Social Security Administra

Offi ce of Policy

Offi ce of Research, Evaluat

500 E Street, SW, 8th Floor

Washington, DC 20254

SSA Publication No. 13-118

Released: May 2007

Questions about the charts should be directed to Kimberly Burham at 202-358-6245 

or kimberly.burham@ssa.gov. This chartbook and other Offi ce of Policy reports are available on our Web site at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/policy. For additional copies, e-mail 

op.publications@ssa.gov or call 202-358-6274.

 Susan Grad 

 Acting Associate Commissioner 

 for Research, Evaluation, and Statistics

 May 2007

Expenditures of the Aged Chartbo

Components of Expenditures, by Earned Income Status. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Components of Expenditures, by Income Quartile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Expenditures of Consumer Units, by Age

Size of Expenditures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Components of Expenditures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Housing Expenditures and Housing Tenure, by Age

Size of Housing Expenditures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Housing Tenure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
vi ♦ Expenditures of the Aged Chartbook

Components of Other Expenditures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Travel Expenditures, by Age

Size of Travel Expenditures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
About This Chartbook

Expenditures of the Aged Chartbo

Means are calculated using data from both the interview and diary surveys.

Surveys are subject to sampling error because observations are not taken for the entire populatio

Standard errors have been calculated for all means presented in this chartbook, and differences in m

noted in the text are signifi cant at the 95 percent confi dence level.

Defi nition and Explanation of Key Terms

The defi nitions of key terms are abbreviated versions of those used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics

detailed defi nitions can be found in the Glossary at http://www.bls.gov/cex/csxgloss.htm.

Unit of analysis

Consumer unit. Expenditures in the Consumer Expenditure Survey are measured for the consumer u

(CU), defi ned as members of a household related by blood, marriage, adoption, or some other legal 

arrangement; a single person living alone or sharing a household with others but who is fi nancially in

pendent; or two or more persons living together who share responsibility for at least two out of three 

types of expenses—food, housing, and other expenses. Students living in university-sponsored hous
4 ♦ Expenditures of the Aged Chartbook

65 or older 42.7 10.6 46.7

0

10

20

30

40

50

1 person 2 persons 3 or more persons

28.3

37.4

56.4

48.1 47.9

37.2

23.7

14.6

6.4

NOTE: Percentages may not add to 100 because of rounding.
Expenditures of the Aged Chartbo

paying rent or living rentfree in lieu of wages.

Food. The sum of all food expenditures made in 2002, including expenditures made at grocery stores 

restaurants.

Health care. The sum of all out-of-pocket health care expenditures made in 2002, including public an

private health insurance, doctor visits, eye and dental care and aids, hospital services, lab tests, and 

prescription drugs. 

Transportation. The sum of all transportation expenditures made in 2002, including the purchase of 

new and used cars and trucks; insurance; gas and motor oil; fi nance charges; maintenance and repa

licenses; rentals; other charges; and fares for travel by airplane, bus, train, and taxi.

Apparel. The sum of all apparel expenditures made in 2002, including clothing, footwear, laundry, sew

watches, jewelry, and storage.

Entertainment. The sum of all entertainment expenditures made in 2002, including club fees, sport fe

theater tickets, televisions, stereos, pet expenses, toys, hobbies, campers, boats, and sporting equip
6 ♦ Expenditures of the Aged Chartbook

categories, such as housing, which could include data from the interview and diary portions.

Means, medians, and percentiles are shown. Because expenditure data tend to be highly ske

means are infl uenced by high-spending outliers. In these cases, median and percentile fi gure

a clearer picture of the distribution of expenditures. However, the interview and diary portions 

combined to calculate medians and percentiles because the two surveys have different quest

and samples. In order to use all of the data available, means, medians, and percentiles are sh

Expenditures are collected for consumer units (CUs).

Estimates are based on weighted responses from a sample of the population, as follows:

Age group Unweighted Weighted (millions)

55–64 1,086 15.3

65–74 820 11.2

75 or older 791 10.8

65 or older 1,612 22.2

•

•

•
Expenditures of the Aged Chartbo

CUs that did not have complete income information were not included in this analysis. Consumer 

that reported having no income across all income categories were excluded on charts that give d

by income level or earned income. Approximately 17 percent of CUs aged 55 or older reported ze

income across all income categories.

Charts that show data by age group also show data for consumer units aged 65 or older in a sha

bar below or to the side of the chart.

