Household spending on clothing at record low

UK households spent less on average per week on clothing and footwear in 2008 than at any time since 2001-02, new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal.

Family Spending, the annual report from ONS on household expenditure in the UK, found that spending on clothing and footwear has fallen to a record low - down to an average of £21.60 per week. This category of expenditure reached an all-time high of £23.90 in 2004/05, and has been falling ever since.

However, most categories of expenditure rose in 2008, with food and non-alcoholic drink going up to £50.70 per week on average compared to £48.10 in 2007. Expenditure on electricity, gas and other fuels has also risen to £18.90 from £17.20, Average UK household weekly expenditure in 2008 was £471.00, up from £459.20 in 2007.

Transport remains the largest single expenditure category for households in the UK, with average weekly spend going up from £61.70 in 2007 to £63.40 in 2008. However, expenditure on purchasing vehicles decreased - down from £22.80 per week in 2007 to £21.10 in 2008 - while weekly expenditure on operation of personal transport went up, from £28.80 to £31.80. This increase is mainly due to a rise in spending on petrol, diesel and other motor oils from £18.30 to £21.00.

There is a difference between household expenditure in urban and rural areas, with country-dwellers tending to have higher weekly expenditure. In 2008, the average spend in rural areas was £505.40, compared to £446.70 in towns and cities. The main areas where this difference can be seen are in spending on transport, recreation and culture.

In 2008, 33 per cent of households in the lowest income decile owned a home computer, and 26 per had an internet connection. In the top income decile group, 98 per cent of households owned a computer, and 96 per cent had an internet connection.