Financial Assets Drive Rise In Household Wealth

Financial assets such as pensions and shares are driving a rise in household wealth, research by Lloyds Bank has suggested.

Based on data from the Office for National Statistics, the study found that total household wealth increased by £1.5 trillion during 2014 to reach £9.1 trillion.

Household financial assets accounted for much of the growth, increasing in value by £996 billion.  House prices also contributed to the overall growth, rising by £452 billion in 2014.

Life assurance and pension funds experiences the biggest price rises increasing by £757 billion in 2014 and now make up 59% of households' total financial assets.

Markus Stadlmass, Chief Investment Officer at Lloyds Bank Private Banking, said: 

"Since 2004 substantial growth in the value of the housing stock and financial assets has boosted net household wealth by close to £4 trillion.  A booming housing market up to 2007 couples with the rising value of household' financial assets held and a growing number of older households are they key drivers."