The availability of some consumer goods, such as televisions, has always been high, and is now almost universal. Others started at relatively high levels in 1972, and quickly became even more widespread; for example, 73% of households had a refrigerator in 1972, a proportion which had risen to 92% by the end of the 1970s. Other household amenities and items were available to only a minority of households when the GHS first asked about them, but are now widespread. For example, whereas only 37% of households had central heating and 42% a telephone in 1972, the proportions had risen to 92% and 98% respectively by 2000. The proportion of households with access to more recently introduced items, such as microwave ovens, tumble driers and dishwashers is still growing.

Household access to some entertainment items has been particularly rapid. In 1983, 18% of households had a video recorder, a proportion which had risen to 88% in 2000. The availability of CD players rose five-fold from 15% of households in 1989 to 77% in 2000. More recently, between 1998 and 2000 there were sharp increases in the availability of home computers, from 34% to 45%, and satellite, cable and digital television receivers, from 29% to 40%. Internet access at home was measured for the first time in the GHS in 2000 – a third of all households had such access.

See Chapter 4