The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy's (CIPFA) annual council tax survey, alongside the Government's data, consistently provides a useful window into how the local government finance system is operating.
For 2026-27, the average Band D council tax across England and Wales will rise by 4.9% to £2,348, again outpacing inflation. Every region is now issuing Band D bills in excess of £2,000, underlining how central this tax has become to local public finances.
