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IFS issues frequent press releases and observations and features regularly in online, broadcast and printed media. Staff also write and contribute to news articles.

IFS research staff are happy to speak to the press about the findings of our work. If you are a member of the press and have an enquiry or would like to receive new press releases by email, please contact the Head of public relations, Bonnie Brimstone (020 7291 4818).

“Their independence is beyond doubt as all the main political parties recognise their expertise." Evan Davis, BBC

Families dependent on fathers' earnings alone have average incomes no higher than 15 years ago

| Press Release

Over the last 20 years, growth in the earnings of working fathers has been extremely slow, at 0.3% a year on average, while mothers’ earnings have grown by more than 2% a year. As a result, it has become increasingly difficult for families where only the father is working to keep up with other families. This matters: around a quarter of children live in a one-earner couple family – around the same proportion as 20 years ago. These are some of the findings from new IFS analysis released today, funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF).

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Proposed changes to alcohol taxation are small beer

| Observations

The government has recently consulted on the structure of alcohol taxes. This consultation focuses on two issues: (i) the introduction of a new still cider and perry band that would increase the tax on products below 7.5% ABV, and (ii) the introduction of a new still wine band that would reduce the tax on products between 5.5% and 8.5% ABV. In this Observation we summarise our main points from our response to the consultation.

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IFS analysis of today’s public finance figures

| Public Finance Press Releases

Today the Office for National Statistics and HM Treasury published Public Sector Finances January 2017. We now have details of central government receipts, central government spending, public sector net investment, borrowing and debt for the first ten months of financial year 2016−17.

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