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Expenditure patterns of WA households

The March 2006 issue of Western Australian Statistical Indicators included a feature article on expenditure patterns of Western Australian households. Using results from the 2003-04 Household Expenditure Survey (HES), the analysis highlighted differences in spending by households with a range of social and demographic characteristics and presented comparisons between the expenditure patterns of Perth and regional Western Australian households.

State specific changes in consumer spending over time were also examined along with differences in expenditure patterns between Western Australia and Australia.

Some of the key insights drawn from the analysis included:

• In 2003-04, average weekly household expenditure was marginally lower in Western Australia ($878) than for Australia ($893);
• The broad expenditure groups contributing most to average weekly household expenditure in Western Australia at this time were Food and non-alcoholic beverages ($145), Transport ($142), Current housing costs ($134) and Recreation ($112);
• Average weekly household expenditure was 7% ($60) higher in Perth ($894) than the balance of the state ($834);
• Between 1998-99 and 2003-04 growth in spending per week was slightly higher in Western Australia (30%) than recorded nationally (28%);
• The fastest growing broad expenditure groups in Western Australia over this period were: Current housing costs (54%), Household furnishings and equipment (48%) and Medical care and health expenses (48%).