Family finance ‘has not improved in 2010’

Families in debt are not improving their financial situations in 2010, research has shown.

Vox pops conducted by Adfero show that January was the second consecutive month when families were no better off than the previous year.

The findings are supported by Asda’s Income Tracker, which discovered the average UK household had £164 a week of free income in the first month of the year, only 0.1 per cent greater than at the same time 12 months ago.

Those questioned also believe the government should be doing more to help people get back on their feet, the interviews – conducted in Leeds city centre – suggest.

Carrianne Richards, a housewife from Yorkshire, commented: “They need to do more to help families such as ours, especially those who can’t find work.”

Julie Woodhall, a 21-year-old retail worker from Armley, said that she does not feel financially secure and has many unemployed friends who were finding times difficult.

By Joe Shervin