They are hard to avoid and fairly stable, since spending patterns do not change sharply from year to year.

ECONOMIST: Governments will need to find new ways of raising tax

With the current recession that started a year ago, spending patterns ought to change--even though health care is viewed as "recession-proof" and is still forecast to have grown north of 6% again in 2008.

FORBES: Magazine Article

On one hand, they asserted that consumers had changed spending patterns and it was appropriate to change the weightings of housing, food, energy, health care, etc.

FORBES: Is It Simply Phony Baloney Government Policy Or Conspiracy?

Seeing patterns on the page quickly makes spending salient and behavioral change easier.

FORBES: Have You Resolved To Save More This Year? Easier Said Than Done

The GDP deflator reflects the prices of a basket of goods and services, the contents of which change over time to reflect evolving patterns of spending.

ECONOMIST: A renewed force in Asia