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 Karen Bowerman reports for BBC News"For the first time most of our money is being spent on leisure"  real 28k |
UK 'buying fun and technology'
 We spend more on holidays than ever before |
Britons now spend more on leisure activities than anything else, according to a study.
The survey by the Office for National Statistics says the average household spends �60 a week on leisure goods and services - for the first time, more than the average shopping bill.
| Average weekly household spending |
 | �60 Leisure goods and services |
| �59 Food and non-alcoholic drinks |
| �57 Housing |
| �52 Motoring |
| �22 Clothing |
| �14 Alcohol |
| �12 Fuel and power |
| �9 Tobacco |
| �8 Fares and travel |
This compares with 30 years ago when the average household spent 26% of their total income on food - �64 in today's prices.
Besides leisure - which covers areas such as electrical equipment, holidays, sports and cinema - the UK's other passion appears to be computing.
One in three households now have their own computer - and for the first time, researchers asked people whether they had access to the internet from home. One in 10 families said they did.
 One in three households own a computer |
However, when it comes to technology there is a sharp divide between low-income and high-income households.
Nearly a third of the nation's highest earners now have internet connection, for example, while less than 5% of poorer households have the chance to go on-line.
| Households with computers |
| 33% of all households |
| 10% of low income households |
| 70% of high income households |
In 1970, only 35% of households had a telephone at all.
| Households with internet connection |
| 10% of all households |
| 1-4% of low income households |
| 32% of high income households |
Spending on potatoes has risen by a dramatic 35%, which may be because of higher prices. But that on pasta has dropped by 15% and no-one as yet seems to know why.
Households in Northern Ireland spend less on food than anywhere else in the UK except for meat, where they spend 36% more than the national average.
 Pasta - down 15% but no-one knows why |
In comparison, spending on poultry has risen, with households in London spending more than twice as much on chicken and other birds, as they do on beef and veal.
As for other regional variations, the survey found that people in northwest England spend the most on alcohol at around �16 a week, while those in Northern Ireland spend the least at just �11.
| Changes from previous year |
| +13% Takeaways |
| +35% Gas |
| -5% Electricity |
| -17% National Lottery |
| +25% Mobile phones |
In general, total weekly expenditure per household was highest in London at �380 compared with �280 a week in the North East.
Households in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland spent less generally than those in England.
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| Women lead social change |
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| 20 Jan 99 | UK |
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| 31 Oct 97 | UK |
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| 30 Sep 99 | UK |
| Survey emphasises north-south divide |
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| Office of National Statistics |
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