North East/South East Divide In Labour Market

The employment rate in Great Britain was highest in the South East at 76.4% and lowest in the North East at 69.5%. The unemployment rate was highest in the North East at 9.8% and lowest in the South East at 4.8%. The North East showed the greatest increase in the employment rate at 1.3% then East Midlands at 1.2%. All regions, with the exception of Wales, showed a general increase in employment rates. The only region to show an increase in the unemployment rate was the North East which increased by 0.3% to 9.8%, Yorkshire and Humberside are next with 8.2%.

The inactivity rate was highest in Wales at 24.8% and lowest in the South East and the East of England at 19.7%. The claimant count was highest in the North East at 5.4% and lowest in the South East at 1.8%.

House Prices Up 10.1% On Last Year

The House Price Index (HPI) from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) for April 2010 went up by 10.1% between April 2009 and April 2010 and 0.4% on March. The average house price was £207,516 in April 2010 and the all dwellings index was 174.4.

Annual average house prices in England went up 10.9%, in Scotland 2.2% and in Wales 11.3% but N.Ireland house prices fell by 8.9%. First time buyers paid 12.2% more than a year ago. Average prices for former owner/occupiers were 9.3% higher. New properties were 7.6% more than last year and pre-owned houses were up 10.3%.

House prices rose in all regions of the UK except Yorkshire and Humber where prices fell 0.5%. East Midlands saw the biggest increase with a rise in prices of 2.7%. Over the year to April all regions have seen an increase in house prices. The largest increases were in London where there were price rises of 16.8%.

The average price for a house in England in April was £214,863, in Scotland £162,392, in Wales £151,079 and in N.Ireland £163,201. The English region with the highest average house price was London. The North East was the lowest with £139,595. The regions with an average house price above the national average were the East of England, London, the South East and the South West.