Households of whites and others earned higher incomes than black led homes in 2004, according to the new scientific survey by the Department of Statistics.

The 2004 Household Expenditure Survey (HES) was released yesterday and revealed that 344 surveyed homes led by whites and others earned a significantly higher level of income in 2004 than 418 black led homes.

"The average weekly income for households led by blacks was $1,676 per week compared to $2,489 per week for white and other races," the HES said.

However, white and other homes spent more than black homes in every expenditure division, it said.

Black led homes spent an average of $1,198 per week while white and other homes spent an average of $1,949.

"Black led households spent 34 percent of their weekly income on food, household goods, services and supplies, health and personal care, and transportation," it report said.

Black led homes spent less on non-essential items such as foreign travel, entertainment, alcohol and tobacco.

The average white and other home spent an average of $45.69 per week on alcohol and tobacco in 2004, it said, compared with $15.62 in black led homes.

White and other homes spent an average of $667.61 per week on housing, compared to $383.69 in black led homes, it said.

The HES also said black led homes had more workers per household.

In 2004, households led by blacks had an average of 1.42 workers per home compared with 1.38 workers in white and other homes.

And on average, black led homes were older, it said, with an average age of 51 compared to an average age of 48 for white and other households.

However, the number of homes of both races with children has decreased since 1993, it said.

"The most popular household types in 2004 were one person households followed by adult couple households," it said.

Two-parent families earned more than single-parent homes, with weekly averages of $2,930 to $1,596 respectively.

On average single-parent homes spent 88 cents of every dollar they had on their bills compared to two-parent homes spending 74 cents of every dollar earned.

"The lowest proportion of spending consisted of households with unrelated persons, who spent only 69 cents of every income dollar," it said.

Like utility bills, the poorest families spent the more of their total weekly budget on food than richer homes, it said.