Consumer Durables
78% of households have a mobile phone
Percentage of households with selected consumer durables, UK
The ownership of consumer durables in the UK continued to increase into 2004-05.
The proportion of households owning a home computer rose from 58 per cent to 62 per cent between 2003-04 and 2004-05, and from 33 per cent in 1998-99. The percentage of households with an internet connection also rose, from 9 per cent in 1998-99 to 53 per cent in 2004-05.
In the highest income group, 93 per cent of households owned a home computer and 89 per cent had an internet connection. This compares to 25 per cent of households in the lowest income group who owned a home computer and 18 per cent who had an internet connection.
The percentage of households with access to a dishwasher, tumble dryer and microwave continued to rise, to 33 per cent, 58 per cent and 90 per cent respectively in 2004-05. Ownership of a CD player increased from 68 per cent in 1998-99 to 87 per cent in 2004-05.
There was also a considerable increase in the proportion of households with a mobile phone since 1998-99 (from 27 per cent to 78 per cent). In 2004-05, 45 per cent of households in the lowest income group reported owning a mobile phone, compared with 94 per cent in the highest income group.
In 2004-05 most homes had central heating (95 per cent), a washing machine (95 per cent) and a video recorder (88 per cent).
Source: Expenditure and Food Survey, Family Spending, 2004
Notes: The consumer durables covered by the Expenditure and Food Survey are: Central heating, Washing machine, Tumble dryer, Dishwasher, Microwave, Telephone, Mobile phone, Video recorder, Satellite receiver, CD Player, Home computer, Internet Connection.
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Family Spending