The Census & Statistics Department says a Hong Kong household spent on average $18,884 per month on food, consumer goods and services in 2004-05, adding that household consumption expenditure has fallen 13% in the last five years.

In its 2004-05 household expenditure survey published today, the department said the drop was attributable partly to the price deflation in most of the five-year period from 1999-2000 to 2004-05 and partly to the fall in the average household size.

About 80% of Hong Kong households had monthly expenditure ranging from $6,400 to $33,000. Housing and food together accounted for 56% of the total expenditure. The other categories with relatively significant proportions were miscellaneous services (16%) and transport (9%). A small share was recorded for alcohol and tobacco (1%), while electricity, gas and water accounted for 3%, clothing and footwear 4%, durable goods 5% and miscellaneous goods 5%.

The survey results can be downloaded from Statistical Bookstore's website.