92 Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) why the data for current bands for household market income starts at below $1,000 and stops at $20,000; (b) whether the Department of Statistics Singapore will consider expanding the "$20,000 & Over" category into additional bands.

Mr Gan Kim Yong: The income bands for the new household market income series published by the Department of Statistics (DOS) follow that adopted for the earlier household employment income series to facilitate comparison across series.

DOS regularly reviews the household income statistics it publishes to ensure that they remain relevant and meet user needs. Following a recent review, DOS will be expanding the income bands in its upcoming releases of household income statistics.