Singapore household incomes increased last year

Household income from work increased for all income groups last year, in step with strong employment creation in 2011.

According to figures from Singapore's Department of Statistics, among resident employed households, median monthly household income per household member rose from $1,850 in 2010 to $1,990 in 2011, an increase of 7.9 per cent in nominal terms, or 2.7 per cent after adjusting for inflation.

Resident employed households refer to households with at least one working person, headed by either Singapore citizens or permanent residents (PRs).

Meanwhile, on a total household income basis, median monthly household income from work increased from $6,340 in 2010 to $7,040 in 2011. This is an 11 per cent growth in nominal terms, or 5.6 per cent after taking inflation into account.

On average, resident households received $1,660 of transfers per member from various government schemes in 2011. Those in HDB 1- & 2-room flats received the most, at an average of $3,270 per household member, with those in HDB 3-room flats receiving $2,090 per household member on average.