‘An indicator for us to keep our eye on’, BBC reporter Simon Jack

 

The latest edition of the Asda Income Tracker – produced monthly by Cebr for the supermarket giant – marks five years since this key report on UK household finances was launched.

 

The Asda Income Tracker’s importance as an indicator to commercial enterprises concerned with consumer behaviour and spending power was featured in a peak time slot on the BBC’s flagship radio news show, the Today Programme.

 

BBC business and economics reporter Simon Jack told the BBC Radio 4 programme:   “In a recent Budget tour, lots of retailers and small businesses told us that they follow this key measure of disposable income.”

 

Simon then interviewed Cebr Head of Macroeconomics Charles Davis on the methodology and approach behind the Asda Income Tracker, as monitored and used by the Bank of England, UK Government, international banks and the European Commission.

 

Charles told the BBC the report uses Office for National Statistics data to analyse income sources and spending patterns for the average UK household, based on the latest detailed Living Costs and Food Survey. Cebr analysis updates income and essential spending using monthly inflation and labour market data. The result is a comprehensive picture of how the economy is affecting the average UK household’s finances.

 

Cebr’s Head of Macroeconomics Charles Davis described what the Asda Income Tracker shows and recent trends in an interview with the BBC Today programme this morning, which can be listened to here or at 2:39:00 in the recording of the show on the BBC iPlayer for 4th April 2013.

 

To read a summary of the latest Asda Income Tracker report, please follow this link, or to read the full report, please visit Asda’s Income Tracker website.