Ukrainians spend almost half of their income on food – survey

The State Statistics Service of Ukraine says Ukrainians spent 44.5% of their income to purchase food and non-alcoholic beverages, on average, in the third quarter of 2018 (Q3).

The average household size in Ukraine is 2.11 persons. Over the period under review, one household spent UAH 3,332.29 (US$122) per month for food products, the Ekonomichna Pravda online newspaper wrote on February 5, referring to the agency's sample survey of households' living conditions.

The largest share (23%) in the cost structure was meat and meat products, the report said.

Bread and bakery products accounted for 15.8% of expenses (UAH 552.71/$20 per month), while milk, cheese and eggs – for 12.8% (UAH 444.45/$16).

Ukrainians spend UAH 279.45/$10, or 8% of their income, to buy vegetables, including potatoes, and fruit, the report said.

Utility bills accounted for 8% of their income on average, or UAH 601.94 ($22).

As reported, the share of alcoholic beverages was 1.3% (UAH 86.15/$3), while that of tobacco products was 2.3% (UAH 174.19/$6).

The share of clothes and shoes was 6.3% (UAH 475.09/$17), health care took up 4.2% (UAH 311.59/$11), transport services held 4.6% (UAH 343.29/$13), recreation and entertainment cost 2.6% (UAH 192.26/$7), education took up 1.3% (UAH 98.70/$4), and 3.8% (UAH 286.19/$10) was paid for restaurants and hotels.

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In general, the households' consumer cash expenditures accounted for 89.5% per month (UAH 6,697.39/$244).

Non-consumer monetary expenses, which stood at UAH 788.65/$29 per month, included those for private subsidiary farming (UAH 139.66/$5), assistance to relatives and other individuals (UAH 242.2/$9), purchase of real estate (UAH 32/$1.17, major repairs, construction of housing and other buildings (UAH 40.83/$1.50), purchase of shares, certificates, currencies, and deposits in banks (UAH 314.41/$11), alimony (UAH 7.93/$0.29), taxes, fees, and dues (UAH 1.06/$0.04), and other expenses (UAH 10.56/$0.40).

The Ukrainian households' average cash income in Q3 2018 totaled UAH 9,400 ($343) per month.

As UNIAN reported earlier, inflation in Ukraine in December 2018 in annual terms – compared to December 2017 – stood at 9.8%, slowing from 13.7% in December 2017 year-over-year.