UK household income 'falling at fastest rate since 2011', ONS data shows

07 Jul 2017

Household incomes in the UK are falling at their fastest rate since 2011, data published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has suggested.

Real household disposable income per head fell by 2.0% in the first quarter of 2017 when compared to the same quarter in 2016. This represents the fastest decrease since 2011.

The main reason for the decline was the rise in inflation, the ONS said.

Meanwhile, a separate report published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation revealed that working families are facing ‘bigger shortfalls in their household budgets’ despite tax cuts and an increase in the National Living Wage (NLW).

The Foundation suggests that this is due to rising living costs, and wage increases being reduced.

Campbell Robb, Chief Executive of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, commented: ‘Working families are facing bigger holes in their budgets worth hundreds of pounds, despite a higher NLW and tax cuts.

‘It means millions of families are facing a struggle to make ends meet as the cost of getting by in modern Britain rises ever higher.

‘With the Bank of England forecasting inflation will increase even higher this year, families are facing no respite. We need the government to take action and ensure living standards do not fall backwards.’