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4. Purchase Ratios by Type of Places for Purchasing and Age Group of Household Heads
(i) Overview
An analysis of purchase ratios in living expenditures by type of places for purchasing and age group of the household heads indicates that, after showing a tendency to decline as the age group of the household heads advanced up to the 40s, the purchase ratio at retail stores rose thereafter. Moreover, almost the same trend was found in the purchase ratio at department stores.
In contrast, after showing a tendency to rise as the age group of the household heads advanced up to the 40s, the purchase ratio at supermarkets generally declined thereafter. The same trend was found in the purchase ratio at cooperative stores.
The purchase ratio at discount stores/mass sales speciality stores was highest in the households headed by those under 30. Thereafter, the ratio declined as the age group of the household heads advanced, falling to the lowest level in the households headed by those at age 70 and over. The same trend was found in the purchase ratio at convenience stores.
After exceeding 1% in the households headed by those under 30 and those in their 30s, the purchase ratio at mail-order selling (on the Internet) fell lower as the age group of the household heads advanced. On the other hand, the purchase ratio at mail-order selling (others) generally rose as the age group of the household heads advanced. (Table V-11)
(ii) Comparison of Various Types of Places for Purchasing by Item
a. Food
A look at the purchase ratio of food by type of places for purchasing and age group of the household heads shows that, after leveling off at 12.1 - 12.2% in households headed by those in all age groups up to the 40s, the purchase ratio of food at retail stores rose as the age group of the household heads advanced, reaching the highest point in the households headed by those at age 70 and over. The purchase ratio at department stores rose after showing a tendency to decline as the age group of household heads advanced up to the 40s.
In contrast, the purchase ratio of food at supermarkets was highest in the households headed by those under 30 and it declined as the age group of the household heads advanced reaching the lowest level in the households headed by those at age 70 and over. The same trend was found in the purchase ratios at convenience stores as well as at discount stores/mass sales speciality stores.
The purchase ratio of food at cooperative stores rose as the age group of the household heads advanced up to the 40s and declined thereafter.
The purchase ratio of food at mail-order selling (on the Internet) stayed at 0.1 - 0.3% in all age groups. On the other hand, the purchase ratio at the mail-order selling (others) rose as the age group of the household heads advanced. (Table V-11)
b. Furniture & Household Utensils
An analysis of the purchase ratio of furniture & household utensils by type of places for purchasing and age group of the household heads shows that the purchase ratio of these items at retail stores was lowest in the households headed by those under 30 and rose thereafter as the age group of household heads advanced.
The purchase ratio of furniture & household utensils at supermarkets rose as the age group of the household heads advanced to the 40s and generally declines thereafter. The same trend was found in the purchase ratio at cooperative stores.
The purchase ratio of furniture & household utensils at department stores was highest in the households headed by those under 30. It declined as the age group of the household heads advanced to the 40s and rose thereafter.
The purchase ratio of furniture & household utensils at discount stores/mass sales spaciality stores was high in the households headed by those under 30 and those in their 30s. Thereafter, the purchase ratio declined as the age group of the household heads advanced reaching the lowest point in the households headed by those at age 70 and over.
The purchase ratio of furniture & household utensils at mail-order selling (on the Internet) declined as the age group of the household heads advanced. On the other hand, the purchase ratio at mail-order selling (others) was highest in the households headed by those under 30. It declined as the age group of the household heads advanced to the 40s and rose thereafter. (Table V-11)
c. Clothes & Footwear
An examination of the purchase ratio of clothes & footwear by type of places for purchasing and age group of the household heads shows that the purchase ratio of these items at retail stores was highest at 32.9% in the households headed by those under 30 and declined to around 27% in the households headed by those in their 30s through 60s before rising to 29.1 % in the households headed by those at age 70 and over.
The purchase ratio of clothes & footwear at supermarkets rose as the age group of the household heads advanced to the 40s and generally declined thereafter. At cooperative stores, the purchase ratio rose as the age group of the household heads advanced to the 50s and declined thereafter.
The purchase ratio of clothes & footwear at department stores declined as the age group of the household heads advanced to the 40s and rises thereafter.
The purchase ratio of clothes & footwear at discount stores/mass sales speciality stores was high in the households headed by those under 30 and those in their 30s. Thereafter, the purchase ratio declined as the age group of the household heads advanced, reaching the lowest point in the households headed by those at age 70 and over.
The purchase ratio of clothes & footwear at mail-order selling (on the Internet) declined as the age group of the household heads advanced. On the other hand, the purchase ratio at mail-order selling (others) was 3% or higher in all age groups except for the households headed by those in their 50s, in which it was 2.9%, and highest at 4.0% in the households headed by those at age 70 and over. (Table V-11)
d. Reading & Recreation
A look at the purchase ratio of reading & recreation items by type of places for purchasing and age group of the household heads shows that the purchase ratio of these items at retail stores was lowest in the households headed by those under 30 and rose thereafter as the age group of household heads advanced. Moreover, almost the same trend was found in the purchase ratio at cooperative stores.
In contrast, the purchase ratio of reading & recreation items at discount stores/mass sales speciality stores was highest at 29.5% in the households headed by those under 30 and declined thereafter as the age group of the household heads advanced.
The purchase ratio of reading & recreation items at supermarkets rose as the age group of the household heads advanced to the 50s and declined thereafter.
The purchase ratio of reading & recreation items at department stores was high in the households headed by those under 30 and those in their 30s. Thereafter, the purchase ratio stayed at around 4%.
The purchase ratio of reading & recreation items at mail-order selling (on the Internet) was highest at 4.1% in the households headed by those in their 30s and declined as the age group of the household heads advanced. On the other hand, the purchase ratio at mail-order selling (others) was low at 1.2 to 1.4% range in the households headed by those in their 40s or in lower age groups and rose thereafter as the age group of household heads advanced. (Table V-11)
e. Miscellaneous
An analysis of the purchase ratio of miscellaneous items by type of places for purchasing and age group of the household heads shows that the purchase ratio of these items at retail stores was lowest at 24.9% in the households headed by those in their 30s and rose thereafter as the age group of the household heads advanced.
The purchase ratio of miscellaneous expenditure items at convenience stores was highest at 11.1% in the households headed by those under 30 and declined thereafter as the age group of the household heads advanced. The same trend was also observed in the purchase ratio at discount stores/mass sales speciality stores.
The purchase ratio of miscellaneous items at mail-order selling (on the Internet) was high in the households headed by those under 30 and those in their 30s and declined thereafter as the age group of the household heads advanced. On the other hand, the purchase ratio at mail-order selling (others) rose as the age group of the household heads advanced to the 50s and declined thereafter. (Table V-11)
Table V-11: Ratio of Expenditures by Age Group of Household Heads and Item Classified by Type of Place for Purchasing (All Households)