Household disposable income fell in every UK region during the first quarter of 2023, according to Asda’s latest Income Tracker.
Across the UK as a whole, households had an average £213 to spend per week during Q1, down from £236 during the same period in 2022.
Despite the current strong gross income growth, discretionary income continues to fall as prices are rising at a faster rate than net incomes.
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The Big 4 grocer found that households in the south east saw the biggest fall in disposable income in absolute terms, down by £41 per week from £227 in 2022 to £186.
Those living in Wales saw disposable incomes down by 11.6%, equivalent to a shortfall of £23 per week.
Northern Ireland recorded the largest year-on-year decline in percentage terms of any region with a drop of 21.2%, seeing families £27 per week worse off across the quarter, compared with the same time last year.
In a bid to help shoppers amid the cost-of-living crisis, Asda locked the price of over 500 branded and own-label lines and reintroduced its £5 ‘First Scan Bonus’ for first time users of its loyalty programme, Asda Rewards earlier this month.
