The line chart shows the growth of the economy in a 15-year period from 1995 to 2010. The pie charts illustrate six different households spending at 5-year intervals from 1995 to 2010. Seen together, the figures suggest a link between economic growth and how householders spend money for certain purposes.
A closer look at the diagram highlights the fact that an increasing percentage of economic growth leads to the rise proportion of non-essentials needs and vice versa.
It can be seen that the growth of the economy stood at 1 percent in 1995. Over the next five years, it fluctuated until 2000, it reached nearly 3 percent, tripled than that in 1995. It then increased gradually and peaked at approximately 5 percent in 2005. Thereafter, it fell to the lowest point in 2008 and rose again and remained the same ratio compared to that in 1995 (about 1 percent).
In a 5-year period from 1995 to 2000 certain households expenditure, like food and housing, made up about two-third, while clothing, entertainment and travel accounted for a small percentage in total (nearly 15 percent). In 2005, when economic growth reached the highest peak, non-essentials needs increased its proportion in total (about 25 percent). Then it decreased, stood at approximately 10 percent). In contrast, housing and food still remained their majority in households expenditure in 15-year period.