4. 日用花销统计

Statistics in People’s Daily Expenses in Xi’an

  YearItem   1995   1996   1997   1998   1999

Food   66%   61%   48%   41%   36%

Clothing   9%   10%   12%   15%   18%

Recreation   4%   5%   8%   9%   11%

What is shown in the table above indicates that dramatic changes have taken place in the daily expenses in Xi’ an from 1995 to 1999. The expenses on food have declined by 30% while those on clothing and recreation have increased respectively by 9% and 7%. The statistics of rise and fall seem to exist in isolation but closely related to one another.

There are two factors accounting for these changes. Development in economy is an essential one in the five years. The increased income resulting from economic growth plays an important part in the less expense on food. Hence, a small percentage of total income is enough to cover food expense. Another one is the changes in life style. When food presents no worry to the average, people begin to focus more of interest on handsome appearance and happy leisure time. As a result of such a shift, spending on clothing and recreation increased year after year.

From the analyses made above, we may come to the conclusion that people’s living standards in Xi’ an have been constantly improved between 1995 and 1999. With the further growth in economy and more changes in life style, the tendency indicated in the table will continue in the table will continue in the better direction.