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Swiss Statistics

Income, Consumption and Assets – Data, IndicatorsHousehold income and expenditure 2010

Household Budget Survey (HBS)

Household income and expenditure of all households

HBS 2010
Budget structure1   
Amount in francs per month per household (mean)
and percentage distribution (100%: gross income)
Income from employment27 360b76.5%
Employee income6 348c66.0%
Income from self-employment1 013d10.5%
Investment income (incl. rental)361d3.7%
Primary income27 721b80.3%
Pensions and social security benefits1 780c18.5%
Old age/invalidity pensions (1st pillar)830c8.6%
Pensions from occupational insurance funds (2nd pillar)594c6.2%
Social security benefits and daily allowances357d3.7%
Financial transfer income from other households117d1.2%
Gross income9 619b100.0%
Compulsory transfer expenditure−2 643c−27.5%
Social security contributions− 939c−9.8%
Taxes−1 177c−12.2%
Health insurance: basic insurance− 527a−5.5%
Financial transfer expenditure to other households− 151d−1.6%
Disposable income36 825b71.0%
Other insurances, fees and transfers− 560b−5.8%
Health insurance: complementary insurance− 137b−1.4%
Other insurances− 188b−2.0%
Fees and other charges− 70c−0.7%
Donations and other transfers− 165c−1.7%
Consumption expenditure−5 498b−57.2%
Food and non-alcoholic beverages− 658b−6.8%
Alcoholic beverages and tobacco− 105c−1.1%
Hotels and restaurants− 557b−5.8%
Clothing and footwear− 242c−2.5%
Housing and energy−1 498b−15.6%
Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance− 291c−3.0%
Health− 275c−2.9%
Transport− 762c−7.9%
Communication− 178b−1.9%
Entertainment, recreation and culture− 633c−6.6%
Other goods and services− 297c−3.1%
Sporadic income4403d4.2%
Savings1 170d12.2%
    
Number of persons per household2.23b 

Quality of estimates :
a  Very good: variation coefficient < 1%.
b  Good: variation coefficient of ≥ 1% to < 2%.
c  Quite good: variation coefficent of ≥ 2% to < 5%.
d  Adequate: variation coefficient of ≥ 5% to < 10%.
e  Poor: variation coefficent of ≥ 10%.

1  Due to rounding, the numbers may not add up to the total shown
2  Including social security contributions from the employee but not from the employer
3  The concept of disposable income used here is not compatible with that used in the national accounts
4  Sporadic income (gifts received, sales and reimbursements) are not included in the calculation of the gross income

Definitions

Gross household income
The gross household income is made up of the entire income of all the members of a private household. It includes gross salaries (before social security deductions), earnings from self-employment, pensions, interest, transfers from other households, payments in kind from one’s own business, benefits in kind from employer, produce from the household's garden, etc.

Disposable income
The disposable income is calculated by deducting the compulsory expenditure from the gross income. This includes mandatory expenses, such as social security contributions (contributions to retirement and survivors' pensions and disability benefits, company pension schemes etc.) and taxes, health insurance premiums (basic insurance), regular payments to other households (e.g. alimony).  

Sporadic income
Sporadic income includes gifts in kind, sales and reimbursements. Although sporadic income is not included in the gross income, it is taken into account for the calculation of savings.

Savings
Savings are calculated indirectly by adding up a household’s total income (gross income and sporadic income) and by deducting all expenditure from it (consumption and transfer expenditure). Savings, payments towards 3rd pillar, purchase of securities, investments, mortgage repayments etc are not considered as expenditure and are therefore included in savings.

Revision of Household Budget Survey (HBS) 2006
With the revision of the Household Budget Survey in 2006, the definitions of gross household income and disposable income were adapted to meet new international standards. For example, sporadic income is no longer included in gross income (nor in disposable income). 


Summary tables

The summary tables are available only in German External website. Content opens in new window.French External website. Content opens in new window. or Italian External website. Content opens in new window..

 


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