost of living around the world. Because while the data tells one story, your experiences make it real.
*Source: Ipsos Study, conducted on 23,772 adults 18-75 y.o., across 30 countries, interviewed between Friday, August 22, and Friday, September 5, 2025.
