HC Deb 02 November 1989 vol 159 cc282-3W
Mr. Nicholas Bennett

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give for each year since 1974 the average annual increase in real income for(a) a married man with two children, (b) a single person and (c) a retired person, including tax changes and price rises.

Mr. Lilley

Consistent information since 1974 is available only for pensioners. This is given in table 1. A more limited range of years is available on a constant basis for the other family types and the average annual growth rates in real incomes are given in table 2. Figures are derived from the family expenditure survey and are subject to sampling variation.

Table 1
Percentage annual change in average real net income of pensioners
per cent.
1974 6.2
1975 -0.5
1976 -0.3
1977 -1.1
1978 7.0
1979 -1.7
1980 1.9
1981 4.9
1982 -0.9
1983 10.5
1984 -1.1
1985 1.7
1986 4.5

Notes:

  1. 1. The figures show, for the each year, the percentage increase over the previous year in average real net incomes (ie incomes net of tax, adjusted for changes in the Retail Price Index).
  2. 2. Pensioners are defined as all single people over the statutory retirement age together with married couples where the husband is over retirement age.

Table 2
Percentage change in average real net income at an annual rate
Married man with two children (non-retired) per cent. Single person (non-retired) per cent.
1979–81 -2.3 -2.1
1981–85 3.1 0.6
1985–86 7.1 8.6

Note:

The figures express at an annual rate the increase between the years shown in average real net incomes (ie incomes net of tax and national insurance adjusted for changes in the Retail Price Index).

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