Are Britons really poorer than they were 20 years ago, or does it just feel that way?

By Marcel Lukas, Senior Lecturer in Banking and Finance and Director of Executive Education, University of St Andrews

Millions of UK households are facing what’s been dubbed “awful April” after rising council tax, water bills and broadband costs coincided with the new tax year. It could all start to hurt quite quickly. And it has led many people to ponder whether they’re genuinely worse off than previous generations – or simply experiencing a temporary pinch.

Council tax has risen by an average of 5%…

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