TOUGHER economic conditions in post-Brexit UK have left the North-East languishing bottom of the country’s prosperity map.

The shining beacon for the region, however, was Newcastle, which saw the largest increase in average earnings in the country, 6.3-per cent, during the last 12 months.

But, it was something of an oasis in the North-East, as it failed to translate to the wider region, where average earnings fell by 0.3pc.

One of the authors of the Barclays’ 2017 UK Prosperity Map said it highlighted a concern that cities like Newcastle are becoming “islands of growth”, while its surrounding region faces harsher economic conditions.

The map calculates regional scores based on factors including gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, house prices, charitable giving and working hours.

While some regions, including the South-East, the East Midlands and Eastern England, experienced an overall rise in prosperity, the survey said most regions failed to benefit from the same boost to growth seen in last year’s research.

The report noted the slowdown came against a backdrop of, “fluctuating economic conditions”, as well as the ongoing Brexit negotiations.

Areas, including the North-East, as well as London, Wales, the North-West, South-West and Scotland, have all seen a drop in their overall affluence.

Dena Brumpton, chief executive of Barclays’ Wealth & Investments, said: “The last 12 months have seen fluctuations in the UK economy, and this is reflected in the mixed picture of prosperity growth across the country.”

But she said the fact that the UK’s largest cities appear to be “hoarding” more wealth than their wider regions, highlighted the discrepancies in GDP per capita and earnings.

“Newcastle, for example, saw the largest increase in average earnings across the country, at 6.3pc, but that failed to translate to greater prosperity for the wider North-East region, where average earnings fell 0.3pc.

“It’s raised concerns that cities like Newcastle are becoming islands of growth while the rest of the region faces harsher economic conditions.”