Table 1 shows that the of British households with a range of consumer durables steadily increased between and . The greatest was in mobile telephone ownership, from 22% in 1992 to 77% in 2006. Next came central heating ownership, from 64% of households in 1992 84% in 2006. The percentage of households with a refrigerator by 13 % over the same period and of those with a washing machine by 18%. Households with vacuum-cleaners and televisions increased 10% and 5%. It is interesting to note that, although households with diswashers rose from 3% to 12% during the period 1992-2002, this has not continued, off in 2002 12%. In 2002, the year of their introduction, only 2% of families owned DVD player and this has increased to 18% in 2006.

From a social point of view, the changes reflected in the statistics are that over the period of study, most houses have obtained the basics of high practical living standards. As standards of living are becoming higher, entertainment and are becoming a priority; hence the in DVD players and mobile phones. The graph overall, therefore, shows of both rising living standards and the trend to lifestyles based on comfort and convenience.