Subtopic: Household Income and Expenditure

This short article analyses some of the key trends affecting the incomes of households in the middle of the income distribution. It studies the change in median household income between 1977 and 2010/11 and compares this with changes in GDP per person for both the UK and USA. The article then looks at how the characteristics of the middle fifth of households have changed over time and how the composition of their income has changed during the recent economic downturn and over the longer term.

Data on Housing and Consumer Durables taken from the 2011 General Lifestyle Survey.

Data from the 2011 General Lifestyle Survey on occupational and personal pensions for employees and the pension arrangements of the self-employed. The chapter presents both trends over time and detailed data for the 2011 survey year.

This article is published as part of the ONS Measuring National Well-being Programme. The programme aims to produce accepted and trusted measures of the well-being of the nation - how the UK as a whole is doing. This article on ‘Personal Finance’ is part of a series which aims to explore in more detail the different domains that have been considered as important for the measurement of National Well-being. Personal Finance can have a significant impact on our sense of well-being, incomes that allow us to afford basic needs and requirements or be free of financial concerns can allow us to live happier lives.

This article explains the impact of developments affecting Household Final Consumption Expenditure (HHFCE) estimates (1997 to 2011) released in the Blue Book 2012 data set. These developments have been broadly limited to balancing HHFCE estimates against other sectors’ estimates (Supply and Use balancing) and improvements to estimates of expenditure on insurance services following a review.

Statistical Bulletin covering the release of Gross Disposable Household Income (GDHI) estimates for 2010. Data for NUTS1, NUTS2 and NUTS3 geographic levels are covered