Average weekly household spending in the UK rose to £554 in the financial year ending March 2017. According to the latest data from the
Office for National Statistics, the figure marks a rise of £21.20 in real terms when compared with the previous year. This is a return to levels last seen before the economic downturn, after taking account of inflation.
Transport was the highest category of expenditure. At £80 a week this represents 14% of all household spending, more than on food or rent. Average weekly spending varied considerably across the country, with over £200 difference between the highest and lowest spending areas of the UK.
Main points
· The average household spend in London and the South East was over £600. In the North East it was approximately £200 less at £437.
· Households spent an average of £79.70 a week on transport, an increase of £5.40 in real terms when compared with the previous year; this makes transport the top spending category.
· Households in the 65-to-74-year-old age group spent nearly a fifth of their total spending on recreation and culture.
· Households without children spent a higher proportion of their total spending on transport than households with children.
A total of 375,000 households have taken part in the Living Costs and Food Survey or its predecessors since 1957.
Statistics
Explore this nifty
interactive map for a customised view of household spend: click
here and scroll down to Figure 4.
Expenditure on rent by renters
Expenditure on rent and mortgages
Expenditure on rent and mortgages by region
