Disposable income soars in London and Scotland – at the expense of north England
People living in London and Scotland have experienced the biggest rise in their disposable income over the course of the twenty-first century – at the expense of the north of England.
Disposable income in the capital rose faster than in any other part of the country, growing 75 per cent between 2000 and 2013.
Scotland experienced the second highest growth in average gross disposable household income (GDHI), rising by 67.1 per cent, figures from the Office of National Statistics reveal.
Scots had money to spend – after tax and benefit income – of £17,039 in 2013, up from £10,731 back in 2000, accounting for rising prices.
Not only did Londoners experience the biggest gains in disposable income, but they had the most cash to spend in 2013 – standing at £22,516 and up from £14,932 in 2000.
This is in contrast to north east England, where people had the least cash in their pockets. Here, each person had an average disposable income of £14,927 – increasing by just 53 per cent since 2000.
The smallest increases in disposable incomes coincided largely with the areas with the lowest incomes in cash terms.
People living in the north west of England saw their disposable incomes increase by 54 per cent over the 13 year period, while those in Yorkshire and north east England saw increases of 57 per cent over the same period of time.
The UK had an average increase of 64 per cent in disposable income in the period.
At a more local level, Westminster had the highest GDHI per head, at £43,577, while the average Leicester resident had just £11,739 to spend – the lowest in the country.