The provided bar charts compares the proportion of income allocated on food and other products in France, Germany and the UK from 1998 to 2008.
Overall, spending increased significantly in the 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 in the other two countries by 2008.
In terms of food expenditure, France experienced the most substantial increase, surging from about 15% in 1998 to roughly 40% in 2008. Germany’s figure grew most 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 soared from under 10% in 1998 to 40% in 2008, representing the most noticeable growth overall. England also revealed a considerable growth, from roughly 8% to around 35%. By contrast, Germany’s expenditure on other products increased slightly, from about 18% to approximately 24%, indicating a relatively stable consumption compared to the other countries.