Debate Magazine
From the BBC: The weekly earnings of full-time workers in the UK fell, in real terms, each year between 2008 and 2013, official figures show. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) says in cash terms earnings grew, by only 2% a year, from 2009 to 2013. But after taking inflation into account the purchasing power of those earnings suffered an overall fall of 8%. This means that the real value of the UK's average weekly earnings are now back to the level of 2002. From the BBC: The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), which publishes the [English Housing Survey] each year, said: "The proportion of all households in owner occupation increased steadily from the 1980s to 2003 when it reached a peak of 71%. Since then, there has been a gradual decline in owner occupation to the current 65%." It pointed out that private renting in England had been steady at about 10% of all households during the 1980s and 1990s, but had since grown sharply, nearly doubling in size.
