The given charts represent the proportion of a typical family’s food budget spent on dining meals; however, the line graph compares the figures for two different types of meals throughout the four-decade period.
Overall, it is evident that the share spent on restaurant meals grew over the years, while the popularity of home-cooked food declined, respectively. Additionally, the graph shows that the number of fast food meals increased sharply throughout the time frame.
The expenditures on dining meals rose slightly within a decade (from 10% to 15%); however, from 1980 to 1990, the proportion grew by 20% (to 35%). In the noughties, the ratio stood at half (50%). Meanwhile, the percentage of home-cooked food was recognised as nine-tenths; though in 2000, it decreased to one-half.
In contrast, the quantity of fast food meals increased steadily from 1970 to 1980, whereas it began to grow sharply over a three-decade period and stood at approximately 85%. Conversely, the number of sit-down cafe meals had minor growth throughout the whole time. The figure rose from a little less than 25% to nearly 50% over the entire period. In 2000, the difference between the two meal categories was significant (around 35%).