Poverty in Britain has reached its highest level in three decades, with approximately 6.8 million people now living in “very deep poverty,” according to a report released on Tuesday by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF). “Very deep poverty” is defined as households with after-housing-cost incomes below 40% of the UK median—roughly £16,400 ($22,447) per year for a couple with two young children. While the overall poverty rate has slightly declined from 24% in 1994/95 to 21% in 2023/24, the share of those in very deep poverty has risen from 8% to 10%, now representing almost half of all individuals in poverty. The report also highlights a growing child poverty crisis, with 4.5 million children living in poverty—marking the third consecutive year of rising rates. Britain’s economy grew 0.3% in November, its strongest monthly increase since June, yet inflation rose to 3.4% in December, illustrating the ongoing financial pressures faced by low-income households despite modest economic growth.