The average inheritance received by Britons has more than doubled in six years on the back of the housing boom, according to research. The size of a typical inheritance has soared from £20,000 in 1998 to £44,000 in 2004, according to a report by the International Longevity Centre, a think-tank. Financial Times (Monday)
The increase has been driven by rising property prices, with the housing wealth accumulated by the average 75 year old more than tripling in 10 years, rising from £46,000 in 1995 to £148,000 in 2005.