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Stats SA shows local household expenditure to be R1.25-trillion

CHANGE ON THE WAY: Stats SA price and employment statistics executive manager Patrick Kelly PHOTO: Russell Roberts
CHANGE ON THE WAY: Stats SA price and employment statistics executive manager Patrick Kelly PHOTO: Russell Roberts

Most spending goes on housing, transport and food

RESULTS from Statistics SA show that households spent a cool R1.25-trillion between September 2010 and August last year.

"The average South African household spent approximately R95,183 during the survey with the main components of that expenditure coming from housing, transport, food and miscellaneous goods and services," according to the Income and Expenditure Survey 2010-11 that was released yesterday.

The survey indicated the average household consumption expenditure in South Africa increased from R56,152 in 2005-06 to approximately R95,183 in 2010-11.

The information presented in this report was collected from 25,328 households across the country over a period of one year.

The figures showed R400-billion (32%) - the largest part of households' expenditure - went to electricity, water, gas and other fuels.

Transport was the second largest expenditure item, as households spent a whopping R214-billion (17%) of their income on it.

At number three was miscellaneous goods and services, which resulted in consumers spending R184-billion (12%) of their income going to the item.

"The average South African household spent approximately R16,319 on transport and R12,200 on food and non-alcoholic drinks in the survey year," the report read.

The report revealed that expenditure in white households was nearly five times higher than in black African households.

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