Band 8+: The chart below shows the percentage of UK households with selected consumer durables between 1998 and 2005. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.

The bar chart illustrates the percentage of households in the UK that owned six different consumer durables in 1998 and 2005.

Overall, it is clear that ownership of all items increased over the period. Traditional appliances such as telephones and washing machines were already common in 1998, while newer technologies like mobile phones and internet connections showed the most significant growth by 2005.

In 1998, telephones were owned by the highest proportion of households, at around 90%. This figure rose slightly to about 95% in 2005. Microwave ownership also increased, from approximately 70% to 80% during the same period. Similarly, the percentage of homes with a fridge and a washing machine grew moderately, reaching around 75% for both items in 2005.

In contrast, mobile phones and internet connections were much less common in 1998. Only about 20% of households had a mobile phone, and fewer than 10% had internet access. However, by 2005, mobile phone ownership rose sharply to around 50%, while internet connections increased even more dramatically to approximately 60%.