Analytics, Latvia, Technology

International Internet Magazine. Baltic States news & analytics Thursday, 28.03.2024, 20:44

Households use durable goods more extensively

Lidija Sparite, csb.gov.lv, 01.08.2014.Print version
Analysis of the Household Budget Survey data compiled by the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia (CSB) shows that in 2013 refrigerators, TV sets and mobile phones were the most popular durable goods used by households.

If in 2005, 73% of households used mobile phones, in 2013 this indicator reached 95%. Also for the elderly population mobile phone became an important communication tool.  In 2005 per 100 single-person households where the person is over 65 there were only 19 mobile phones, while in 2013 this figure had increased four times and mobile phones were used in 80 out of 100 such households.  The indicator of the use of mobile phones was the highest in households with children. 


97% of the Latvian households possessed a TV set, and 62% - a radio. Radio broadcasts were most popular (75%) among single-person households, where the person was over 65. In the last decade with the increased use of computers, the share of households that used such sound and image capture and playback devices as music centres and VCRs decreased.



Since 2005 the share of households using automatic washing machines, dishwashers and microwaves, has grown most. The largest share of washing machines and dish washers (both - in 2013 and 2005) was recorded in households with children; this share was the lowest in single-person households where the person was over 65. 



Popularity of satellite dishes in 2013 slightly decreased, since more and more households prefer cable or digital television. The smallest share of satellite dishes was registered in Riga – in only 1.3% of the households, while the largest - in Latgale (27%). At the same time in Riga, cable or digital television was used in almost every household (92%).

Of all the private means of transport households mostly used cars and bicycles. Bicycles were very popular in Vidzeme and Pierīga; in these regions bicycle as a mode of transport was used in every second household, while in Riga only in every third household. In 2013 almost half of the households (47%) used a car. In turn, motorcycles were the least used means of transport – it was used only in 3% of households.  


Source of information: data of the Household Budget Survey compiled by the Central Statistical Bureau in 2013. It surveyed 3 931 households from different places of Latvia. More information on the results of the Household Budget Survey 2013 will be available in the CSB databases starting with 28 August 2014.







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