Fact Service (December 2019)

Issue 49

Rich getting richer


Total wealth inequality in Great Britain is broadly unchanged in the most recent period, though it has increased since July 2006 to June 2008, based on a number of measures of inequality, according to the Office for National statistics.


Inequality in net property wealth and net financial wealth has increased between July 2006 to June 2008 and April 2016 to March 2018, while inequality in pension wealth has fallen.


Average (mean) wealth for all wealth deciles (10% bands) increased in real terms between April 2014 to March 2016 and April 2016 to March 2018, with the higher deciles seeing the biggest increases; the average for the poorest decile increased 3%, and the richest wealth decile increased by 11%.


London, the South East and the South West of England have the highest median household wealth, and also saw the largest growth between April 2014 to March 2016 and April 2016 to March 2018.


Median household wealth in both the North East of England and the East Midlands remains below the level seen in July 2006 to June 2008, despite increases in the latest period.


https://www.ons.gov.uk/releases/wealthingreatbritainwave62016to2018


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