The average weekly household spend on clothing and footwear has halved in the past five decades, according to the Office for National Statistics’ annual report on Family Spending.

The study, which was launched in 1957, revealed that spend on clothing has slid from 10 to 5 per cent in the past 50 years. Spending on food and non-alcoholic drinks, which accounted for a third of the household budget in 1957, now accounts for only 15 per cent. Spending on alcoholic drinks has remained flat at 3 per cent. However, the cost of housing – including mortgage repayments and rent – is now the single largest spend, accounting for 19 per cent of total costs.

The report also revealed that UK households spent an average of£456 a week in 2006, up from£443 the previous year.