Fri, 29 Jun 07
The average council tax bill in
The 91% increase is significantly higher than the following over the same period:
- a 31% rise in the headline rate of the Retail Price Index.
- a 44% increase in the price of services.
- a 51% growth in average earnings.
The average council tax per dwelling1 in
More than one in two areas have seen at least a doubling in council tax bills in the last ten years, with Monmouth experiencing the biggest percentage increase since 1997-98 (184%) followed by Powys (150%) and Westminster (149%).
Despite recording one of the biggest increases over the past decade,
South East hit hardest
Regionally, the average council tax bill per dwelling is highest in the South East (£1,255) and the East of England (£1,184). Council tax per dwelling is lowest in
Average area council tax charges have more than doubled since 1997 in 215 billing authorities in Great Britain (53% of the total), with Richmond-upon-Thames recording the highest average council tax bill in the country at £1,665. This is a massive 106% higher than in 1997-98 (£807).
The average council tax bill in Wandsworth in 2007-08 is £641, the lowest in the country. This is 65% higher than in 1997-98 (£388). Ten years ago,
Prices cheaper in the North and Wales
Major cities outside the south of
Eleven of the 30 areas with the lowest average council tax bill per dwelling are in
Almost one in four 86 out of the 354 billing authorities in
Martin Ellis, Chief Economist, commented:
"Council tax bills have increased significantly faster than either average earnings or retail prices over the past ten years. Bills diverge across the country. Growth rates over the last decade differ by a wide margin between billing authorities too."
Source: Halifax
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