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More cash to splash down South

The north-south divide persists - at least in terms of spare cash, says a new survey. Disposable household income per head in London was 23% above the UK average, and in the North East it was 14% below, a report from the Office for National Statistics has shown.

In cash terms, disposable earnings in the capital were £16,900 per person, compared with a national average of £13,900. Two other regions were also above average - the East of England with £14,600 per head and the South East with £15,400. The lowest were the North East with £11,800 and Northern Ireland with £12,000.

The figures are estimates based on earnings, benefits and insurance payouts, minus mortgage payments and taxes for 2006. Overall, household income per head increased at similar rates all over the UK, showing no signs of wealth inequalities evening out.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .