According to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Household Finances Survey released on Wednesday, the cost of living crisis in Britain is hitting the nation’s poorest households the worst, as living standards are failing to keep up with skyrocketing inflation.

The poorest fifth of the population saw their median disposable income fall 3.8% in the fiscal year through March 2022, as the surging inflation outpaced wages and benefits payments.

The data revealed how the cost of living crisis is deepening inequality in the UK as the gap between the highest and lowest income households is growing at an ever faster rate as the poorest households continue to find themselves falling further and further behind.

The median household’s disposable income fell 0.6% in 2022 from one year prior, and that is expected to get worse as inflation soared past 40 year highs in November. By the end of the data period ONS was citing, inflation had swelled to 7%.

At the same time, the richest 20% enjoyed a 1.6% growth, as the worst off suffered a 3.8% fall, and the second poorest fifth of households suffered a 2.4% fall.

Analysts are noting that since the Brexit vote, British living standards have only risen marginally. Among the poorest 20%, median disposable incomes have fallen from just over £16,217 ($20,027) in 2016-17 to £14,508 ($17,918) in 2021-22. Meanwhile, the richest 20% have seen their disposable incomes go from £63,201 ($78,044) to £66,002 ($81,503).

Wages and salaries drove the increasing divide over the previous year, as they fell 7.5% for the poorest households, while they increased 7.8% for the richest.