Signs of fashion-conscious nation

The Kiwi consumer is spending less on food and housing but more on clothing and personal grooming.

Statistics New Zealand yesterday released its three-yearly revision of the weights given to the 750 items in the consumers price index.

We spend less on fruit and vegetables, dairy products and takeaways than three years ago but more on meat (beef, pork and poultry, anyway).

Rent is a bigger expense and so are phone calls, but we spend less on appliances and furnishings.

Men's, women's and boys' clothing are more of a priority than they were three years ago but girls' clothing, apparently, less so.

We spend less on cigarettes but significantly more on medical services. Less on buying cars but more on running them.

And more on newspapers.