How much money do Belarusians spend for food?
The share of foodstuffs in consumer spending mix is an important indicator of life quality in different countries.
A recent research by the International Labor Organization showed that in many countries people spend about 70 percent of their earnings for food. In Belarus the picture looks quite favorable, even after last year’s economic collapses. A household living standarts survey conducted in the second quarter of 2012 revealed that 45.6 percent of expenditures was for foodstuffs. An average household spends another 34.9 percent for non-foods and 16.8 percent to pay for various services. By the way, spendings of urban and rural residents are different.
Sausages and steamed meat account for 13.3 percent of total food expenses, bread and bakery products – for 7.2 percent, vegetables -- for 7.1 percent. These are followed by fruit and berries (6.6 percent), poultry (6.3 percent), sugar and confectionery (5.5 percent). About 4.9 percent of total food expenses account for pork, 4.6 percent -- for fish and seafood, 4 percent -- for tea, coffe and cocoa, 4 percent -- for milk, and another 3.5 percent – for bread and pastry.
The structure of household consumption spending (percent).
|
|
Cities and towns |
Rural areas |
|
|
Consumer spending |
100 |
100 |
|
|
Foods |
45.1 |
47.4 |
|
|
Alcoholic beverages |
2.5 |
3.5 |
|
|
Non-food products: Clothing and Footwear Personal use items Cultural and household goods Payment for services: Housing Medicine and health Education services Cultural entertainments, sports and travelling Public transport Communication |
34.7 10.1 2.3
4.8 17.7 3.9 1.3 1.0
1.9 2.2 3.2 |
35.5 9.8 1.7
5.8 13.6 3.8 0.7 0.9
0.4 1.5 3.1 |
|
|
Household food expenses |
|
|
|
|
Food expenses |
100 |
100 |
|
|
Bread and bakery |
12.0 |
17.4 |
|
|
Milk and dairy products |
18.2 |
17.3 |
|
|
Meat and meat products |
34.0 |
30.2 |
|
|
Fish and fish products |
4.4 |
5.0 |
|
|
Vegetable oil, margarine |
1.7 |
2.2 |
|
|
Potatoes |
0.6 |
0.2 |
|
|
Vegetables |
7.3 |
6.6 |
|
|
Sugar and confectionery |
5.3 |
6.5 |
|
