This was the ninth survey in the Household Expenditure Survey series conducted by the Singapore Department of Statistics. The
first HES was undertaken in 1956-1957 and covered only the urban area. Successive surveys covered both rural and urban populations and were conducted every five years. For the 2007-2008 survey, data was collected on household demographics, housing, availabilty and purchase of durable goods and services, travel expenditures, and income. Information on medical insurance expenditures was also collected when available.