I don't know who producers these statistics, well i do it's Govenment quango's but it's all bollocks a bit like inflation figures,

if some one is on £13,400 gross then around 3k of that will be lost to tax & NI so nett income about 10k if you pay a morgage or rent poll tax travel expences to and from work, eat stay warm in winter without doing anything else you'll struggle on 10K some one should tell these boffins a loaf of bread is now £1.30 in a supermarket !