The charts compare the proportion of total spending on six cetegories of goods and
services in European country in 1958 and 2008.
Overall, food accounted for the highest share of expenditure in 1958, whereas by 2008 this position was taken by housing. Over the fifty-year period, spending shifted away from basic needs such as food and clothing and moved towards housing, entertainment and luxury items.
In 1958, food accounted for the highest proportion of spending at 32%. Housing made up 22%, followed by transport at 8%. Cloting represented 18%, and entertainment stood at 13% . Luxury goods were the least significant category, comprising only 7% of total expenditure.
By 2008, this pattern had changed considerably. Housing increased to 32%, becoming the largest area of spending, while food dropped sharply to just 12%. Transport rose slightly to 17% and entertainment declined to 6%. Luxury goods experienced a substainable rise from 7% to 17%, overtaking clothing which fell slightly to 2%.
