Band 6+: The table below shows the monthly expenditure of an average Australian family in 1991 and 2001. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.

The table illustrates the typical monthly expenses for the families in Australia in two separate years.

Overall, most of the spending on items for Australian families increased each month, except for clothes and transportation, which experienced a noticeable drop. Unspecified goods and services were by far the category with the highest expenditure for both years.

Although most categories’ expenditures increased, spending on electricity, water, other items and services nearly tripled to $120 and $270, respectively. Both saw the highest increase per month for Australian family. As for food, it only increased by $5 ( from $155 to $160), while housing’s expenses witnessed the same amount of increasing by $5, reaching to $100 in 2001.

In terms of decline, the average amount spent by Australian households was $45 monthly in 2001, after previously spending $70 on modes of transportation in 1991. Clothing expenses were the least impressive. Although they were the lowest at $30, they decreased further to $20 in 2001. With spending more money on the early 2000s, the total also rose and exceeded the previous year’s amount with $715.