Average monthly household spending on recreation and culture increased marginally to $400 in 2012/13, after falling between 2002/03 and 2007/08 (Chart 1.4a). From 2007/08 to 2012/13, expenditure on communication rose by 0.7 per cent per annum to $220. This followed a more significant increase of 4.1 per cent per annum during the earlier 5-year period when mobile telecommunication services were expanding rapidly. While expenditure on telephone equipment/services and recreational and sporting services remained relatively constant or recorded modest increase in the last 5 years, expenditure on newspapers and books declined. Expenditure on subscription to television and radio services which included license fees also declined following the scrapping of TV and radio license fees in 2011. Given their slower rate of increase relative to other expenditure items, the expenditure shares of communication and recreation and culture out of total household expenditure dipped between 2007/08 and 2012/13.