We're all culture vultures now with our big TVs

The popularity of big television sets has helped to boost spending on cultural items.

If you're educated, living in Auckland, or between 35 and 44, you're more likely to partake in the finer, more cultural pleasures in life - or to have a huge television with Sky.

Statistics New Zealand's report Household Spending on Culture: 2006 shows that households increased their spending on cultural goods by 20 per cent to $37.70 a week for the three years to June 2004.

Cultural items encompassed a broad range of goods and services, including television sets, books and magazines, musical instruments, internet costs, Sky subscriptions, art or dance lessons, antique furniture and community group donations.

People spent the most in total on subscriber television services, followed by charity donations and then television sets.

"We're becoming a more sophisticated and discerning society," said Consumers' Institute chief executive David Russell, though he cautioned that more cultural spending didn't necessarily mean people were becoming more cultured.

"I wouldn't suggest that television was a great step forward in cultural pursuits, but it is a reflection of the increasing number of goodies that are out there in this area, such as expensive plasma screen TVs."

The report showed:

* We spent the most ($12 a week) on broadcasting, which included audio-visual appliances and Sky subscriptions.

* Auckland households spent the most, at $46.50 a week, while those in the Far North spent the least, at $31.20. South Island households spent $35.50 a week.

* Those aged between 35 and 44 were the most cultured age group.

* Females accounted for 60 per cent of total spend-ing.

* Those with post-graduate qualifications spent nearly 3 1/2 times more than those with no formal qualifications.

* Spending on DVDs leaped more than 1100 per cent from a total of $9 million in 2001 to $102 million in 2004.

Cultural spending totalled $2.8 billion for the year to June 2004, and made up 4 per cent of total household expenditure.

Mr Russell said the report reflected "the relatively good times in terms of fuller employment and a high New Zealand dollar, meaning imported items are cheaper".

Meanwhile Statistics New Zealand's monthly food price index showed that food prices jumped by 0.5 per cent over the past month, mainly because of a 4.3 per cent price rise for fruit and vegetables.

In particular, the price of tomatoes ballooned by 37 per cent, lettuce by 39.7 per cent, and apples by 16.7 per cent.

For the year to May 2006, food prices rose by 1.8 per cent. The rate of inflation, according to the March quarter consumer price index, was 3.3 per cent.

But two big supermarket chains, Foodstuffs and Progressive, said food prices were stable and not in danger of skyrocketing.

"Food produce goes up and down a fair bit - it's very much related to the weather, and fruit and vegetables are more volatile than other food groups," said Foodstuffs managing director Tony Carter.

"The overall price increase is well below the overall rate of inflation, and given that the dollar has decreased in that time, it's a pleasing result from a consumer's point of view."