Housewives were asked the total number of fresh eggs acquired by their families in the 7 days before interviewing took place. The average number of fresh eggs acquired per family was 1.84. Half of the sample received .86 eggs or less whilst one quarter of the sample received .43 eggs or less, and one quarter received 2.46 eggs or more.
A.
Regional Differences.
There were sharp regional differences in the number of fresh eggs acquired. It will be seen from the figures below that these differences seem to be explained by the minority in each region which receive a greater number of eggs than the average. That is to say that the regional differences affect mainly the minority in each region whilst the majority in each region receive nearly comparable numbers of eggs.
Scotland
S. Wales
N. Midland
N.W.
N. & N.E.
Midland
S.E. & London
S’th
S. West
East
Total
Average per family
2.06
3.04
2.55
1.54
1.58
1.91
1.37
1.60
1.48
2.42
1.84
36
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AVERAGE INTAKE OF EGGS PER FAMILY DURING 7 DAYS
.
Lower Quartile
Lower Quartile
Average 1.69
Average 2.72
Median
Median
Upper Quartile
Upper Quartile
URBAN
RURAL.
Against the arithmetic average may be quoted the median, Upper and Lower Quartiles. (These figures show, respectively, what half the worst quarter and the best quarter of the sample receive).
Scotland
S. Wales
N. Midland
N.W.
N. & N.E.
Midland
S.E. & London
S’th
S. West
East
Total
Median
0.86
1.83
0.84
0.80
0.83
0.96
0.84
1.75
0.75
0.97
0.86
Upper Quartile
0.43
0.61
0.42
0.40
0.42
0.48
0.42
0.38
0.39
0.49
0.43
Lower Quartile
2.87
3.89
3.71
2.48
2.2
3.05
2.18
1.77
1.80
2.96
2.46
Sample
313
182
220
424
454
276
457
164
217
184
2891
It will be seen that with the exception of S. Wales half at least of the sample in each region received about the same number of eggs. There are, however, large differences in the number received by the best quarter of the sample in each region. Thus in S. Wales a minority receives many more than the national average and in Scotland, Eastern England and Midland Regions figures for the favoured minority are well above average, whilst in the South and South Western Regions even the best quarters of the sample received fewer than the national average.
B.
Urban and Rural Areas
.
These figures indicate that the average in urban districts is below the national average. Regional urban and rural breakdowns are not available but should the differences indicated below be true of all regions, then it would appear that in those areas which are shown to be badly off in regional tables above the urban districts must receive well below the national average number of eggs.
Urban
Rural
National Average
Average per family
1.69
2.72
1.84
Further analysis shows that the quarter of the rural sample which was worse off was somewhat better off than the worst quarter in the national sample. The worst quarter in the urban sample was only slightly worse off than the worst quarter in the national sample. On the other hand the best quarter in rural areas was considerably better than the best quarter in the national sample, whilst the best quarter in urban areas was somewhat worse than the best quarter in the national sample.
Urban
Rural
National
Median
0.84
0.93
0.86
Upper Quartile
0.42
0.46
0.43
Lower Quartile
2.29
3.33
2.46
Sample
2,434
439
2,873
C.
Social Groups
The A Groups appear from the figures below to have more eggs per family than other Social Groups.
A
B
C
D
National Average
Average per family
3.14
1.88
1.61
1.83
1.84
Detailed figures indicate that this difference is spread throughout the samples in all groups, that is to say that all Sections of the A Group sample receive more eggs than the analogous sections of other Social Groups. The best quarter in the Group greatly exceeds the average and the best groups.
