If you're a youngster, have you ever wondered if you are getting the same pocket money as your mates - if you're a parent, are you giving your kids a good deal?

A new survey by the Halifax Building Society provides some of the answers. In fact, children are getting more pocket money than ever before - with most kids receiving around £1.88 a week.

For parents, it's a chance to tell their kids they've never had it so good.

Youngsters are getting about 12 pence more pocket money this year compared with last, according to the research. In fact, pocket money has increased by 56% compared to 10 years ago when kids got about £1.20 a week.

Girls given more

It's a rise that has exceeded the growth in national retail prices - these have only increased by 41%.

Parents are the main providers of pocket money (85%) though just under one third of children questioned said they got money from their grandparents.

But one thing is clear. Girls are doing better than boys - they get around £1.90 compared with £1.84 a week.

Spending habits are also changing. Money lavished on music and CDs has almost doubled over the last two years - though the three most popular purchases are sweets, toys and comics.

Click here to see children's most popular purchases

Boys spend most of their money on games while girls are more likely to buy books. Girls are also more generous when it comes to buying gifts.

And of course, what you get depends not only on the generosity of your parents, but also where you live.

A regional breakdown reveals London's youngsters are pulling in the highest amount - an average of £2.19. The poorest paid are those elsewhere in the South East who receive a mere £1.59.

Surprisingly, youngsters are still keen to save. In fact, 66% of them put most of their money away - 22% save all of their income (compared to 28% in 1998) while only 12% spend all of it (compared to 13% in 1998).

(click here to return)