The bar charts compare the proportions of income allocated to food and other goods in France, Germany and England in 1998 and 2008.
Overall, spending increased in all three countries over the ten-year period, with the most dramatic rises observed in France and England, particularly in expenditure on other goods. Germany showed more moderate growth in both categories. In addition, food consistently accounted for a higher share of income than other goods in Germany, whereas the gap narrowed or reversed in the other two countries by 2008.
In terms of food expenditure, France experienced the most significant increase, rising sharply from about 15% in 1998 to roughly 40% in 2008. Germany’s figure grew more modestly, from approximately 25% to 30%. England also recorded an increase, though it remained the lowest spender on food, climbing from around 10% to about 15%.
A similar but more pronounced pattern can be seen for other goods. France’s spending surged from under 10% in 1998 to about 40% in 2008, representing the largest growth overall. England also showed a substantial rise, from roughly 7% to around 35%. By contrast, Germany’s expenditure on other goods increased only slightly, from about 17% to approximately 24%, indicating relatively stable consumption compared to the other two nations.