Report shows dip in food spending
Updated on 28 January 2008
UK households are spending more of their budget on mortgages or rent and less on food than they did 50 years ago, official figures out show.
Housing costs such as mortgage interest payments or rent now make up 19% of spending - up from 9% five decades ago.
Spending on food and non-alcoholic drinks has dropped to 15% of the average household's weekly budget compared to one third in 1957, Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show.
Fuel and power have halved from 6% of spending in 1957 to 3% in the year 2006/07.
Clothing and footwear expenditure has also halved from 10% to 5% of the average weekly budget, the ONS Family Expenditure Survey says.
Motoring and travel costs are up from 8% of spending in 1957 to 16%.
Alcoholic drinks account for the same proportion of spending as they did 50 years ago, at 3%.
Spending on tobacco has dropped from 6% in 1957 to just 1% last year.
The ONS comparisons of family spending mark the 50th anniversary of its Expenditure and Food Survey.
Its most recent figures for the year 2006/07 show spending and income based on around 7,000 interviews with UK households.
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