Data are sometimes represented using box plots. The upper and lower edges of the box plots den

the upper (75th) and lower (25th) percentiles. The middle 50 percent of the data is a measure of v

ability that is found between the upper and lower percentiles. An example of a box plot is found be

•

•

Mean

50

X

25

Percentile

75

Expenditures of Consumer

Units Aged 65 or Older

Expenditures of the Aged Chartboo

Total expenditures (dollars)

0

50,000

or more

35,000–

49,999

30,000–

34,999

25,000–

29,999

20,000–

24,999

15,000–

19,999

10,000–

14,999

Less than

10,000

SOURCE: Interview portion of the 2002 Consumer Expenditure Survey; means are computed using the interview and diary 

portions.
12 ♦ Expenditures of the Aged Chartbook

Per capita expenditures (dollars)

0

50,000

or more

35,000–

49,999

30,000–

34,999

25,000–

29,999

20,000–

24,999

15,000–

19,999

10,000–

14,999

Less than

10,000

8.4

5.3

3.3 4.1 3.0

SOURCE: Interview portion of the 2002 Consumer Expenditure Survey; means are computed using the interview and dia

portions.
Expenditures of the Aged Chartboo

0

10

20

Lowest Low-middle High-middle Highest

X

X

Income quartile 25th percentile Median 75th percentile Mean

Lowest 7,752 10,996 16,452 14,569

Low-middle 12,352 16,696 23,808 21,198

High-middle 17,368 22,924 31,268 28,571

Highest 25,058 34,216 51,211 44,097

SOURCE: Income quartiles and expenditure percentiles are computed using the interview portion of the 2002 Consumer 

Expenditure Survey; means are computed using the interview and diary portions.

NOTE: Defi nition of data points in box plots appears on page 7.
14 ♦ Expenditures of the Aged Chartbook

0

10

Lowest Low-middle High-middle Highest

X

X

Income quartile 25th percentile Median 75th percentile Mean

Lowest 6,740 9,550 13,896 11,959

Low-middle 8,396 12,452 18,387 15,998

High-middle 9,655 13,777 20,981 17,744

Highest 11,704 17,376 27,459 22,947

SOURCE: Income quartiles and expenditure percentiles are computed using the interview portion of the 2002 Consumer 

Expenditure Survey; means are computed using the interview and diary portions.

NOTE: Defi nition of data points in box plots appears on page 7.
Expenditures of the Aged Chartboo

Total expenditures (dollars)

0

10

50,000

or more

35,000–

49,999

30,000–

34,999

25,000–

29,999

20,000–

24,999

15,000–

19,999

10,000–

14,999

Less than

10,000

4.3

10.3

12.3

13.8

12.1 12.8

8.6

11.4

5.6

16.2

7.1

6.5

SOURCE: Interview portion of the 2002 Consumer Expenditure Survey.
16 ♦ Expenditures of the Aged Chartbook

0

10

20

Transpor- Apparel Entertainment Other

tation

Out-of-pocket

health care

Housing Food

14.0

3.5

15.8

12.9

4.0

17.2

SOURCE: Interview and diary portions of the 2002 Consumer Expenditure Survey.
Expenditures of the Aged Chartboo

0

10

20

30

40

Transpor- Apparel Entertainment Other

tation

Out-of-pocket

health care

Housing Food

13.6 15.1

28.5

4.5

16.9

10.2

4.1 3.8

22.3

15.1

34.0

3.1

14.5 14.5

SOURCE: Interview and diary portions of the 2002 Consumer Expenditure Survey.
18 ♦ Expenditures of the Aged Chartbook

0

10

20

Transpor- Apparel Entertainment Other

tation

Out-of-pocket

health care

Housing Food

16.9

13.2

2.4

13.4 13.9

3.2 4.3

12.1

23.3

28.4

3.0

17.4

10.4

SOURCE: Interview portion of the 2002 Consumer Expenditure Survey.
Expenditures of Consumer

Units, by Age

Expenditures of the Aged Chartboo

0

10

55–64 65–74 75 or older

SOURCE: Expenditure percentiles are computed using the interview portion of the 2002 Consumer Expenditure Survey; 

means are computed using the interview and diary portions.

NOTE: Defi nition of data points in box plots appears on page 7.

