The bar chart depicts expenditures for five huge categories in four countries: the USA, Canada, the UK and Japan in 2009.
Overall, generally all four countries had the highest percentage shares in first three categories ( food, housing and transportation), while those of health care and clothing were the lowest throughout the period.
Starting with the categories with the highest percentage shares of expenditure, the USA and Canada had relatively similar percentage shares (14% and 15% respectively). The UK had higher figure which stood at 20% and Japan’s percentage share accounted for by around 23%. Regarding the next category (housing), the USA was leader in this one as its percentage share was approximately 27% as opposed to that of the UK at 24%. Canada’s percentage made up around 22%, while the figure for Japan was approximately 23%. Canada had the highest percentage share of expenditure on transportation which accounted for by 20%, whereas the USA had a slightly lower percentage share ( around 17%). Then there was the UK with its figure standing at 15% and Japan with 10% percentage share.
In terms of remaining categories, the UK had the lowest percentage share of expenditure on health care (approximately 2%). Canada and Japan had relatively same figures making of 4%, while that of the USA was around 7%. Canada had the highest percentage share of expenditure on clothing ( around 6%) and the figure for the UK was slightly lower than 6%. The USA’s percentage share stood at 4% and that of Japan at between 4% and 5%.
