North-south prosperity gap 'continues to widen' » Bill payments » 24dash.com

The prosperity gap between the north and south of England is widening, official figures showed today.

New data released by the Office for National Statistics shows the traditional north-south wealth divide is continuing to grow.

Average weekly household incomes in the North East between 2003-6 stood at just £455, trailing £311 behind those in London on £766.

Figures for 2001-4 showed an income gap between the same lowest and highest regions of just £282.

The figures also showed a marked Celtic difference in wealth levels.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all posted weekly incomes below the UK average of £596, registering £544, £492 and £498 respectively.

London's figure boosted England's average weekly income level of £610.

However, despite being the most prosperous region, London recorded the highest expenditure among the UK's regions.

Households in the capital spent more than any other region on housing, fuel, and power per week between 2003-6 with a figure of £61, compared with the UK average of £41.

But London households spent only 12% of their weekly expenditure on travel, the lowest of any region.

The capital also topped the table for average gross weekly earnings, with full-time employees in London making £553.30 compared with the next highest earners, workers in the South East on £499.60.

In contrast workers in the North East earned just £400.50 per week and those in Northern Ireland £401.80, compared with a UK gross average weekly earnings figure of £456.70.

The ONS data also showed a yawning gender gap in weekly earnings.

UK male employees in April 2007 took home on average £498.30 per week, £104.30 more than female employees on just £394.00.