The price of essential goods for UK households is reported to have risen by 25% in the last ten years.
At the same time, wages have been depressed and have grown by scant more than 2%, according to Halifax.
Its research, which considered data from the Office of National Statistics, showed essentials now account for more than a third of every £100 which families spend.
The cost of basic necessities (shelter, water and heating) now takes £12.90 of every £100 of household expenditure. In 2004 the equivalent needed was £10.30 – a 25.2pc rise in the last decade.
Secondary essentials (transport, education, miscellaneous goods and services) fell from £27.30 to £26.20 in every £100 over the period. The 4% fall was thought due to householders having more choice over what they pay.
Another 4% drop was recorded in spending on recreation and leisure - down from £15 in every £100 in 2004 to £14.40.
But the biggest fall in spending was on non-essential items for things like restaurants and hotels. A decade ago £13.70 in every £100 was spent but now that is down to £12.00, a fall of 12.4%.