Age group 25th percentile Median 75th percentile Mean

55–64 18,881 30,584 50,005 44,037

65–74 14,358 22,636 35,324 32,003

75 or older 11,016 16,878 26,356 23,597

65 or older 12,516 19,476 30,916 27,902
22 ♦ Expenditures of the Aged Chartbook

Percent

0 10 20 30 40 50

Other

Entertainment

Apparel

Transportation

Out-of-pocket

health care

2.9

6.8

5.2

13.3

15.1

16.3

21.2

3.8

17.8

4.3

11.2

17.6

3.9

18.9

4.1

SOURCE: Interview and diary portions of the 2002 Consumer Expenditure Survey.
Expenditures of the Aged Chartboo

SOURCE: Expenditure percentiles are computed using the interview portion of the 2002 Consumer Expenditure Survey; 

means are computed using the interview and diary portions.

NOTE: Defi nition of data points in box plots appears on page 7.

0

10

20

55–64 65–74 75 or older

Age group 25th percentile Median 75th percentile Mean

55–64 21.7 31.6 43.9 31.2

65–74 22.2 32.1 43.9 31.2

75 or older 24.5 34.8 48.1 34.7

65 or older 23.1 33.4 45.9 32.6
24 ♦ Expenditures of the Aged Chartbook

0

4

8

55–64 65–74 75 or older

X

X X

SOURCE: Expenditure percentiles are computed using the interview portion of the 2002 Consumer Expenditure Survey; 

means are computed using the interview and diary portions.

NOTE: Defi nition of data points in box plots appears on page 7.

Housing Expenditures 

Age group

Housing expenditures Per capita housing expenditures

25th

percentile Median

75th

percentile Mean

25th

percentile Median

75th

percentile Mean

55–64 5,492 9,025 15,052 13,731 2,817 4,796 8,121 7,310

65–74 4,296 6,736 11,132 9,972 2,452 4,064 6,830 6,053

75 or older 3,568 5,616 8,892 8,185 2,399 3,978 6,632 5,984

65 or older 3,882 6,136 10,081 9,099 2,423 4,023 6,716 6,020
Expenditures of the Aged Chartboo

SOURCE: Interview portion of the 2002 Consumer Expenditure 

Survey.

0

10

20

30

Owner without Renter

mortgage

Owner with

mortgage

26.1

9.4

38.0

19.2

16.2

23.5

0

10

20

30

Owner without Ren

mortgage

Owner with

mortgage

33.4

35.6 34.6

25.3 27.5

37.0

31.2

37

65 or

older

65 or

17.9 62.3 19.8 34.8 29.3 41

older

SOURCE: Interview and diary portions of the 2002 Consume

diture Survey.
26 ♦ Expenditures of the Aged Chartbook

0

10

55–64 65–74 75 or older

X

X X

SOURCE: Expenditure percentiles are computed using the interview portion of the 2002 Consumer Expenditure Survey; 

means are computed using the interview and diary portions.

NOTE: Defi nition of data points in box plots appears on page 7.

Age group 25th percentile Median 75th percentile Mean

55–64 10.1 14.8 21.0 12.6

65–74 11.2 16.7 23.4 14.0

75 or older 11.0 16.4 23.9 14.0

65 or older 11.1 16.5 23.6 14.0
Expenditures of the Aged Chartboo

SOURCE: Expenditure percentiles are computed using the interview portion of the 2002 Consumer Expenditure Survey; 

means are computed using the interview and diary portions.

NOTE: Defi nition of data points in box plots appears on page 7.

0

4

8

55–64 65–74 75 or older

X X X

Age group

Food expenditures Per capita food expenditures

25th

percentile Median

75th

percentile Mean

25th

percentile Median

75th

percentile Mean

55–64 2,860 4,500 6,560 5,559 1,560 2,355 3,320 2,866

65–74 2,340 3,620 5,552 4,478 1,519 2,140 3,120 2,586

75 or older 1,780 2,720 4,192 3,304 1,300 1,930 2,780 2,230

65 or older 2,080 3,156 4,940 3,910 1,420 2,060 2,940 2,414
28 ♦ Expenditures of the Aged Chartbook

SOURCE: Interview portion of the 2002 Consumer Expenditure Survey.

65 or older 35.0 percent spent 95 percent or more of their food expenditures on food at home

0

10

20

55–64 65–74 75 or older

22.1
Expenditures of the Aged Chartboo

SOURCE: Expenditure percentiles are computed using the interview portion of the 2002 Consumer Expenditure Survey; 

means are computed using the interview and diary portions.

NOTE: Defi nition of data points in box plots appears on page 7.

0

10

20

55–64 65–74 75 or older

X

X

X

Age group 25th percentile Median 75th percentile Mean

55–64 1.5 5.0 10.9 6.8

65–74 5.6 10.6 18.0 11.2

75 or older 7.8 14.4 23.9 15.1

65 or older 6.6 12.3 21.0 12.9
30 ♦ Expenditures of the Aged Chartbook

SOURCE: Expenditure percentiles are computed using the interview portion of the 2002 Consumer Expenditure Survey; 

means are computed using the interview and diary portions.

