Band 8+: The table below gives statistics about the size of US households over a number of years. Study the information and answer the question. Write a short report for a university lecturer describing the information shown below. Write at least 150 words.

The table illustrates the percentage distribution of households in the United States between 1790 and 1990.

Overall, the smaller households of one to three people increased considerably during the period. In contrast, larger households with six and seven people saw a clear reduction in their proportions.

One-person households increased slightly from 3.7% in 1790 to 3.6% in 1890, before increasing dramatically to 24.6% by 1990. Similarly, two-person households increased steadily from 7.8% in 1790 to 13.2% in 1890, and then increased further to reach 32.2% in the final year. The proportion of three-person households also increased, rising from 11.7% to 16.7% and increasing marginally again to 17.2% by 1990.

Four-person households rose from 13.9% to 15.1% between 1790 and 1890, but then declined slightly to 15.6% by the end of the period. In contrast, five-person households declined sharply after 1890, falling from 15.1% to only 6.7% in 1990.

Larger households experienced the most significant reductions. Six-person households fell from 17.7% in 1790 to 10.2% in 1890, and then fell again to 4.5% in 1990. Likewise, seven-person households fell consistently throughout the period, from 17.1% to 9.7% and then to just 2.6% in 1990.