THE average consumption expenditure for a household in Brunei Darussalam increased by BND28 (0.2 per cent) to BND2,923 per month in 2015-16 compared to BND2,895 per month in 2010-11. In terms of per capita expenditure, the national average was about BND472 per month compared to BND457 per month in 2010-11.
The figures were revealed in a report of the Household Expenditure Survey (HES) 2015-16, released by the Department of Economic Planning and Development (JPKE) under the Prime Minister’s Office on Monday. The pattern of expenditure shows that expenditure on housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels was the highest at BND988 per month, or 33.8 per cent of the total monthly expenses.
This was followed by expenditure on transport at BND379 per month (13 per cent) and food at BND364 per month (12.5 per cent), according to the Report of Summary Findings of the Household Expenditure Survey 2015-16.
Household expenditure on education recorded the highest increase of 18.3 per cent per year in a period of five years from BND79 per month in 2010-11 to BND183 per month in 2015-16.
Meanwhile, spending on furnishing, household equipment and routine household maintenance recorded the highest decrease of 9.4 per cent per year from BND223 per month in 2010-11 to BND136 per month in 2015-16.
The median monthly house-hold expenditure in 2015-16 was BND2,205 compared to BND2,241 in 2010-11.
This indicates that half of the households in Brunei Darussalam spent less than BND2,205 per month and the other half spent more than BND2,205.
Household Income
In 2015-16, the median household income was BND5,611 per month, indicating that half of all households in Brunei Darussalam earned an income of less than BND5,611 per month while the other half received more than BND5,611 per month. This represented an increase of 4.2 per cent per year from BND4,576 in 2010-11.
Meanwhile, the average mon-thly household income in Brunei Darussalam in 2015-16 increased by 4.3 per cent per year to BND7,009 from BND5,670 in 2010-11.
The per capita monthly income also increased to BND1,131 from BND895 in 2010-11.
By income sources, paid employment contributed the largest portion of the average monthly household income at 70.7 per cent (BND4,953) in 2015-16.
Self-employment income, inclu-ding income of family workers, accounted for 5.8 per cent (BND409) of the average monthly household income.
Meanwhile, property and transfer income contributed 12.5 per cent (BND878) and 11 per cent (BND770) respectively.
The Government of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, through JPKE, had conducted the HES 2015-16 starting from April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016.
HES 2015-16 is the sixth such survey conducted in Brunei Darussalam.
The main objectives of the survey were to collect up-to-date and comprehensive information on the pattern of household expenditure and the level of household income; to revise the lists and weighting of goods and services of the Consumer Price Index (CPI); and to provide additional information for national accounts and social statistics purposes.
In a statement, JPKE expressed its appreciation to the participant households in HES 2015-16 for their cooperation throughout the survey period.
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