The chart illustrates the spending patterns of individuals in the UK in 1998 based on gender and age groups.
Overall, adults allocated the majority of their income to food, while children spent the highest percentage on music. Electronics were also a significant expense for children. There were distinct differences in spending habits between genders and age groups.
In terms of adults, food comprised the largest proportion of expenditure at 25%, followed by 5% on electronic equipment, 5% on music, and a mere 1% on videos. Notably, men devoted a higher percentage to electronics compared to women, with 10% and 1% respectively. Meanwhile, women allocated a substantial 39% on food, significantly more than the 14% spent by men. The proportion spent on videos was also notably higher for men at 2% compared to just 0.5% for women.
Moving on to children’s spending habits, music was the primary category, with 39% of their income directed towards this area. Electronic equipment also accounted for a substantial portion at 23%, indicating a strong inclination towards technology. Boys and girls exhibited varying preferences, with boys spending 18% on electronic equipment compared to 5% for girls. Girls, on the other hand, allocated a larger share to music at 40% compared to 38% by boys. Interestingly, videos constituted a significant expense for boys at 18%, while girls spent 17% of their income on this category.