New employment protections will improve workers’ wellbeing, but won’t make any difference to economic growth

The Employment Rights Bill making its way through Parliament is a big deal for low-paid workers, but will have a negligible impact on the economy, contrary to what its supporters and critics claim, according to new Resolution Foundation research published today (Thursday). With the share of (hourly) low paid workers across Britain having fallen from … Continued

Rising energy prices have led to a ‘comfort crunch’ as families spend more of their budgets on essentials

Rising energy prices over the last two decades have squeezed incomes for low-and-middle income families and contributed to a ‘comfort crunch’ as more of their budgets are spent on household essentials, according to new Resolution Foundation research published today (Monday). The Bare Necessities – the fourth report of the Foundation’s Unsung Britain project, with support … Continued

Welfare concessions will prevent current claimants from suffering income losses – at a cost of up to £3.2 billion by the end of the Parliament

The changes to the Welfare Bill set out today will create a two-tier system to prevent existing claimants from suffering income losses as a result of changes to Universal Credit (UC) and Personal Independent Payments (PIP). These changes are welcome, but could cost between £2.6 billion and £3.2 billion a year in 2029-30 – making … Continued

Industrial Strategy White Paper demonstrates serious thinking about growth – but it will need sticking power to deliver growth

Industrial Strategy White Paper demonstrates serious thinking about growth – but it will need sticking power to deliver growth The Industrial Strategy White Paper, published today (Monday), is a serious attempt to think about long-term economic strategy, and is both cross-departmental and backed by the Treasury, all of which will be needed if it is … Continued

Early career workers suffer a five per cent place-based pay penalty for working in weaker labour markets

England’s stark regional wage inequalities are driven by the places where people work, and not just by the people who work in different places as earlier studies have suggested, which should prompt a rethink about how policy makers can address these divides, according to ground-breaking new research published today (Monday) by the Resolution Foundation. The … Continued

NHS-dominated Spending Review leaves little to rebuild other public services

The NHS has again grabbed the lion’s share (90 per cent) of the extra funding for day-to-day public services allocated at the Spending Review, with inflation-adjusted per-person spending flat or falling for most other departments, leaving little to rebuild other public services, the Resolution Foundation said today (Wednesday). After two fiscal events dominated by tax … Continued

UK jobs market sheds 55,000 jobs in April, weakening further

The jobs market weakened further in April, losing 55,000 jobs on the previous month and nudging down the employment rate, the Resolution Foundation said today in response to the latest ONS labour market statistics. Early data for May looks worse still, pointing to a fall of 109,000 jobs – but this data is prone to … Continued

Government has increased departmental spending by almost £400 billion – but Chancellor may still struggle to avoid cuts in Spending Review

The Government has increased departmental spending by almost £400 billion since it came to power, with details of future plans to be set out in the Spending Review next Wednesday.  But pressures to increase health and defence spending will make it hard to avoid cuts to other public services, the Resolution Foundation said today (Wednesday). … Continued

Household Support Fund has helped millions of families through cost of living squeeze – but it needs renewing and reforming

The Household Support Fund has helped millions of families in England with their food, energy and water bills, and household essentials since its introduction in 2021, but its effectiveness has been hampered by chaotic and declining funding which needs to be put on a firmer footing, according to new research published today (Thursday). The report, … Continued

Government can extend Winter Fuel Payment to 1.3 million more pensioners at a cost of £300 million – but u-turn on pensioners cannot cover for inaction on child poverty

The Government’s U-turn on Winter Fuel Payments (WFPs) can take a number of possible routes. But action to assuage pensioner anger cannot be used as an excuse to duck sensible changes to its health and disability benefit reforms, or limit its ambition on tackling child poverty, the Resolution Foundation said today (Wednesday). At Prime Minister’s … Continued

Health and disability benefit reforms could boost employment by up to 105,000, but gains dwarfed by poverty-inducing income losses

The Government’s plans to reform health and disability related benefits and increase employment support could boost employment by up to 105,000 by the end of the Parliament. But these welcome gains are not enough to prevent the reforms from pushing hundreds of thousands of families into poverty, according to new Resolution Foundation research published today … Continued

Bank of England offers a downbeat assessment of Trump’s trade war, but good news for low-income families and homeowners

The Bank of England’s take on the impact of President Trump’s first 100 days on the UK economy was low on growth and high on uncertainty, but its downbeat outlook came with some good news for families, the Resolution Foundation said today (Thursday). The big picture context to the Bank’s Monetary Policy Report (MPR) and decision to cut interest rates from 4.5 to 4.25 per … Continued

Chancellor’s plans for £100 billion investment top-up must balance new growth-enhancing projects with pressing need to rebuild Britain’s broken public services

The Chancellor must balance new growth-boosting infrastructure projects with the need to rebuild Britain’s dilapidated hospitals and social housing when she sets out the details of a £100 billion plus boost to capital budgets at the Spending Review, according to new research published today (Tuesday). The report notes that as well as allocating funding for … Continued

Government efforts to encourage families to save are being undermined by its own Universal Credit rules

Long-neglected rules governing capital means-testing in Universal Credit (UC) are undermining other Government policies aimed at encouraging lower-income households to accrue savings, according to new research from the Resolution Foundation published today (Thursday). The report Saving penalties – part of a partnership with abrdn Financial Fairness Trust – notes that the current capital thresholds, which … Continued

UK borrowing already off track before the year has even started

The UK borrowed £151.9 billion in the past financial year (2024-25) is significantly higher than the Office for Budget Responsibility’s forecast of £137.3 billion made last month – laying bare the Government’s fiscal challenge, the Resolution Foundation said today (Wednesday) in response to the latest ONS data. Borrowing was 5.3 per cent of national income in 2024-25 the highest such borrowing figure since 2013-14 … Continued

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