Incomes Survey ‘A Social Mirror’

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30712, 30 March 1965, Page 18

Incomes Survey ‘A Social Mirror’

(Special Crspdt. N.Z.P.A.) LONDON, March 29. The average weekly gross income per household in Britain in 1963 was just over £22 and the average weekly expenditure £l9 2s lid, according to the Minister of Labour’s family expenditure survey for 1963.

Just over three-quarters of the weekly income came from wages and salaries. Another 7 per cent was drawn from “self-employment income,” and a similar percentage was derived from state benefits like old age and widows’ pensions.

Income from investments made up only 4 per cent of the total, while that from

sub-letting and owner occupation is estimated at 2 per cent.

The survey is described as a “useful social mirror.” For instance, it shows that more is spent on food in the Midlands than in the south, and that fish and chips seems to be more popular in the east and west ridings of Yorkshire than anywhere else in Britain.

In the ridings, families spend an average of Is 8d a week at fish shops; in London the figure is just 6d. Northerners just lead Midlanders by spending 12s 6d a week on beer.

Southerners spend just over 7s a week on beer; but the south leads on wine-buying—--7s to 8s a week—with the Midlands at 4s Id.

The Scots spend the most —2ss 5d a week—on tobacco; Londoners spend about £l. The survey shows that more

people are buying cars in the Midlands than in the rest of the country—they spent 18s 9d a week, and the Welsh I6s 2d a week on cars. Average expenditure at the cinema is Is 2d, 2s 2d on theatres, sporting events and other entertainments, and 3s 9d on radio and television, Midland children do best for pocket money. They get

an average of just over Is 8d a week. The average pocket money paid out in all households is Is sd. Where the weekly income of the head of the household is less than £l5, children get just over 9d. Children whose parents are in the £4Oplus bracket are given about 6s lOd a week.