Real Wages In Reading Down £1,380 In Just One Year – New Analysis

New figures from the ONS reveal that real wages (excluding bonuses) are falling at their fastest rate in more than a decade: -3.7% in just one year.

New analysis published by Reading Labour reveals that the average worker in Reading has suffered a reduction of £1,380 in the last 12 months.

Publishing the new analysis, Labour’s Liz Terry, Lead Councillor for Corporate Services and Resources on Reading Borough Council, said:

“This Conservative Government has downed tools while the rest of us face the worst cost of living crisis in generations.

“Wages are collapsing in Reading and we are all feeling the pinch – yet this Government is nowhere to be seen. But Labour has a plan to help families in Reading now. We would cut VAT on energy, insulate homes to lower bills, cut small business rates and buy make and sell more in Britain.

“This Government is failing and out of ideas, and the Conservatives are too busy fighting amongst themselves to act. It’s time for a fresh start with Labour.”

Labour has a plan to tackle the cost of living crisis which will:

• Cut VAT on home energy bills
• Reduce energy bills by insulating 19 million homes
• Cut small business rates
• Buy, make and sell more in Britain

Notes

1. Real wages have fallen by 3.7% in the last year – the steepest fall in two decades: https://news.sky.com/story/real-wages-fall-by-39-as-pay-fails-to-keep-up-with-inflation-12654768.

2. Average wages by local authority can be found here: https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/datasets/placeofresidencebylocalauthorityashetable8. In Reading, the average worker saw real wages (excluding bonuses) fall by £1380.99.