Household spending rose in 2014, report says

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

Turkish households spent slightly more on living expenses in 2014 than in 2013, the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) reported on Aug. 5.

The monthly average consumption expenditure per household for Turkey was 2,848 Turkish Liras ($1,022.9) in 2014, up from 2,572 liras ($923.8) in 2013, the report said.

Households spent most on housing and rent last year, accounting for 24.8 percent of total living expenses.

The share of expenditures on food and non-alcoholic beverages was 19.7 percent, while it was 2.1 percent for healthcare and 2.4 percent for educational services.

The share of furniture and household appliances rose to 6.8 percent in 2014, from 6.6 percent in the previous year.

Transportation expenditures cost households more in 2014, up from 17.4 to 17.8 percent in 2013.

Hotel and restaurant expenditures rose 0.1 percent from 5.9 to 6 percent in 2014 over the previous year.

Food and education cost lower-income households more than it did for the more affluent.

While the food expenditures of households in the first income quintile was 12.4 percent of total expenditures, the same ratio was 28.4 percent for the fifth quintile. Education expenditures for households in the first income quintile was 2.2 percent of total expenses, but they accounted for 64.7 percent of the total for households in the fifth quintile.