The results of the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ (ABS) Household Expenditure Survey 2015-16 revealed that spending for families increased across many areas.
The biggest increases in spending across the country on goods and services have been in education, which is up by 44%.
ABS Chief Economist Bruce Hockman said childcare services have increased by 30% and energy and health care are both up by 26%.
“The hike in education spending mainly came from spending on school fees, which rose by almost half from 2009-10 to 2015-16,” he said.
“Childcare spending also rose considerably, almost doubling over that six year period.”
For couple families with their youngest child under five years in 2015-16, they spent an average of $114 per week on childcare.
But once the kids reach school age (5-14 years), the results show childcare costs went down to only $21 per week, but average spending on school fees was $152 per week.
Raising a family in Australia is becoming more expensive and the cost of childcare is skyrocketing. #9Today pic.twitter.com/fBT2RKKAEL
— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) August 2, 2017
Sydney-siders spend big on childcare
The ABS results show that where you live makes a big difference to the level of household spending.
The highest level of household spending on childcare was reported in Sydney at $30 per week, which is more than $12 higher than the national average.
Electricity and health care are big-ticket items for Aussie households
Perth and Adelaide saw the largest percentage increases in average electricity spending between 2009 and 2016, at 37% and 30% respectively, whereas Hobart and Canberra’s spending remained pretty stable during that time.
Across the country, average weekly spending on health care has increased by 26% – up from $66 in 2009-10 to $82 in 2015-16.
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