New ONS analysis published today (Tuesday), which uses new data on those with high incomes to improve the accuracy of its income statistics, shows that inequality has not fallen over the past two decades, did rise in the run-up to the crash, and has been flat since the crisis. Commenting on the new ONS analysis, … Continued

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is on course to deliver a modest fiscal windfall of around £8 billion on Budget day, but the Chancellor still faces tough choices over raising taxes or watering down his fiscal rules, according to new research published today (Monday) by the Resolution Foundation. With just over a fortnight left … Continued

The new Chancellor Rishi Sunak is set to deliver the first spending boost to economic growth since the crisis in his upcoming Budget, while the OBR is on course to mark down the UK’s GDP outlook by around half a percentage point, according to new analysis published today (Thursday) by the Resolution Foundation. The Foundation’s … Continued

The UK hit an important living standards milestone at the end of 2019 as real average weekly pay finally surpassed its pre-crisis peak, though the 12-year pay downturn has left average earnings £141 a week behind their pre-crisis trend, the Resolution Foundation said today (Tuesday) in response to monthly labour market data released by the … Continued

The ‘Blue Wall’ constituencies that switched from Labour to the Conservatives in the last election experienced a tough 2010s in terms of their jobs, pay and house prices, according to new research published today (Wednesday) by the Resolution Foundation. Painting the towns blue explores the demographics and living standards of the 50 seats across Wales, … Continued

Poverty rates fall from 35 per cent to 18 per cent when people move into work – but even sustained employment does not eliminate in-work poverty for too many households, highlighting the need for wider support, according to new research published today (Tuesday) by the Resolution Foundation in partnership with Clarion Housing Group. With almost … Continued

The house price gap between London and the rest of the UK has narrowed by almost one fifth since the EU referendum and this ‘levelling up’ trend may have further to run, according to new research published today (Thursday) by the Resolution Foundation. The new quarterly Housing Outlook looks at what drove the UK’s regional … Continued

The UK looks set to start the new decade with employment at a record high and with its long overdue pay recovery continuing, as easing inflationary pressures mask a slowdown in nominal pay growth, the Resolution Foundation says today (Tuesday) in response to the ONS latest labour market statistics. Following a series of record-breakers in … Continued

Press release from the Resolution Foundation Embargo – 00:01hrs Tuesday 21st 2020   The ‘Universal Credit parliament’ has finally arrived, but UC’s very different impact across the country is being ignored   The impact of Universal Credit (UC) will be felt very differently in different places: something currently being ignored amid growing debates about how … Continued

Britain’s centuries-long fall in the length of the working week has stalled in the wake of the financial crisis, and has actually increased by an hour for women and young people over the past decade, according to new research published today (Saturday) by the Resolution Foundation. The Times They Aren’t A Changin’ – supported by Trust … Continued

Low-income households have seen the fastest rise in the use of consumer debt since the financial crisis, and are too exposed to financial shocks, according to new research published today (Wednesday) by the Resolution Foundation. An outstanding balance? explores changes in the use of consumer debt – including credit cards, store cards, mail order and … Continued

Stronger enforcement of the minimum wage is needed as underpayment is rising, and fines for those underpaying are too low, according to new research published today (Wednesday) by the Resolution Foundation. Under the wage floor says that the huge success of the UK’s legal minimum wage over the last 20 years has combined higher wages … Continued

The UK labour market is at a turning point, with next year set to see real pay finally surpass its 2008 peak but employment at risk of falling from the record level it enjoyed throughout 2019, according to the Resolution Foundation’s Earnings Outlook published today (Friday). The Outlook notes that 2019 was a good year … Continued

The UK ends the decade with employment at a new record high of 76.2 per cent, but a slowing economy has hit pay growth and means that the UK enters a new decade with pay still below its pre-crisis peak, the Resolution Foundation said today (Tuesday) in response to the latest ONS labour market statistics. … Continued

The UK’s total wealth grew by 13 per cent to reach record £14.6 trillion in the two years to 2016-18, with wealth among the richest ten per cent households increasing almost four times faster than those of the poorest households (11 per cent vs 3 per cent), the Resolution Foundation said today (Thursday) in response … Continued

Labour and the Conservatives are already likely to be on course to break their new fiscal rules announced less than a month ago, as a result of pledges made in and around their Manifestos, according to new research published today (Thursday) by the Resolution Foundation. The Foundation says that fiscal rules are important for the … Continued

Child poverty is set to continue rising under the Conservative Party’s social security plans, while Labour’s £9 billion of extra spending would mean 550,000 fewer children in poverty but not see current poverty rates fall, according to new research published today (Tuesday) by the Resolution Foundation. The shifting shape of social security shows how the … Continued

Commenting on the 2019 Conservative Manifesto published today (Sunday), Torsten Bell, Chief Executive of the Resolution Foundation, said: “Brexit is happening, but big tax cuts aren’t. That is the short version of an already very short Conservative manifesto. “Boris Johnson has chosen to break unwise leadership election promises of tax cuts totalling over £20 billion. Instead … Continued

Commenting on the 2019 Labour Manifesto published today (Thursday), Torsten Bell, Chief Executive of the Resolution Foundation, said: “Labour’s 2019 Manifesto has doubled down on their plans to increase the size of the state. The £70bn of spending increases they proposed two years ago has now risen to £135 billion. “This would take the size of … Continued

Minimum wage increases since 2015 delivered a £3bn pay boost to low-paid workers last year, showing that while they should proceed carefully, both main parties are right to propose plans for an even higher wage floor, according to new Resolution Foundation analysis published today (Monday). Ain’t no minimum high enough examines the impact of the … Continued

The tax battleground for the upcoming election is on course to be fought over a ‘tax pledge gap’ of almost £60bn, the biggest difference between the main parties’ plans in a generation, according to a major new report published today (Wednesday) by the Resolution Foundation. The shifting shape of UK tax examines how the shape … Continued

Underneath stable headlines of near record employment, several worrying indicators show that our slowing economy may now be affecting our labour market, the Resolution Foundation said today (Tuesday) in response to the latest ONS labour market statistics. Overall the UK’s labour market remains strong with employment, unemployment and inactivity rates stable over the course of … Continued

Commenting on the latest ONS GDP figures published today (Monday), which showed that the economy grew by 0.3 per cent in the third quarter of 2019 and saw the slowest annual growth rate since 2010, James Smith, Research Director at the Resolution Foundation, said: “Today’s figures show that the economy has avoided recession, but slowed … Continued

Higher housing costs have reduced incomes and increased inequality as the poorest families have borne the brunt of Britain’s 40-year housing crisis, the Resolution Foundation warns in new analysis published today (Saturday). The research – Inequality Street – notes that public concern about housing has grown in recent years, with approaching one-in-five adults now believing … Continued