Monday, August 19, 2013

UK family living standards dropping


Poor families in Britain are struggling to provide basics for their children as the cost of living rises faster than wages and benefits, research released by a charity Monday suggested.
The cost of raising a child during the first 18 years of life rose 4 percent to 148,105 pounds ($230,376) last year, while average earnings rose 1.5 percent and safety net benefits rose 1 percent, according to the report from the Child Poverty Action Group.
"This research paints a stark picture of families being squeezed by rising prices and stagnant wages, yet receiving ever-diminishing support from the government over the course of the last year," said Alison Garnham, the group's chief executive. "Every parent knows it's getting harder to pay for the essentials their children need, and they don't feel like politicians see them as a priority."
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_BRITAIN_CHILD_POVERTY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-08-18-19-02-32 

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