Shares of Expenditures for Five Major Categories
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The bar chart below shows shares of expenditures for five major categories in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan in the year 2009.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
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Sample Answer 1
The bar chart illustrates the shares of expenditures for five major categories—food, housing, transportation, healthcare, and clothing—in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan during the year 2009.
Overall, housing and food represent the largest expenditure shares across these countries, while healthcare and clothing account for smaller portions. Housing expenses are particularly significant, especially in the United States, whereas food expenditure peaks in Japan. Transportation costs vary notably, with Canada allocating a larger share than other nations.
Focusing on food and housing, Japan has the highest expenditure share for food at about 23%, surpassing the United Kingdom's 20% and considerably more than the approximately 15% in the United States and Canada. For housing, the United States stands out, with over 25% of total spending dedicated to this category, while other countries range between 20% and 24%.
In terms of transportation, Canada leads with a 20% share, indicating a significant portion of spending on commuting. Conversely, Japan allocates the least to transportation at only 10%. Expenditures on clothing and healthcare remain relatively low across all four countries, with each category hovering around 5% or slightly higher. However, healthcare spending is notably highest in the United States, reaching about 7%, while the United Kingdom allocates the least to this category.
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Sample Answer 2
The bar chart presents the shares of expenditures for five major categories—namely food, housing, transportation, healthcare, and clothing—in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan in 2009.
In general, housing and food claim the largest portions of spending across these countries, whereas healthcare and clothing occupy significantly smaller shares. The United States leads in housing expenditures, while Japan has the highest spending on food. Variations are also evident in transportation costs, with Canada allocating a relatively larger percentage in this area.
When examining food and housing expenditures, Japan stands out for spending a substantial share on food, marking a higher proportion than other countries. In contrast, the United States allocates over a quarter of its total expenditure to housing, making it the highest among the four nations in this category, while the other countries maintain slightly lower figures for housing.
In transportation, Canada devotes a notable 20% to this category, surpassing other nations. Japan, on the other hand, records the lowest expenditure in transportation, dedicating only around 10% of its total. Healthcare and clothing are comparatively minor expenses across all countries, with both categories generally falling below 10%. The United States spends the most on healthcare, standing out from the other three countries, while spending on clothing remains fairly consistent across all nations at around 5%.
Sample Answer 3
The bar chart illustrates the shares of expenditures for five major categories—food, housing, transportation, healthcare, and clothing—across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan in the year 2009.
Overall, housing and food emerge as the most substantial areas of expenditure in these countries, while healthcare and clothing account for smaller portions. The United States dedicates the largest share to housing, whereas Japan prioritizes food. Transportation spending is particularly prominent in Canada compared to the other nations.
Looking closer at food and housing expenses, Japan allocates a significant portion to food, outspending the other countries in this category. The United Kingdom follows Japan in food expenditure, while the United States and Canada devote comparatively lower shares to this necessity. Housing, on the other hand, claims a considerable share of spending in the United States, where it is the highest among the nations shown. Canada, Japan, and the United Kingdom allocate slightly less for housing but still maintain significant shares.
Transportation shows a distinct pattern, with Canada setting aside a notable portion of its expenditure for this category, indicating a higher priority than observed in the other countries. Japan spends the least on transportation, with this category accounting for a smaller part of its budget. Healthcare and clothing expenditures remain low across the board, with the United States standing out slightly for spending more on healthcare. Clothing expenses are relatively consistent among all four countries, generally staying around the 5% mark.
Sample Answer 4
The bar chart illustrates the shares of expenditures for five major categories—food, housing, transportation, healthcare, and clothing—in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan for the year 2009.
In general, housing and food claim the largest shares of expenditures across these countries, while healthcare and clothing represent much smaller portions. Notably, the United States leads in housing expenditure, while Japan has the highest share allocated to food. Variations in transportation costs are also evident, with Canada spending a larger portion in this area compared to the other nations.
When looking at food and housing, Japan dedicates a substantial part of its spending to food, outpacing the other countries in this regard. Meanwhile, the United States has the highest proportion of expenditure on housing, making it the leading category there. The United Kingdom and Canada also allocate significant portions to housing, though their shares are somewhat lower than that of the United States.
In terms of transportation, Canada stands out with a noticeable share directed towards commuting expenses, a percentage higher than in the other three countries. Conversely, Japan spends the least on transportation, with this category occupying a minor fraction of its budget. Healthcare and clothing remain consistently low across all countries, with healthcare spending slightly higher in the United States. Clothing expenditure, however, remains uniform, sitting around 5% across all four nations.
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