More money, more housing expenses
New Zealanders are earning more, but an increasing portion of the pay packet is being spent on housing.
The average household earned $95,898 a year, Statistics New Zealand said.
This was up 2.1 per cent from a year ago, and was mirrored by an increase to average personal income, which was at $48,233 this year.
But although household income was up more than 11 per cent over the past three years, spending has increased by more than 17 per cent.
The average household spends $1300 a week, up $190 from 2013.
Statistics New Zealand said most of this increase was due to a $61 rise in spending on housing expenses such as mortgage payments, rent and rates.
Nearly a third of the country’s households spent more than a quarter of their income on housing, equivalent to $327 a week.
Although more was being spent on housing, the increased income had also led to people spending more on food.
The average household spent $27 more on food a week than three years ago, up to $218.
More people were eating out, up from 43.3 per cent to 51.5 per cent, and spending at restaurants was up to $25 a week.
Fruit and vegetable spending, as well as groceries, also rose.