Bermuda residents have more disposable income in their pockets than a decade ago, according to new financial statistics.

And they are spending more of their earnings on entertainment and recreation than they did in 2004, while spending on housing, clothing and transportation has dropped.

The figures are listed in the Department of Statistics 2013 Household Expenditure Survey report, which provides findings on the levels and patterns of household expenditure for a comprehensive range of goods and services for Bermuda’s households.

According to the report, average weekly household income rose by more than 35 percent from $2,043 in 2004 to $2,767 last year. But average weekly household expenditure — defined as all cash and credit purchases of goods and services for private household consumption — rose by just 18 percent from $1,531.35 ten years ago to $1,807 in 2013.

Those figures show that the proportion of income spent on household expenses fell from 74.95 percent in 2004 to 65.3 percent last year.

According to the data, the average household now spends $200 — more than 11 percent of its income — each week on entertainment, recreation and miscellaneous expenses, making it the third most expensive outlay behind housing and food. In 2004 that figure was just $67.71 or 4.4 percent of income.

“The highest percentage increase (196 percent) was recorded for Entertainment, Recreation and Miscellaneous expenditures,” the report said.

“This significant increase ... is attributed to stronger consumer demand for new technology products such as iPads, PC tablets and MP3 players.

“Also, increased demand for related applications such as iTunes, NETFLIX and e-subscriptions, that are included in this expenditure division were contributing factors to the higher expenditure level.”

Supporting that conclusion, the survey claims that 60 percent of households now own a laptop or Netbook computer — a 37 percent increase since 2004.

And 52 percent of households own at least one iPad, kindle or tablet while ownership of desktop PCs slipped by 15 percent.

Three quarters of households have access to the internet, up 18 percent from ten years ago, while 55 percent of households bought goods online in 2013.

Despite the increase in demand for new technology, television remains a popular form of entertainment.

“Nearly all households (98 percent) reported ownership of at least one television,” the report said.

“On average there were two televisions per dwelling unit. In 2013, 89 percent of households subscribed to cable television, up from 75 percent reported in 2004.”

But the popularity of landline telephones is on the decline, with 73 percent of homes now using them compared to 91 percent in 2004. According to the report this suggests “a preference for the use of a cell phone or mobile device”. Nearly nine out of ten households (88 percent) now own at least one cellular phone.

Health costs also saw a marked increase, from $133.06 in 2004 (8.66 percent of income) to $197.87 (10.95 percent of income) in 2013. Last year the average household spent about $10,300 on healthcare — up almost 50 percent on 2004.

“Increased expenditure on health insurance accounted for 74 percent of the higher spending level,” the report stated.

And we are also spending more of our earnings on fuel and power costs according to the report. In 2004 the sector took up 2.94 percent of the household budget, rising to 4.16 percent in 2013. The increase was due mainly to a 70 percent increase in spending on electricity.

Housing — including rent, mortgages, land tax and property insurance — remains the most expensive item, but has dropped from a decade ago. The average household now spends 28.75 percent of income — $519.57 a week — putting a roof over its head, compared to 33.3 percent or $511.86 in 2004.

The survey noted: “The recent downturn in the economy has negatively impacted growth in the construction and real estate industries in Bermuda. Rental prices are competitively lower contributing to a more favourable ‘renter’s market’ in the real estate industry. Similarly, the demand for general contractors has declined, leading to lower prices charged to households for performing general home repairs and maintenance.”

Food bills for average families as a proportion of household income have dropped slightly in the past decade, from 13.7 percent of income ($210.61) in 2004 to 12.69 percent ($229.33) last year.

The report also revealed that the size of the average household is shrinking, down from 2.33 people in 2004 to 2.21 people last year.

Single person households represented 35 percent of survey respondents, up from 31 percent in 2004.

A sample size of 700 households was selected for the survey, which aimed to provide an indication of the overall living standards of Island residents. The survey data will also be used to update consumer expenditure estimates and will contribute to the reweighing of the Consumer Price Index.

Copies of the 2013 Household Expenditure Survey Report can be found at www.statistics.gov.bm