FAMILIES in Scotland are enjoying a boost to their spending power after fresh figures showed they were £12 a week better off in September, compared to a year ago.

The latest Asda Income Tracker found that Scots' discretionary income - the amount of money left over after bills and housing were taken into account - rose to £190 a week during in the third quarter of the year.

However, this was the slowest rise of any region of the UK, and behind the UK average of £192.

Spending power is on the rise thanks to a fall in the cost of food and drink, the price of petrol, and a drop in energy prices. Record low inflation, which went into reverse earlier this month for the second time this year, have also helped swell family budgets.

Households in Northern Ireland continued to make up for lost ground against the other regions, whilst the three most prosperous regions; London, the East and the South East, all moved further ahead of the country, with spending power rising by over £20 year-on-year.

But Scotland comes in at fourth on the league table of areas with the highest level of weekly discretionary income, £15 ahead of the South West of the UK in fifth place.

Chief Customer Officer Barry Williams , said: “Two years of solid growth on discretionary income shows real stability in the economic recovery.

"Across the UK the benefit is being felt, granted in some areas more than others, but double digit growth can only be good news for those holding the purse strings.

"It’s interesting that people continue to spend differently however, carrying their savvy shopping habits from the financial crisis with them and reprioritising their spending on treats and activities with their families, making the most out of their new found spare income.”

Sam Alderson, Economist at the Centre for economics and business research (Cebr), who compile the report, added: “The further falls in gas and fuel prices in September provided more good news to households in September.

"With inflationary pressure remaining muted, an interest rate rise looks likely to be the next challenge facing households. This is now expected to come in mid-2016, as a more turbulent global economy means rates could stay lower for longer.”