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The state of living standards: new Resolution Foundation report

10 April 2014

The State of Living Standards by the Resolution Foundation) looks at the latest data across Britain. It shows that the recovery impacts are not evenly spread both by region and by age and other factors.

“...it has become harder to live a comfortable lie on a modest or even typical income...” the report says. It makes the important point that growing GDP is not the same as living standards: GDP may be going up whilst living standards for many are going down or are flat.

In terms of regions, it shows how unbalanced the recovery is and the fall in Gross Value Added in Yorkshire is the third highest of the regions with a decline of 7.4%,. All this means that there is a weak labour market that hits the young hardest but is benefitting the top 1% of incomes thus deepening inequality.

If you want to understand what‘s happening to the environment that shapes people’s lives, this report is essential reading.