UK income inequality increasing as benefits cuts hit poorest

Average income of the poorest fifth of the population shrunk by 1.6% last year, says ONS

Income inequality across Britain increased over the course of 2018 as cuts to benefits damaged the finances of poorer households while the wealthiest in society got richer, official figures show.

According to the Office for National Statistics, the average income of the poorest fifth of the population after inflation contracted by 1.6% in the last financial year ending in 2018, while the average income of the richest fifth rose by 4.7%.

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