The table demonstrates the proportion of spending distributed to 11 different categories per capita in Australia in 1986 and 2009.
Overall, housing recorded the highest expenditure in both two years. Meanwhile, communication received the lowest spending in 1986 and clothing hold the last position in 2009
In 1986, housing topped the list, at 22% of expenditure. This was followed by food and transport’ s spending, with 18% and 14% respectively. Ranking fourth is the proportion of the spending for recreation & entertainment and other goods and services, which shared the same figure at 8%. Other remaining categories recorded the percentages from 7% to 3%, which electricity & water cost the most and communication cost the least. It is also notable that healthcare and insurance & financial services showed the identical/ comparable proportion at 5%
In 2009, the top three expenditures were still sustained, while the greatest was housing with 26%, food and transport’ s spending respectively ranked second and third (at 15% and 13%). Following the list were electricity & water and recreation & entertainment, costing equally 10% of spending. Turning to the remaining categories, other goods and services received the costs, at 9%, while clothing needed the smallest fee, which was 5% less than the aforementioned category.