Budget blues for Mr Sloggs

THE average man earning the average wage will have to bear an above-average share of the burden from Wednesday’s budget.

Joe Sloggs takes home the average industrial wage of €32,600 and can expect to be worse off in 2008.

With inflation running at 4.8% Mr Sloggs would have to earn an extra €1,300 to keep pace.

Cosmetic changes to when people first enter the lower tax band will give Mr Sloggs in the region of €200 extra a year which is only enough to cover 15% of the impact price increases in his standard shopping trolley.

In addition, if he decides to pick up a 2008 1.6 litre hatchback from July 2008, it is estimated his new car will produce in the region of 175 grams of carbon dioxide every kilometre, enough to fall into Minister John Gormley’s E category. For this he will pay an extra €840 in VRT and when he goes for motor tax he will fork out €600 a year instead of the €391 he is paying today.

The budget has not been kind to Mr Sloggs.