Household income is one of the main factors affecting household expenditure.
However, household income and expenditure are also related to the geographic and demographic characteristics of households. For example, capital city households typically have higher income and expenditure levels than rural households. Household income and expenditure are also influenced by such factors as the household size, the age of the household members and their sources of income. Information was collected on a household, rather than individual basis as many items of expenditure such as food, accommodation, household goods and appliances, fuel and power are shared by household members. In the HES a household is defined as a group of people who usually reside and eat together.