WORKERS in the north west are £13 a week worse off than 11 years ago, according to new Trades Union Congress analysis.

The analysis of official figures shows real wages are still -3 per cent below their 2008 level.

By contrast, weekly wages in the north west grew by £84, 23 per cent between 1997 and 2008.

A TUC spokesman said the last decade has been the worst period for wage growth in more than 200 years.

TUC regional secretary James McKenna said: “We need an economy that delivers for working families. But pay packets are still worth less than a decade ago.

“It’s not right that household debt is rising. Kids in this region are growing up in poverty despite having parents in work. The government has failed to deal with Britain’s cost of living crisis.”

The north east’s workers are 0.7 per cent worse off than in 2008, with those in Yorkshire and Humber 3.2 per cent worse off. The UK as a whole is 2.8 per cent worse off, with London 6.5 per cent in the negative.

The TUC said analysis published by the union federation in September revealed unsecured household debt per household rose to £15,880 in the first quarter of 2019, up £1,160 on a year earlier. Over half of households now report having unsecured debt, most commonly in the form of credit card debt.