Poorest 20% of Britons no better off than in 2004, says ONS

Emphasis on boosting minimum wage while cutting benefits seems to have left low-income families worse off

The poorest fifth of the British population have suffered a 7% fall in their disposable household incomes over the past two years, leaving them no better off than they were in 2004-05, according to official figures.

The Office for National Statistics said this fall compared with an increase in median disposable household incomes of 0.4% a year over the last two years to 29,600. This weak growth rate follows relatively strong growth of 3% a year between 2012-13 and 2016-17.