The Treasury has recalculated an embarrassing set of figures suggesting household incomes have not kept pace with tax rises since Labour took office.
Thursday, November 11th 2004, 11:33PM
by The Landlord
The initial figures, supplied to ACT leader Rodney Hide by Finance Minister Michael Cullen in reply to parliamentary questions, showed that average household incomes had risen $4800 to $55,600 since 1999 but the average tax paid by households had increased $5840 during the same period.
The new figures, distributed by Dr Cullen yesterday, show household incomes have risen $7720 to $68,280 since 1999 and taxes per household $5200.
Dr Cullen said the new figures told only half the story. Households were also better off because of increased spending on health and education since Labour took office.
But Mr Hide said Dr Cullen could take no comfort from the new figures, which showed the average tax paid per household had risen almost twice as much as the average household income.
