2010 to 2014 was the only five-year period where real disposable household income per head fell
2010 to 2014 was the worst five-year period for living standards since records began half a century ago, according to new analysis from the TUC.
The analysis, published today, compared five-year averages of UK disposable household income per head with the averages for the preceding five years.
It found that 2010 to 2014 was the only five-year period since records began in 1960 during which real disposable household income per head fell rather than grew compared to the preceding five years (2005-09).
Surprisingly, even during the height of the financial crisis from 2008 to 2012 there was a rise of 1.5 per cent on the preceding five-years (2003-07).
The TUC said the figures were further evidence that the coalition’s austerity programme was more to blame for the loss of living standards than the financial crisis that preceded it.
“Living standards have suffered the worst slump in at least half a century, leaving workers paying a heavy price for the government’s bad choices over the last five years,” said TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady.
“Conservative plans for extreme austerity after the election risk killing off the recovery again,” she added. “It would be Groundhog Day for living standards, making families worse-off and cutting public services down to a stump.”
James Bloodworth is the editor of Left Foot Forward. Follow him on Twitter
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43 Responses to “2010 – 2014: the worst five-year period for living standards since records began”
James Chilton
What you must demonstrate, in the case we’re talking about, is that the TUC has invented, abused, or misinterpreted statistical evidence which shows that standards of living have fallen in the period 2010-2014.
Take the TUC analysis apart and you will have made your point. Bluster about a flat earth etc., won’t wash.
Gerschwin
Sorry James old chap, well aware like most lefties you’ll have a somewhat pompous and inflated sense of your own sanctimonious self importance – and by God you do. But how or what I demonstrate is entirely up to me thanks James me old mucker. And I’m certainly not demonstrating, as it were, to you. For two reasons mainly – first your opinion is of no consequence to me and second, and most importantly, your opinion is of no consequence. Think it’s fair to say the TUC has a very specific political agenda and a website representing itself as being impartial can do a lot better than spinning, almost verbatim, the propaganda that comes out of the TUC and frankly if you’re as frightfully clever as you think you are – so should you. Sorry about that.
James Chilton
In other words, and this is a surprise, you can’t back up the assertions you’ve made.
Like belligerent “right wingers’ in general, you’re so anxious to discredit what a “lefty” might say, that you will depart on any tangent that seems a promising source of ignorance.
Gerschwin
Whatever James, whatever, you lost this soon as you tried to get clever and confused yourself. Way it rolls.
Kathryn
I mean, yeah I love Labour, but could never kid myself that they had the influence to create a global crash.
HOW COULD THEY CREATE A GLOOOBAAALLLL CRISIS?
Grow up.