Northern Ireland families spend more on food, fuel, tobacco and clothes than those in any region of Britain, even though they have the lowest average weekly income, according to a new survey.
The annual family expenditure survey, carried out by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, showed that the average family income in the North in 1998/99 was £355 sterling per week, significantly less than the average British figure of £457 sterling.
With less money going towards housing, alcohol, household services, motoring, leisure goods and services, expenditure was £41 sterling per week lower than the British average.
However, more was spent on food, fuel, tobacco, clothes and electricity. Families spent £7.50 sterling per week on electricity compared to the British average of £6 sterling.
Households in Northern Ireland also spent an average of £8.70 sterling per week on tobacco - 50 per cent higher than the British average of £5.80 sterling.
Households in Britain spent more on cars, vans and vehicles (£23.70 sterling), as well as on TVs, videos, computers, hotels and holidays (£8.10 sterling) than their counterparts in the North, who spent an average of £14.40 sterling and £6.10 sterling per week in each category.
Despite having lower rates of income, families in the North were still more generous than those in any region of Britain. The survey reported that they gave more in donations to charity and cash gifts.