Coalition has presided over plunge in living standards, says TUC

Trades Union Congress says 2010-2014 unique in seeing drop in real household disposable incomes, which combine wages, benefits, taxes and inflation

The coalition government has presided over the worst five-year period for living standards since modern records began more than half a century ago, according to the Trades Union Congress.

In an analysis based on data from the Office for National Statistics, the TUC said the 2010-2014 period was unique in seeing a drop in real household disposable incomes.

Conservative plans for extreme austerity after the election risk killing off the recovery again