Abu Dhabi begins major study of family spending habits to assess standard of living

More than 8,000 families will be asked about their household budgets

Researchers will examine the spending habits of thousands of families throughout 2019. Mona Al Marzooqi / The National

Researchers are to study more than 8,000 families in Abu Dhabi to gain an insight into their spending habits and standard of living.

Statistics Centre-Abu Dhabi will speak to approximately 6,048 Emirati and 2,736 expat families who live in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra.

The project will begin this month and run until the end of the year.

The centre said the survey will use new sampling techniques and will classify spending on goods and services using classifications issued by the Statistics Office of the United Nations and used by the World Bank.

It is intended to provide in-depth data that covers seasonal spending throughout the year rather than one-off snapshots.

It will be used to inform decision makers to regulate supplies of essential goods and ensure competitive consumer prices and determine the pricing of goods in line with inflation, state news agency Wam reported.

Inflation ran at about 3 per cent in Abu Dhabi towards the end of the year, according to estimates. End of year figures are yet to be published.

It peaked at the start of 2018 at 4.7 per cent compared to the same month the year before, partly due to the introduction of VAT.

The impact of the tax was partly offset by falling rents across many areas of Abu Dhabi and much of the country.

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