Figure 1 illustrates country’s economic growth from 1995 to 2010, while the second figure presents the percentage distribution of expenditure across five categories at four-year intervals during the same timeframe.
The two figures suggest a positive correlation between the economic growth and the amount of money spent by customers. The economic prosperity reached a peak in 2005 with almost 5% more than the other years in given period, whereas the rate of spending on housing, clothing, entertainment, and travel also experienced the greatest proportion.
Economic downturn started in 2005, reaching its lowest point of -5%, before rising dramatically to the nearly the same figure in 1995. Although the economy has fluctuated over the past five years, housing expenses remain the highest, followed by food. Meanwhile, spending on other categories has nearly halved compared to the previous five years.
Overall, the improved economic conditions seem to encourage greater consumer spending.