The table compares the ownership of household and electronic goods in New Zealand in 2002 and 2020.
Overall, with the exception of video recorders, all the listed goods experienced a significant increase in popularity over the period. Cell phones saw the most dramatic growth, while color TVs and washing machines remained the most widely owned items in both years.
In 2002, washing machines were the most commonly owned household item, with 97% of households owning one, closely followed by color TVs at 95%. Video recorders were also relatively popular, with 75% ownership, which was higher than both dishwashers (50%) and computers (45%). Meanwhile, cell phones were only present in 20% of households, and digital cameras were the least popular, with a mere 2% ownership.
By 2020, the percentage of households owning color TVs peaked at 99%, surpassing washing machines, which slightly increased to 98%. However, video recorders saw a sharp decline, dropping from 75% to 60%. In contrast, computers and dishwashers experienced significant growth, rising to 73% and 60%, respectively, by 2020. Cell phones and digital cameras saw the most notable increases, with ownership rates multiplying several times over, reaching 60% and 40% respectively.
In summary, while color TVs and washing machines remained the most popular items throughout the period, the most remarkable growth was seen in cell phones and digital cameras, reflecting the increasing demand for modern electronic devices.