Recent findings have unveiled the UK towns and cities where disposable income has experienced the most rapid growth.
A study conducted by the thinktank Centre for Cities indicates that living standards surged by 5.2% in 11 top-performing locations since 2013, surpassing the national increase of 2.4%.
Brighton emerged as the top performer with an 8.1% upsurge, closely followed by Worthing at 7.8% and London at 5.8%. The complete list of leading performers can be found below.
Collectively, these cities and towns achieved a 27% economic growth between 2013 and 2023, exceeding the national growth rate of 18.4%, and delivered a total real-terms disposable income growth of 5.2%.
If all 63 of the UK’s major cities and towns had experienced the same disposable income growth rate as the top performers since 2013, researchers estimate that residents would have gained an additional £3,200 on average in disposable income over that period.
For instance, in Cambridge, where real-terms disposable incomes decreased by 3% overall since 2013, residents could have acquired an extra £10,900 over the decade if the city had matched the leading locations.
In contrast, residents of Wigan, where real-terms disposable incomes fell by 1.6% since 2013, could have had an additional £7,200.
Andrew Carter, chief executive of Centre for Cities, emphasized the importance of stronger economic growth in boosting household incomes, highlighting that without growth, measures to address the cost of living are only temporary.
Carter pointed out that the past decade has delivered living standards growth equivalent to what was typically experienced in a single year before 2008. He highlighted that in areas like Warrington and Barnsley, economic growth has led to higher household incomes and reduced deprivation due to policy decisions regarding skills, transportation, housing, and business support.
He stressed the significance of government planning reforms, devolution strategies, and the Industrial Strategy in fostering growth in cities and enhancing living standards continuously.
Carter advocated for cities to create more jobs in sectors aligned with the Industrial Strategy, such as life sciences, digital technology, and artificial intelligence, as these sectors not only benefit urban areas but also contribute to the broader economy.
Looking ahead, Carter echoed the Prime Minister’s call for politics to provide assistance in 2026, emphasizing that success will be measured by the presence of more jobs, higher wages, and robust local growth across the nation.
