The Big Squeeze

Take-home pay down 5% in real terms since 2009, says study

A new study of pay packets finds that the average British worker's "real" take-home pay has fallen by 5% in two years.

'Banks are trying to take my house'

The average employee takes home £1,088 a year less than two years ago when the sum is adjusted for inflation, research commissioned by BBC Panorama suggests.
David Atkinson has run his own joinery business for more than three decades. In 2003 he took out a mortgage for £70,000 to support an expansion of the business into making and fitting windows and doors for new-build houses.
As some contractors failed to pay their bills, David had to cash in his savings and pensions just to stay afloat. Now his lenders are moving to repossess.

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Panorama 2000 to 2008

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