Research

Family Spending

UK households spent an average of £459 a week in 2007 compared to £449 in 2006.

Household spending is analysed according to aninternationally-agreed classification system, the Classification of Individual COnsumption by Purpose or COICOP. Using this classification, household spending was highest in the transport category, at £62 a week in 2007. This included £22.80 on the purchase of vehicles, £28.80 on operating personal transport (such as petrol, diesel, repairs and servicing) and £10.10 on transport services such as rail, tube and bus fares.

The second highest category of spending was recreation and culture, at £57 a week. This includes TVs, computers, newspapers, books, leisure activities and package holidays. On average, £12.50 a week was spent on package holidays abroad, compared to £0.90 a week on package holidays in the UK. Housing (excluding mortgage costs), fuel and power was the third highest category at £52 a week.

Food and non-alcoholic drink purchases contributed £48 to weekly household expenditure - £12.80 of which was spent on meat and fish, £3.70 on fresh vegetables, and £3.00 on fresh fruit.Non-alcoholic drinks accounted for £4.00 of weekly expenditure, and £2.00 per week was spent on chocolate and confectionery.

Average weekly household expenditure was highest among households consisting of two adults and two children, at £690 a week. The lowest expenditure at £165 a week was reported by one person retired households who were mainly dependent on the state pension.

Expenditure also varied according to the age of the household reference person. Those households where the reference person was aged 30 to 49 spent the most on average at £562 a week. Those where the reference person was aged 75 or over had the lowest average household expenditure, at £219 a week.

Source: Expenditure and Food Survey, Office for National Statistics