According to The Office for National Statistics, transport now takes the biggest single slice of household expenditure at an all-households average of £59.40 per week.

That puts transport ahead of 'recreation and culture' at £56.40, food and non-alcoholic drink at £42.70 and housing, fuel and power at £36.90. Total average household expenditure per week is put at £406.20. The 2002/03 Household Expenditure survey took no account of whether the nearly 7,.000 representative households interviewed were dual-income, single-person or with or without children in calculating average expenditure.

Expenditure on vehicle purchase ranged from 30% of household income in lower income groups to 50% in higher income groups. New car purchase is most common in households with the 'reference person' in the household aged 50-64, while used car purchase was most prevalent in the 30-49 age range.

Petrol and diesel accounted for accounted for £14.80 of total transport expenditure, maintenance for £9.30, and new/used vehicle purchase expense £26.60, with the remaining £8.70 going on public transport.