Band 8+: 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 chart illustrates how families in a specific country allocated their weekly income across various categories in 1968 and 2018.

In 1968, food accounted for the largest proportion of spending, whereas leisure became the dominant category by 2018. Over the 50-year period, significant increases were observed in spending on housing and transport, while the proportion spent on food experienced the most substantial decline.

In 1968, food made up 35% of total expenditure, making it the largest category. In contrast, other categories such as housing, leisure, and clothing each accounted for around 10% of spending, while fuel and power comprised only 6%.

By 2018, spending patterns had changed dramatically. The proportion of income spent on food dropped sharply to approximately 17%, nearly half of its 1968 level. Leisure, on the other hand, increased significantly, rising from 9% in 1968 to 23%, becoming the largest category. Housing also experienced substantial growth, nearly doubling from 10% in 1968 to around 19% in 2018. Transport saw a similar upward trend, increasing from 8% to 14%, while spending on clothing and fuel declined slightly.