According to official figures, consumption has grown steadily since the early 1960s, in spite of continued shortages of some goods. As incomes rose and consumer goods and services became more readily available, a greater percentage of household budgets was being spent on them. All segments of the population spent a greater share of their income in 1971 on household equipment and on cultural and educational pursuits, which included such durable goods as household appliances and radios and television sets, than they did in 1962. Changes in proportionate expenditures for other nonessentials during the 1960s reflected the income differences and taste preferences of the different social categories as well as their rural or urban residence.
The largest share of consumer expenditures in 1971 went for food, ranging from 42.5 percent of total expenditures for peasants to 38.8 percent of total expenditures for white-collar workers (see table 3). In calculating expenditures for food, the value of food production for personal consumption was included. The relative share of expenditures on food has been dropping since 1962. At the same time, the quality of the diet for all population groups has improved.
_Table 3. Bulgaria, Percentage Distribution of Household Expenditures by Population Group, 1962 and 1971_
---------------------+---------------+---------------+------------------- | Blue Collar | White Collar | Co-op Farm Member Item +-------+-------+-------+-------+---------+--------- | 1962 | 1971 | 1962 | 1971 | 1962 | 1971 ---------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+---------+--------- Food | 46.0 | 42.3 | 44.6 | 38.8 | 46.3 | 42.5 Alcoholic beverages | 2.9 | 3.4 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 6.3 | 5.1 Tobacco | 2.3 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 1.3 Clothing | 13.6 | 11.4 | 14.7 | 11.3 | 13.6 | 10.3 Housing | 9.9 | 8.7 | 7.9 | 11.4 | 9.6 | 8.8 Household furnishings| 3.5 | 5.3 | 4.0 | 5.3 | 4.0 | 5.0 Culture and | | | | | | entertainment | 4.3 | 5.3 | 6.0 | 7.8 | 2.8 | 5.4 Health and hygiene | 1.2 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 1.7 Communication and | | | | | | transportation | 2.7 | 2.8 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 1.5 | 1.7 Taxes and fees | 5.4 | 6.2 | 6.2 | 7.0 | 1.3 | 2.0 Other | 8.2 | 11.1 | 7.7 | 9.1 | 12.3 | 16.2 | | | | | | TOTAL | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 ---------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+---------+--------- Source: Adapted from _Statistical Yearbook, 1972_, Sofia, 1972, p. 412.
