Poor relations! Offaly people have less disposable income than most other areas of country

OFFALY people have less yearly disposable income than most other areas of the country according to latest report from the CSO (Central Statistics Office).

The figures are from the County Incomes and Regional GDP 2020 published by the CSO today February 16.

In 2020, Offaly had the third lowest level of disposable income at €18,757 which was was just below Laois at €18,842.

Overall the Midlands region was 18.7% below the state average per person and accounted for €5.8 billion in overall income.

The county with the second lowest disposable income per person was Longford at €18,754.

Donegal recorded the lowest disposable income per person in the state in 2020 at €18,322, which is 22% below the state average.

The paler pink colour indicates the counties in the state with the lowest disposable income

''The Border and Midlands counties consistently remain significantly below the state average for household disposable income and are largely dependent on the Public Administration sector to generate wealth and employment in their respective regions,'' the report stated.

Overall, manufacturing was the most valuable industry in all regions in 2020, except for the Border and Midland areas where the public sector remained the strongest contributor to GDP.”

The figures come on the same day as the CSO has released the consumer price index for January 2023 which shows consumer prices rose by 7.8% over the 12 months to January this year.

The largest increases were in housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, (+26.4%) and food and non alcoholic beverages (+12.8%).

The largest decreases were in Education (-7.2%) and miscellaneous goods and services (-0.7%)

Some examples in the rise in food include increases in a 2L carton of full fat milk up 53 cent to €2.26. Irish cheddar cheese up €1.46 a kg to €10.47 and butter up 73 cent to €3.38 for 1lb/454g.