Band 9: The chart below gives information about how families in one country spent their weekly income in 1968 and in 2018. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

The bar graph illustrates the distribution of average weekly expenditures by families in a specific country for the years 1968 and 2018.

Overall, housing emerged as the predominant area of spending in both years, while notable shifts occurred in the other categories over the five-decade span.

In 1968, housing constituted approximately 23% of the average weekly budget, making it the primary expense. It was closely followed by expenditures on food and power, which accounted for about 22%. Additionally, families allocated 12% of their income towards clothing and footwear, 8% for household goods, and 6% on both personal goods and leisure activities.

By 2018, there was a stark increase in housing expenses to nearly 35%, solidifying its status as the largest financial obligation. Conversely, spending on food and power declined to 9%, while leisure expenditures saw a rise to around 10%. The other categories, including personal goods (8%), household goods (7%), and clothing and footwear (6%), remained relatively stable, with slight changes in their proportions.