Analytics, Financial Services, Lithuania, Quality of life, Statistics

Average monthly consumption expenditure of the urban population equalled EUR 321, of the rural population – EUR 248 per capita per month.

1 The previous Household Budget Survey was carried out in 2012. Since 2008, the Survey is carried out every four years.

Average household consumption expenditure 2016

In 2016, against 2012, the largest increase was observed in household consumption expenditure on recreation and culture, furnishings, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house, as well as expenditure on miscellaneous goods and services, the bulk of which fell within personal care goods and services. Compared to 2012, a decrease was observed in expenditure on housing rent, water and energy, which was determined by price drop for this group of goods and services.

In 2016, household expenditure on food (including consumption in kind, but excluding money spent in cafes, restaurants and canteens) made up almost a third (31.5%) of the total consumption expenditure, or, on average, EUR 94 per capita per month. In 2016, against 2012, household expenditure on meals at home grew by 12.2%, while their relative share (weight) in total consumption expenditure decreased by 2.3 percentage points (pp). In rural areas, expenditure on meals at home made up 29.5, in urban areas – 36.7% of the total consumption expenditure.

Household consumption expenditure on housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels equalled EUR 42 per capita per month: in urban areas – EUR 50, in rural areas – EUR 27 (15.4 and 11% of total consumption expenditure respectively). Compared to 2012, such expenditure decreased by 4.7%. Compared to 2012, the relative share (weight) of expenditure on housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels in total consumption expenditure decreased by 4 pp (in urban areas – by 4, rural areas – 3.2 pp).

Share of unavoidable expenditure in consumption expenditure (expenditure on food, housing, water, electricity, fuel, health care and transport) made up 62.7% of total consumption expenditure (in urban areas – 61.8, in rural areas – 65.2%). 

Compared to 2012, such expenditure increased by 11%, while their share in total consumption expenditure decreased by 5.2 pp. As the share of unavoidable expenditure in consumption expenditure was decreasing, people were able to spend more on recreation and culture, furnishings and household equipment and routine maintenance of the house, cafes and restaurants. In 2012, against 2008, considerable decrease in such expenditure was observed.

In 2016, expenditure on recreation and culture equalled EUR 19 per capita per month: in urban areas – EUR 23, in rural areas – EUR 12 (7 and 4.9% of the total consumption expenditure respectively). Compared to 2012, expenditure on recreation and culture grew by 57.9%, and their share in the total consumption expenditure increased by 1.5 pp.

Information about average consumption expenditure and their structure in urban and rural areas in 2012 and 2016 is provided in the Annex.

Statistical information was prepared based on the data of the Household Budget Survey. 3 443 households, randomly selected from the Population Register of the Republic of Lithuania, participated in the Household Budget Survey 2016 and registered their expenditure. The Survey was carried out from March 2016 to February 2017. The Survey results were recalculated for the total population.

Concepts

Household is a person living alone or a group of persons sharing the same living accommodation and expenditure, including collective provision of necessities of life.

Consumption expenditure is expenditure, in cash and in kind, aimed at acquiring consumer goods and services, i.e. expenditure on food, clothes, footwear, maintenance of the dwelling, transport, health care, cultural, recreational and other needs.

Table 1. Average consumption expenditure and its structure, 2012 and 2016

Table 2. Average consumption expenditure in urban and rural areas, 2016