Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 3.1
Expenditure of households by gross income group, 2009
Commodity or
service
One-adult
household with
one child
Two-adult
households with
two children
*HRP aged
65 -74
*HRP aged
under 30
Food and non-
alcoholic drinks
£36.70
£76.50
£50.10
£58.70
Clothing and
footwear
£15.40
£32.70
£72.60
£28.00
Tr anspor t
£29.10
£76.70
£43.20
£72.70
Recreation and
culture
£32.50
£98.10
£55.70
£68.90
Restaurants and
hotels
£19.60
£54.50
£25.90
£49.70
* HRP - Household Reference Person (the person within the household who is chosen to
characterise the household's social position)
Source
: Of ice for National Statistics (2010a)
with increased disposable income spent more on culture, experiences and
out-of-home expenditure during that period.
Table 3.1 shows the average weekly household expenditure across all UK
households in 2009 on five key commodities and services. The inclusion of
the five commodities and services listed is designed to show a comparison
between expenditure on what may be classified as essential items, namely
food and clothing, and those services which may be classed as non-essential
or luxury items. It is recognised, however, that a significant component of
transport expenditure is likely to be on accessing the workplace. Although
expenditure differed across income groups, in some cases quite significantly,
as is evident from a more detailed statistical comparison, what is clear is
that many households, regardless of their make-up (for example one or
more children or different ages of household reference person), allocated a
significant proportion of their weekly expenditure to tourism and leisure
products and services. In most cases, more money was allocated to the
pursuit of recreational and cultural activities than to the basic essentials of
food, clothing and footwear.
