The state of the economy and the rate of inflation remain top concerns for Britons ahead of the NHS and immigration.

The Ipsos Issues Index for October 2023 found 38 percent of the public see the economy as a key issue for the country, which is almost unchanged from last month.

The economy was the most chosen as the single biggest issue, with over a fifth of Britons naming it as their top concern.

A further 35 percent said inflation was a major concern, which remained at 6.7 percent in the latest figures, for the year to September.

This is a key figure as this determines how much benefits increase the following April but experts have warned a 6.7 percent boost to payments will not cover the rising bills faced by many Britons.

Chris Davis, CEO of MoneyPlus, told Express.co.uk previously: “We have to be realistic and accept that many household costs including basic food items, energy and clothing have increased by much more in real terms which is placing an unprecedented strain on more and more households.”

He said he hoped Chancellor Jeremy Hunt would announce new cost of living measures in next month’s autumn statement.

Mr David said: “We would also urge the Government to look at the way creditors are currently contacting vulnerable customers and demanding repayments without effective coordination.This is a critical area that requires a more considered and empathetic approach.”

Returning to the Issues Index figures, there are also growing concerns about the NHS with 31 percent saying this is a key issue for Britain.

Many more Labour supporters were concerned about this issue than Conservative supporters, with 37 percent and 21 percent choosing the NHS respectively.

The fourth biggest concern remains immigration, which was mentioned by 22 percent of participants.

This was the joint leading issue for Conservative party supporters, with 39 percent mentioning it.

But just 15 percent of Labour supporters mentioned immigration as a concern, and this figure was the same for 18 to 34 year olds.

Concerns about housing have increased with this becoming the fifth biggest issue mentioned by 16 percent of Britons, the highest score for this area since the 2019 General Election.

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