John Prout from NS&I
Men are saving more than women for the first time since summer 2011, according to NS&I.
In its latest quarterly savings survey, it found consumers were saving £88 per month, the lowest level for a year.
Men were saving seven per cent of their income, around £103 in real terms, while women were saving 6.8 per cent, which is around £72.
However, both amounts were a decrease from the previous quarter. Men were down from 7.9 per cent and women were down from 8.3 per cent.
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Some 57 per cent of men felt they had enough money to cope in an emergency compared to 48 per cent of women.
Only those aged 35-44 were saving more than the previous quarter. The biggest decrease was for those aged 16-24 years old who were down from 10.7 per cent to 7.4 per cent.
John Prout, NS&I retail consumer director, said: "The results of our latest savings survey show an unsettled picture with unusual savings behaviour.
"Savings levels have decreased from the high levels recorded in the last quarter and it appears women are under the most pressure financially with their savings levels dropping to 6.8 per cent of their income each month, £72 in real terms. They haven't been quite so low since Autumn 2010."
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