FOOD, DRINK, TOBACCO ACCOUNT FOR LARGEST PART OF CONSUMER SPENDING IN CROATIA

ZAGREB, Nov 5 (Hina) - Food, drink and tobacco account for one third of consumer spending in Croatia whereas in the European Union this group of costs accounts for only one fifth (or 19.7 percent) of the overall consumption per adult citizen. #L# This is the result of a comparative poll on household consumption in Croatia and nine European countries in 1998 and 1999, conducted by the Croatian State Statistics Institute. Apart from the first group, the next major discrepancy refers to costs for recreation, culture, hotels and restaurants. In Croatia, this group accounts for a mere 6.6 percent of consumer spending whereas in the nine European countries it accounts for 15.2 percent. Among the EU countries, this group of costs is the lowest in Greece - nine percent, which is still much higher than in Croatia. According to the latest available data for 1994, housing costs account for the largest part of average consumer spending in the nine EU countries - 25.3 percent as against Croatia with as much as 32.8 percent (in 1999). Transport and telecommunications in both categories of countries represent the third largest portion in consumer spending - in the EU countries they account for 15.7 percent and in Croatia for 10.2 percent. According to data for 1999, clothing and footwear account for 5.84 percent of consumer spending in Croatia, whereas in the EU countries they account for 7.6 percent. A similar difference was reported in the household costs category - in Croatia 4.6 and in the EU countries 6.6 percent. Among the EU countries, Spanish citizens spend most money for food, drink and tobacco (25.3 percent as against Croatia's 33.2 percent) whereas Luxembourg has minimum food, drink and tobacco costs - 14 percent. Belgium has the highest housing costs - 29 percent of the overall consumer spending and Portugal the lowest - 19.9 percent. (hina) rml