Healthier And Wealthier Society

According to the Central Statistical Office’s Social Trends 1994 survey published today, Britain is better educated, healthier and wealthier than before, except for the poorest 10%.

Statistics for 1991/2 show that real disposable income was almost 80% higher than in 1971 and reversed a plunge in 1990/1 when the recession hit hard.

In terms of weekly earnings, the poorest 10% experienced a rise of 27% from 1971, whilst the earnings of the top 10% increased by 69%.

Life expectancy is increasing by about two years every decade; a woman’s has increased from 67 fifty years ago, to 79, and a man’s from 62 to 74.

Among those in full-time employment, men enjoy 15 hours a week more free time than women.

Marriages have declined by nearly 16% during the past 20 years, while divorces have more than doubled. The proportion of births outside marriage more than doubled to almost one in three in the 10 years to 1992, but three quarters were registered by both parents.

Foreign holidays more than quadrupled in 25 years to 22m in 1992. Britons travel on average almost 125 miles per week.

One in four purchases is made by cheque or plastic card, compared with almost one in 20 in 1976. Direct debit cards account for 11% of consumer payments.

Social Trends 1994 is available from HMSO; £27.