Wales had the lowest disposable household income of the 海角视频 nations before the pandemic struck - falling further behind the 海角视频 average.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show gross disposable household income (GDHI) per head for 2019 in Wales was (on average) 拢17,263.

This compares to 拢21,978 in England, 拢19,649 in Scotland, and 拢17,331 in Northern Ireland.

It stands at 80.5% of the 海角视频 figure, down 1.2 percentage points relative to the 海角视频 from 2018. The only region it is above is the North East of England (拢17,096).

GDHI is the amount of money that households have available for spending or saving after taxes, pension and mortgage/rent payments.

Within Wales, Monmouthshire had the highest GDHI per head at 拢21,392 followed by the Vale of Glamorgan 拢19,987, while Flintshire (拢18,722) led the way in North Wales. The lowest was Blaenau Gwent at 拢14,630.

A full list is at the bottom of the story.

Welsh Conservative and Shadow Economy Minister Paul Davies MS said: 鈥淎fter 18 months of lockdowns and restrictions in face of a pandemic, we have all learnt that life is for living, so ensuring people have disposable income so they and their families can enjoy themselves is more important than ever.

Paul Davies

鈥淪o for us as a nation to be bottom of the league table once again when it comes to disposable income just shows that Labour is not paying off for the people of Wales.

鈥淎fter running Welsh public services and economic development for a quarter of a century, Labour must do better than blame legacy issues, and accept that they are better placed than anyone to foster an entrepreneurial environment in Wales as we strive to recover from the pandemic.

鈥淪adly, all we get from the Economy Minister is carping on about Brexit or Westminster 鈥 devolution is supposed to mean being in charge of our own destiny, yet Labour, as usual, prefer to blame someone else rather than examine its own failures and learn from them.

鈥淲e need a wealth-creation strategy: moving to address the brain drain this week is welcome, but it might be too little, too late. We need more direct investment, to nurture start-ups, and improve management of public services in order to make Wales a more attractive place to live.鈥

In 2019, the growth in gross disposable household income (GDHI) per head in the 海角视频 was 2.5% when compared with 2018; Scotland and Northern Ireland exceeded this with 2.8% and 2.6% respectively, while England's growth was the same as the 海角视频 and Wales grew by 1.1%.

In response, a Welsh Government spokesperson said: 鈥淭he Welsh Government is taking bold action to help create more and better-paid jobs by building a stronger, fairer, greener and more prosperous economy.

鈥淲e鈥檙e supporting businesses to create new jobs, find new export markets and investing in the sustainable green industries of tomorrow.

"This will help us build an economy based on sustainable jobs that will take us forward into the next century. We are creating an economy where more people feel confident about planning their future in Wales.

鈥淭ackling poverty is a priority for us.

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"We鈥檙e committed to maximising household incomes through policies such as free prescriptions, our childcare offer and other initiatives that puts more money back into people鈥檚 pockets.

"However, as the ending of the 拢20 a week Universal Credit payment demonstrates, the 海角视频 Government鈥檚 public spending decisions on income tax and universal credit continue to have a detrimental impact on some of the most vulnerable in our communities, taking money out of people鈥檚 pockets when they most need it.鈥

Welsh Government said that between 2016 and 2019, growth in GDHI per head in Wales was close to the 海角视频 figure and if London and the South East of England are excluded, Wales only marginally trailed in terms of GDHI per head growth between 2016-2019.

County/2018/2019

Isle of Anglesey 17,392 17,529
Gwynedd 15,741 15,941
Conwy 17,904 18,189
Denbighshire 17,628 17,901
Ceredigion 16,612 17,065
Pembrokeshire 17,178 17,207
Carmarthenshire 16,728 16,928
Rhondda Cynon Taf 15,728 15,945
Merthyr Tydfil 15,366 15,592
Caerphilly 15,841 15,992
Blaenau Gwent 14,179 14,630
Torfaen 16,047 16,505
Neath Port Talbot 16,350 16,442
Bridgend 16,749 17,047
Swansea 15,997 16,262
Monmouthshire 21,378 21,392
Newport 17,417 17,977
Vale of Glamorgan 19,960 19,987
Cardiff 17,438 17,431
Flintshire 18,712 18,722
Wrexham 17,674 17,785
Powys 18,239 18,287