Household incomes continue to rise, GUS data shows

"The economic boom and a significant improvement on the labor market in recent quarters finally translates into the condition of households," commented Jacek Wiśniewski, the chief economist with Raiffeisen Bank. The most rapid improvement was recorded in farmers households, whose incomes increased by over 13% within a year. "Their situation improved significantly after Poland's accession to the EU when they began to receive direct subsidies," stated Wiśniewski. However, farmers remain one of the poorest social groups with an average income per person in a household amounting to zł.690. The expenditure of households increased by 7% on average during 2006. The share of expenditure on of food and beverages is decreasing (27% in 2006 as compared to 30% in 2000), while spending on culture is rising. According to GUS, higher real incomes have reduced the level of poverty. In 2005 18.5% of households declared that they could make ends meet, while in 2006 this figure dropped to 18%. (Gazeta Wyborcza, pp. 1, 18) E.B.