UK households spent an average of 434 a week in 2004-05, according to the 'Family Spending' report from the UK Government's Office for National Statistics (ONS) . This compares to an average of 418 a week the previous year. The ONS has also provided us with details of regional spending trends for the UK market.
Transport was the highest category of spending, with an average spend of 60 a week. This included 25.10 on buying vehicles, 26.40 on the operation of personal transport (for example petrol, diesel, repairs and servicing) and 8.10 on transport services such as rail, tube and bus fares.
The second highest category was spending on recreation and culture, at 59 a week. This includes televisions, computers, newspapers, books, leisure activities and package holidays. On average, 12.10 a week was spent on package holidays abroad, compared to 0.90 a week on package holidays in the UK.
The food budget
Food and non-alcoholic drink purchases contributed 45 to weekly household expenditure - 10.20 of which went on meat, 3.20 on fresh vegetables and 2.60 on fresh fruit. Non-alcoholic drinks accounted for 3.80 and 2 was spent on chocolate and confectionery each week.
Average weekly household expenditure was highest at 686 among households with three or more adults and children and lowest at 133 among one person retired households who were mainly dependent on the state pension. Households with two adults and two children spent an average of 624 a week.
Age groups
Expenditure also varies with the age of the household reference person. Those households where the reference person was aged 30 to 49 spent the most, on average, at 537 a week. Those where the reference person was aged 75 and over had the lowest average household expenditure, 193 a week.
Averaged over the three years from 2002-03 to 2004-05, households in the UK spent 420 a week. Expenditure varied from 484 a week in London, 15% more than the UK average to 346 a week in the North East. London, the South East and the East of England were the only regions in which the average expenditure was higher than the UK average. Spending in the North East was 18% lower than the UK average.
Vehicle ownership
Three quarters of all households (75%), owned a car or van and 33% owned two or more. Almost one-quarter (24%) of those in the lowest income group owned at least one car or van, compared with 95% of households in the highest income group.
Internet access
Households in the highest income groups were also much more likely to have a home computer, an internet connection and a mobile phone, than those in lower income groups. However, 58% of UK households owned a home computer and 49% had an internet connection. In the highest income group 93% of households owned a home computer and 89% of households had an internet connection, compared with just 25% and 18% respectively of households in the lowest income group.
Ownership of mobile phones followed the same pattern: 78% of UK households owned a mobile phone. Almost half (45%) of households in the lowest income group reported owning a mobile phone, compared with 94% in the highest income group.
Regional trends
Households in London spent the most at 484 a week, while households in the North East spent the least at 346 a week. The results, which are averaged over the three years 2002-03 to 2004-05 to provide the best estimates, show that London households spent 15% more and North East households spent 18% less, than the United Kingdom average of 420 a week over the same period.
In terms of transport spending, households in the South East spent 71 a week, followed by households in the East who spent 68. This is 19% and 13% more than the UK average respectively. Households in the North East spent the least on transport, 47 per week, 22% less than the UK average. Households spend an average of 27 a week on the purchase of vehicles, 25 a week on operating personal transport (e.g. petrol, diesel, repairs and servicing) and 8 on transport services such as rail, tube and bus fares. Households in the South East spent the most on purchasing vehicles, 33 a week, and on using vehicles, 29. Households in the North East spent the least on these items a week, 21 on purchasing vehicles and 20 on using them. Households in London spent over twice the national average on transport services, 16 a week and households in Wales spent the least, 5 a week, 42% less than the national average.
Regional domestic differences
Spending on recreation and culture contributed 58 to weekly household expenditure. Households in the South East and East spent the most on recreation and culture, 62 a week and households in Northern Ireland spent the least, 46 a week.
Meanwhile, households spend an average of 2.80 a week on horticultural goods, garden equipment and plants. But those in the South East spent 3.70 a week, 35% more than the UK average and those in the South West spent 3.40 a week, 22% more. Households in the North East spent the least on these items 1.80 a week, 35% less than the national average.
Subscription popularity
UK households spent on average, 5.10 a week on sports admissions, subscriptions, leisure class fees and equipment hire. Households in London spent 7.20, 41% more than the UK average and households in the East and South East each spent 5.90, 16% more. Households in Wales spent the least, 3.10, 39% less than the national average.
Food and drink spending by region
The third highest category of spending was on food and non-alcoholic drink, at 44 a week. On average, UK households spent 10 a week on meat, 2.50 on fresh fruit and 3.10 on fresh vegetables. Households in Northern Ireland spent 11.60 on meat, 16% more than the UK average. This is compared to households in Yorkshire and the Humber who spent 9.20, 7% less than the UK average. Households in London spent the most on fresh fruit, 3.00, and fresh vegetables, 3.90, which is 20% and 25% more than the UK average. Households in the North East spent 1.90, 25% less than the UK average on fresh fruit and 2.30, 26% less than the average on fresh vegetables.
Going out?
Spending on restaurants and hotels, accounted for an average of 35 a week amongst UK households. Households in London spent 44 a week, 25% more than the average UK household and households in Wales spent the least, 30 a week, 16% less. Households in London spent the most on restaurant and cafe meals, spending 16 a week, 35% more than the UK average of 12 and households in the North East spent 9 a week, 24% less than the UK average. Households in Northern Ireland spent 6 a week, 59% more than the UK average 4 a week on takeaway meals. Households in the South West spent the least, 3 a week, 24% less than the UK average.
Cars and insurance
On average, UK households spend 15 a week on insurance, including 5 on household insurances and 8 on vehicle insurance. Households in London spend 6 a week, 25% more than the UK average on household insurance and households in Northern Ireland spend 11 a week, 27% more than the UK average for vehicle insurance. In contrast, households in the North East spent 4 a week, 17% less than the average UK household on house insurance and 6 a week, 23% less on vehicle insurance. Car or van ownership was highest among households in the East and South West (82%) and the South East (81%). Ownership was lowest among households in the North East, 61%, and in London, 65%.
Internet access
The highest rate of mobile phone ownership was reported in the East Midlands, 80%, the South East, 79%, and the West Midlands, 78%. Households in Northern Ireland reported the lowest ownership at only 54%. Not surprisingly, households in London reported the highest levels of ownership of home computers (64%) and internet connections (54%), compared to the UK averages of 58% and 49% respectively. Households in the South East also reported high computer ownership: 63% owned a home computer and 54% had an internet connection. Households in Northern Ireland reported the lowest ownership of home computers (46%) and use of an internet connection was also the lowest in the region at 38%.
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