Last week, the Bank of England forecast that the UK was heading into a recession, with inflation set to hit 13%.
Meanwhile, the energy price cap will go up in October, with industry analysts estimating average domestic energy bills could hit more than £3,600 a year.
CBI head Tony Danker echoed Mr Brown, saying that the prime minister and the candidates for the Tory leadership, Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss, “should come together to agree a common pledge to support people and help quell fears”.
“The economic situation people and businesses are facing requires all hands to the pump this summer,” he said.
“We simply cannot afford a summer of government inactivity while the leadership contest plays out followed by a slow start from a new prime minister and cabinet.”
In a press release, the CBI said the prime minister should direct the civil service to draw up options on help the most vulnerable people - and that these options should be made available to both leadership candidates.
The organisation - which represents British businesses - also said Mr Johnson, Mr Sunak and Ms Truss should agree “a way forward to support people and businesses with energy bills” ahead of 26 August, when Ofgem is due to announce the next energy price cap.
Downing Street said it recognised the public were facing “challenging times”.
However, Mr Johnson’s spokesman argued it would be up to his successor to make any decisions on further help.
Mr Johnson is due to leave office in early September, and No 10 said “by convention it is not for this prime minister to make major fiscal interventions during this period”.
The spokesman also said there were no plans to recall Parliament, but that Mr Johnson and his Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi are meeting this week to discuss progress on the support measures already announced.
The UK is in financial limbo, then … 
