Families in the South West are now spending more than £1,100 a month on childcare on average, according to new figures. The TUC has found that the average family in the region now spends £1,147 on childcare each month - which equates to £13,764 a year.
In comparison, back in 2012, families in the South West were spending an annual average of £11,785 on childcare (£982 a month) - meaning childcare costs have increased by 17 per cent in the space of nine years across the region.
The TUC found the South West is just below the England average (£1,185) when it comes to monthly childcare fees. However, outside of London and the South East, the South West now has some of the highest monthly childcare fees together with the East of England (£1,316 average) and the West Midlands (£1,157 average).
