UK household incomes fall for first time since 1981
According to this article, ‘Real’ disposable incomes – what people have left, after taxes, to spend or save, when inflation is taken into account – fell 0.8pc in 2010.
“The slide signals the first drop in real incomes since 1981, when the UK was struggling out of a recession, and the biggest since 1977, when inflation was running in the double figures. Per head, real income dropped from £14,181 in 2009 to £13,980 last year, according to the Office for National Statistics.
“Statisticians blamed the annual fall, only the sixth seen since records began more than 60 ago, on the failure of wages to keep up with prices.”
We don’t have a detailed breakdown of the figures yet but I suspect rural areas will be amongst the forefront of those places suffering with their high level of dependence on the public sector as an employer. This will raise a series of challenges across rural life affecting issues such as housing demand.
Seamlessly, this creates a link to the Glossary of Terms I have just completed in relation to a rural affordable housing project. I am pleased with it and would like it get used as widely as possible – if you would like a copy please do let me know.
It should help anyone in the “RSN family” with an interest in local housing provision and will help them to get their foot on the first rung on the housing understanding ladder.