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Economic and Social. We consume three times more than in 1960

Saturday 26 September 2009.David Ademas

Expenditures are higher in housing, health, communications and recreation than in food.

It is a true radiograph of our habits and our behaviors that INSEE has just published. The Institute has been keeping a close eye on household spending over the past 50 years. They have been multiplied by three, increasing every year.

While food is an important part of our lives, we spend a little less for it today than yesterday: 38% 1960, 25% 2007. Ditto for clothing: budgets "clothes" change from 14% 1960, 9% 2007.

Large differences by income

On the other hand, we spend more on our homes: 16% to 19%. INSEE notes that "the French have better quality housing, and on average a little larger than their parents".

Other expenses are rising: transport (11% to 18%), communications and leisure (10% to 16%), health expenses (5% to 14%).

The study also notes the large differences between wealthy households and modest households. She notes that they have shrunk, "but remain very important." The former spend, for example, 230 € per person per month for home food, against 130 € for the latter. And they eat more fish, vegetables, fruits than the latter who consume more fats and sugars.

INSEE also emphasizes that the poorest smoke more than the rich who consume more alcohol.

INSEE recalls that the recession recorded in 1993 has given a stop to household consumption. But that the current crisis should not lead to a decline in consumption, in 2009. Just "stagnation". The reason ? Interest rates are low and encourage consumption.