Average weekly household expenditure on main commodities & services
UK households spent an average of £471 a week in 2008 compared to £459 in 2007.
Household spending is analysed according to an internationally agreed classification system: the Classification of Individual Consumption by Purpose (COICOP). Using this classification in 2008, household spending was highest in the transport category at £63 a week. This included £21.10 per week on purchase of vehicles, £31.80 on the operation of personal transport (such as petrol, diesel, repairs and servicing) and £10.50 on transport services such as rail, tube and bus fares.
The second highest category of spending was recreation and culture at £60 a week. This includes TVs, computers, newspapers, books, leisure activities and package holidays. On average, £13.60 a week was spent on package holidays abroad, compared to £1.10 a week on package holidays in the UK. Housing (excluding mortgage costs), fuel and power was the third highest category at £53 a week.
Food and non-alcoholic drink purchases contributed £51 to weekly household expenditure - £13.10 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 £2.10 per week was spent on chocolate and confectionery.
Average weekly household expenditure 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 £582 a week. Those where the reference person was aged 75 or over had the lowest average household expenditure at £217 a week.
Source: Living Costs and Food Survey, Office for National Statistics
Notes: The 'other expenditure items' category is not included here but is shown in ‘Family Spending’ (for example, Table A1). It includes mortgage interest payments, council tax, licences, fines and transfers, and holiday spending.
A ‘household reference person’ (HRP) is the person who own or rents or is otherwise responsible for the accommodation. In the case of joint householders, the person with the highest income takes precedence and becomes the HRP. Where incomes are equal, the older is taken as the HRP.
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Data: Family Spending