The government must get the final phase of Universal Credit (UC) right this Autumn if it’s to reboot the reputation of its flagship welfare reform programme and support millions of low income families, according to a new report published today by the Resolution Foundation. The benefits of moving focuses on the final, and in many … Continued

The wealth gap between households has widened since the financial crisis within many parts of the country including Wales, the East Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber, according to new analysis published today (Saturday) by the Resolution Foundation. Wealth – which includes property, pensions, financial assets and possessions – is a major factor in living … Continued

Entrepreneurs’ Relief is expensive, ineffective, and regressive – and the government should scrap it as it looks for ways to fund its £20bn NHS pledge, according to new analysis published today (Wednesday) by the Resolution Foundation. Entrepreneurs’ Relief, which was introduced by the Labour government in April 2008, allows people selling companies to pay half … Continued

People in the poorest third of households have accounted for over half of the increase in employment since the start of the financial crisis, according to new analysis published today (Wednesday) by the Resolution Foundation. The analysis, which looks at how close Britain is to full employment, shows that of the 2.1 million increase in … Continued

Responding to the latest ONS inflation figures today (Wednesday), showing that CPI inflation rose to 2.5 per cent in June, Stephen Clarke, Senior Economic Analyst at the Resolution Foundation, said: “Although inflation ticked up this month this was driven by changes in relatively erratic items, such as computer games and energy prices. “Strip away these … Continued

Unemployment falls to a forty-three year low but pay growth remains stubbornly weak pay growth the Resolution Foundation said today (Tuesday) in response to the latest ONS labour market figures. Unemployment dropped to 4 per cent, driven by falls for those under 24, who accounted for almost two-thirds of the decline since March. The number … Continued

Commenting on the Bank of England’s decision today (Thursday) to raise interest rates from 0.5 to 0.75 per cent, Matt Whittaker, Deputy Director of the Resolution Foundation, said: “The Bank’s unanimous decision to raise interest rates reflects its view that, while current economic growth is relatively weak by historic standards, this is as good as … Continued

Mixed signals on the labour market – with strong pay growth for job movers countered by muted pay growth for those sticking with their employer – provides the backdrop to the Bank of England’s big decision on interest rates later today, according to the Resolution Foundation’s latest quarterly Earnings Outlook published today (Thursday). The Earnings … Continued

Britain’s weak post-crisis living standards recovery went into reverse last year for the poorest 30 per cent of families, as incomes fell in the bottom third fell by between £50 and £150, according to the Resolution Foundation’s flagship annual Living Standards Audit published today (Tuesday). To establish recent trends in household living standards, the Audit … Continued

Responding to the latest ONS inflation figures today (Wednesday), showed that CPIH inflation remained at 2.3 per cent in June, Stephen Clarke, Senior Economic Analyst at the Resolution Foundation, said: “As the impact of the Brexit vote on the pound – and consequently on the price of imported goods – continues to unwind, headline inflation … Continued

Employment across Britain has reached a fresh high but stubbornly weak pay growth leaves the Bank of England with a tough decision on interest rates when it meets in early August, the Resolution Foundation said today (Tuesday) in response to the latest ONS labour marker figures. The UK employment rate rose to a new record … Continued

Net migration grew to 282,000 in 2017 – well below the peak recorded between mid-2014 and mid-2016 – but broadly in line with levels before the financial crisis, the Resolution Foundation said today (Monday) in response to the latest ONS migration figures. The Foundation notes that EU emigration has risen from around 80,000 on the … Continued

Commenting on the latest Quarterly sector accounts published today (Friday) by the ONS, which revised down real household disposable income growth in 2017 from 0.3 per cent to -0.5 per cent, Torsten Bell, Director of the Resolution Foundation, said: “Today’s figures show that the recent period of high inflation, and historically weak pay growth, caused … Continued

Scotland’s household wealth has exceeded £1 trillion for the first time, according to a new report published today (Friday) by the Resolution Foundation. The report ­– The £1 trillion pie: how wealth is shared across Scotland – looks at both the scale of assets in 21st Century Scotland and who holds them. It says that wealth is playing … Continued

Commenting on the Supreme Court judgment today (Wednesday) on the case of Pimlico Plumbers Ltd and another v Smith, Torsten Bell, Director of the Resolution Foundation, said: “The Supreme Court judgment today could have significant implications for many workers that firms see as self-employed contractors and miss out on employment rights like the minimum wage, … Continued

Female unemployment has fallen to a record low of 4.1 per cent but pay growth across the economy continues to disappoint, the Resolution Foundation said today (Tuesday) in response to the latest ONS labour market statistics. Overall unemployment remained at 4.2 per cent, while employment remained at a record high of 75.6 per cent. Female … Continued

Ministers should reject a National Insurance rise and consult on a wider range of tax rises  Restoring the path of NHS spending to its historical level of growth will require £20bn of extra borrowing and taxes by the end of the parliament, according to a new report published today (Tuesday) by the Resolution Foundation. However, … Continued

Lack of progression, power and gender imbalance mean policy should go beyond a higher minimum wage Having boosted millions of workers’ pay through the National Living Wage, businesses and government must now look to the new frontiers of low pay, the Resolution Foundation says today (Friday) in its annual flagship Low Pay Britain report. The … Continued

  A new generational contract is needed to tackle the big challenges Britain faces for young and old, covering a better funded NHS and care system, a radically reformed housing market, and a new citizen’s inheritance to boost the prospects of younger generations. This is according to the final report of the Intergenerational Commission published … Continued

Inheritance Tax should be abolished and replaced with a new system that commands greater public support by being fairer to families and harder to avoid, according to a new report published today (Wednesday) by the Resolution Foundation for the Intergenerational Commission. Passing on, the 21st report of the Intergenerational Commission and last before it publishes its … Continued

apprenA major funding boost and business engagement drive is needed to get T levels – new technical qualifications for 16-18 year olds – off the ground and help the neglected majority of young non-graduates who are badly let down by the education system, according to a new report published today (Friday) by the Resolution Foundation. … Continued

Britain’s tight labour market – which has seen unemployment fall to a 43-year low – has curbed the growth of zero hours contracts (ZHCs), the Resolution Foundation said today (Monday) in response to the latest ONS business survey of ZHCs use. The ONS survey, carried out in November 2017, showed that 1.8 million firms used … Continued

Britain has passed a living standards landmark with real pay finally growing again after a 12-month squeeze. And there are was more good news in the jobs market as unemployment fell and employment hit a record high, the Resolution Foundation said today (Tuesday) in response to the latest ONS labour market figures. Real (CPIH-adjusted) average … Continued

  Policy makers need to radically reform the private rental sector to make it fit for raising children and retirement because a generation of young people face the prospect of never owning their own home, according to a new report published today (Tuesday) by the Resolution Foundation for its Intergenerational Commission. Home Improvements sets out … Continued

Indefensible gender pay gaps at the top of companies shouldn’t mean we ignore the fact that women do most of the low-paid work If low-paid jobs were evenly distributed among men and women, the overall gender pay gap would fall by over a fifth (21 per cent), according to new analysis published today (Saturday) by … Continued