Housing costs double
The proportion of UK household's budget spent on housing costs such as mortgage and rent payments has more than doubled in the last 50 years - from 9% in 1957 to 19% say the Office of National Statistics (ONS).The average family spends £456 per week, with £143 being spent on housing and related costs, such as
improvements.
The figures come from ONS's latest family expenditure survey which surveyed almost 7,000 households in 2006.
The highest average weekly spend of £700 was among households with three or more adults and children; whilst at the other end of the spectrum, single retired households spend only £138 per week.
The next highest weekly cost is transport, accounting for £62 per week which has risen from 8% to 16% since 1957. Recreation and culture costing on average £58 per week rising to 19% from 9%.
Other changes in family expenditure are: spend on food and non-alcoholic drinks has falled from 33% to just 15%, spending on average £47 per week. Another falling cost is clothing and footwear down to 5% from 10%.
Tags:
finance, spend, budgets