Kerry people have fourth lowest disposable income in country
THE latest figures on consumer spending power in Kerry will do little to bolster the confidence of the county's business community, especially those in the retail and hospitality sectors.
New figures published by the Central Statistics Office show that consumers in Kerry have the fourth lowest level of disposable income, that is income after tax and other social contributions, in the entire country.
With only residents of Offaly, Monaghan and Donegal worse off, Kerry consumers lag far behind the major cities and neighbouring counties when it comes to spending power.
According to the CSO figures the average person in Kerry has a typical annual disposable income of only €17,563.
This is 15 per cent lower than the national average and about 10 per cent below the disposable income levels of people living in Limerick and Cork Counties.
In terms of disposable income Kerry lags far behind Dublin. Residents in the capital typically have a disposable income of €22,298 per annum, close to €5,000 more than their counterparts in the Kingdom.
In Limerick average disposable income stands at €19,972 while in Cork it is currently €19,703 a year.
According to the figures, the combined disposable income of every household in Kerry was €2.7 billion. In the same period Kerry people took in just under €3.2 billion in taxable income.
In the same period Kerry people paid out €511 million in taxes.
