Middle incomes fall by £1,200

Disposable incomes of middle earners have fallen by about £1,200 over the past few years, according to the Office for National Statistics. Between 2007/8 and 2010/11, the average disposable income for non-retired households in the middle fifth of the income distribution fell by 3.8 per cent, from £31,000 a year to £29,900. Before taxes and cash benefits were taken into account, the fall was from £36,400 to £33,200.