Commenting on the Prime Minister’s announcement today (Wednesday) confirming that the Fair Pay Agreement for social care staff will come into effect in April 2028, and that he’s looking to build more progression routes for staff into the NHS, Hannah Slaughter, Principal Economist at the Resolution Foundation, said: “Social care staff perform a vital service, … Continued

The new Prime Minister will need to redirect grants towards ‘council homes’, allow private developers to build fewer social rent homes and utilise low-cost loans to housing associations if he’s to deliver on his promise to build more council housing, according to new Resolution Foundation research published today (Friday). The latest Housing Outlook notes that … Continued

CPI inflation fell to 2.6 per cent in June, down from 2.8 per cent in May, a welcome fall that was slightly larger than expected, and hands the new Government some early breathing space of its own, but it is one that looks set to be short-lived as renewed tensions in the Middle East and … Continued

The Starmer Government has bequeathed a mixed record on the labour market to new Prime Minister Andy Burnham. 156,000 payrolled jobs have been lost and unemployment is 0.8 percentage points higher, but real pay packets have increased by £7 a week and gaps between the highest and lowest paying areas of the country having shrunk, … Continued

As Andy Burnham prepares to appoint his new Chancellor, the Resolution Foundation is publishing major new research today examining the role of the UK’s various public financial institutions (PuFins), and how they can be expanded to unlock billions of pounds’ worth of extra investment. The report is especially prescient given the new Prime Minister’s promise … Continued

A triple whammy of weak growth, an ageing population and rising ill-health since 2007 are costing Britain around £330 billion a year today – which is being offset by an unholy trinity of higher taxes, lower public services spending and more borrowing. The new residents of Downing Street need a bold new fiscal strategy to … Continued

Responding to the Interim Report of the Timms Review of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Louise Murphy, Senior Economist at the Resolution Foundation, said: “This report shows that Personal Independent Payment is failing on multiple fronts. It is not routinely providing the support that disabled people need, there is widespread distrust with the system, and with … Continued

Income gaps between different regions across Britain have remained resolutely high over the past thirty years, including during the pandemic upheaval and ‘levelling-up’ agenda, highlighting the scale of the challenge facing PM-in-waiting Andy Burnham as he seeks to tackle geographic inequality, Resolution Foundation Chief Executive Ruth Curtice will say at an event later today (Wednesday). … Continued

Welcoming the Government’s announcement that it has tasked councils with better recording the whereabouts of teenagers who are not in employment, education or training (NEET), Julia Diniz, Economist at the Resolution Foundation, said: “The roots of Britain’s NEETs crisis – where over a million young people today are not in employment, education or training – … Continued

Firms have a critical role to play in hiring Britain out of its NEETs crisis – but targeted subsidies, rather than expensive tax breaks, are the most cost-effective way of supporting employers to get young people into work, according to new Resolution Foundation analysis, published today (Monday). Take a chance on me warns that Britain’s … Continued

Young people born from the mid-1990s onwards are enjoying higher living standards than their millennial predecessors so far in their careers, in part by becoming the stay-at-home generation, according to new Resolution Foundation research published today (Thursday). They’re coming home – supported by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funded Centre for Population Change, … Continued

The UK’s global share of goods exports has fallen by around £74 billion in the five years since 2019, with around half of that loss taking place in key sectors identified in the Government’s industrial strategy like cars and pharmaceuticals, according to major new Resolution Foundation research published today (Monday). Ten years on from the … Continued

New analysis published later this week by the Resolution Foundation will show that the early careers of Gen Z have got off to a better start than their millennial predecessors, though there are warning signs flashing for the latest generation to enter the workplace. Millennials – those born between the early 1980s and mid-1990s – … Continued

The economic volatility of recent months has been reflected in the UK labour market with real regular pay in the private sector falling since October and the number of self-employed jobs and zero-hours contracts rising far quicker than regular employment, the Resolution Foundation said today (Thursday). The latest ONS data showed a mixed picture for the labour market – with unemployment nudging down to 4.9 per cent. But, having had lower unemployment than the G7 average back in January 2022 (3.9 vs 4.4 per cent), the UK now has higher unemployment (4.9 vs 4.5 per cent). The number of payrolled jobs in the economy continues to decline – down 65,000 between February and April – though the flash estimate for May suggests a levelling off. The latest data shows that the nature of … Continued

Confounding market expectations of a jump to 3 per cent, UK CPI inflation held at 2.8 per cent in May – but recent welcome falls in energy prices suggest a lower path for inflation in the months ahead, the Resolution Foundation said today (Wednesday).   Inflation had been expected to jump in May, largely reflecting earlier falls in airfares and an error in the recording of Vehicle Excise Duty dropping out of the twelve-month calculation.   In the event, although both of those factors pushed up on inflation, rises in airfares were smaller … Continued

New Resolution analysis published today (Wednesday) shows why time should be called on the expensive and wasteful Triple Lock on the State Pension. The briefing shows that the Triple Lock has been: Far too expensive. The State Pension is already the single biggest driver of higher welfare spending in this Parliament (set to cost £13.8bn … Continued

The Milburn Review interim report, published today (Thursday), has accurately explained the complex drivers behind the UK’s close to one million 16- to 24-year-olds not in education, employment or training (NEET). Rising ill health, limited vocational education, a hands-off benefits system, and a weak labour market are all identified in the report as key drivers … Continued

The number of 16-24 year olds not in employment, education or training (NEET) surpassed one million for the first time in over a decade, and now only one EU country (Romania) has a higher NEET rate than the UK. NEET rates could continue rising in the years ahead without a radical reset of support for … Continued

Just 14 per cent of the lowest paid workers feel they have significant influence over decisions affecting their work, down from 23 per cent in 2001, the Resolution Foundation said today (Thursday), suggesting worker voice has reached a new low point. Take it or leave it – supported by Unbound Philanthropy – looks at the … Continued

The number of children living in the private rented sector (PRS) has almost tripled over the last quarter century, from 1.1 million children in 2000-01 to 3.2 million in 2024-25. As a result, children are now more likely than working-age adults to live in the PRS (23 per cent compared to 22 per cent) as … Continued

Responding to the Government’s announcement on fuel duty today, Jonny Marshall, Principal Economist at the Resolution Foundation, said: “The best that can be said of today’s announcement is that the Chancellor’s has wisely ignored calls for an expensive blanket cancellation of the temporary 5p cut to fuel duty. “Nonetheless, even this modest extension will cost … Continued

CPI inflation surprised to the downside falling by half a percentage point to 2.8 per cent in April – having been 3.3 per cent in March – bringing inflation to its lowest level since March 2025 and putting the UK in the enviable position of being the only country in the G7 to see a … Continued

Commenting on the Interim Report of the Pensions Commission published today (Tuesday), Mike Brewer, Deputy Chief Executive of the Resolution Foundation, said: “Auto-enrolment has transformed pension saving across Britain. But as this report shows, too many low and middle earners today still face the prospect of low incomes in retirement. “In fact, many lower income … Continued