Stories

Wed, 02 Sep 2026

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 Almost half of households do not see benefits of economic growth, report says

Analysis has found a "stark" gap in the spending power of households in the north and south of England on average.

* Every region north of England, Midlands and Wales has lower spending power than the national average
* London and South East have significantly higher spending power (average £2,154 more per year)
* 46% of households live in areas where economic growth is not improving living standards
* Spending power varies within regions, with some areas experiencing significant disparities (e.g. Richmond vs Hammersmith and Fulham)
* Devolution policies aim to address regional inequalities and allow local authorities to retain revenues generated by local growth