NOTE: Defi nition of data points in box plots appears on page 7.

Out-of-Pocket Healt

0

4

8

55–64 65–74 75 or older

X X X

Age group

Out-of-pocket health care expenditures

Per capita out-of-pocket

health care expenditures

25th

percentile Median

75th

percentile Mean

25th

percentile Median

75th

percentile Mea

55–64 540 1,560 3,792 3,009 246 843 1,958 1,57

65–74 1,128 2,356 4,588 3,599 648 1,456 2,682 2,11

75 or older 1,176 2,448 4,424 3,572 788 1,792 3,104 2,50

65 or older 1,152 2,400 4,488 3,586 708 1,616 2,872 2,30
Expenditures of the Aged Chartboo

SOURCE: Interview and diary portions of the 2002 Consumer Expenditure Survey.

a. Includes fee-for-service health plans, preferred-provider health plans, health maintenance organizations (HMOs), commercial 

Medicare supplements, Medicare payments, and other health insurance.

b. Includes hospital room and services, professional and physicians’ services, eye and dental care, lab tests and X-rays, medical care 

in a retirement community and convalescent or nursing home, and other medical care service.

c. Includes antiseptics, dressings and bandages, fi rst aid kits, contraceptives, syringes, ice bags, thermometers, vaporizers, heating 

pads, medical appliances (such as braces, canes, crutches, walkers, eyeglasses, and hearing aids), and rental and repair of medical equipment.

65 or older 16.2 26.2 4.6 52.6

0

10

20

Medical supplies Health insurance a Medical services b Drugs c

17.9

14.5

21.9 24.6

4.3 4.2 5.0
32 ♦ Expenditures of the Aged Chartbook

SOURCE: Expenditure percentiles are computed using the interview portion of the 2002 Consumer Expenditure Survey; 

means are computed using the interview and diary portions.

NOTE: Defi nition of data points in box plots appears on page 7.

Transpor

0

10

55–64 65–74 75 or older

Age group 25th percentile Median 75th percentile Mean

55–64 5.9 10.8 18.0 18.9

65–74 4.6 9.7 16.9 17.6

75 or older 1.6 5.9 13.1 13.3

65 or older 3.0 8.0 15.1 15.8
Expenditures of the Aged Chartboo

SOURCE: Expenditure percentiles are computed using the interview portion of the 2002 Consumer Expenditure Survey; 

means are computed using the interview and diary portions.

NOTE: Defi nition of data points in box plots appears on page 7.

0

4

8

55–64 65–74 75 or older

X

X

X

Age group

Transportation expenditures Per capita transportation expenditures

25th

percentile Median

75th

percentile Mean

25th

percentile Median

75th

percentile Mean

55–64 1,528 3,262 6,604 8,324 805 1,696 3,240 4,176

65–74 912 2,220 4,628 5,629 557 1,280 2,670 3,088

75 or older 240 1,024 2,640 3,128 180 720 1,732 1,984

65 or older 480 1,564 3,700 4,404 330 994 2,208 2,547
34 ♦ Expenditures of the Aged Chartbook

SOURCE: Interview and diary portions of the 2002 Consumer Expenditure Survey.

a. Includes expenditures for insurance, gas and motor oil, fi nance charges, maintenance and repairs, licenses, rentals, and other 

charges.

b. Includes expenditures for fares for travel by airplane, bus, train, and taxi.

Transpor

65 or older 52.5 6.6 40.9

0

10

20

Public transportation Purchase of new and used Other vehicle expenses a b

cars and trucks

6.1 6.5 6.7
Expenditures of the Aged Chartboo

SOURCE: Expenditure percentiles are computed using the interview portion of the 2002 Consumer Expenditure Survey; 

means are computed using the interview and diary portions.

NOTE: Defi nition of data points in box plots appears on page 7.

0

55–64 65–74 75 or older

Age group 25th percentile Median 75th percentile Mean

55–64 8.6 17.0 27.7 21.2

65–74 5.1 10.9 20.3 17.8

75 or older 2.9 8.2 15.9 16.3

65 or older 3.9 9.6 18.2 17.2
36 ♦ Expenditures of the Aged Chartbook

SOURCE: Expenditure percentiles are computed using the interview portion of the 2002 Consumer Expenditure Survey; 

means are computed using the interview and diary portions.

NOTE: Defi nition of data points in box plots appears on page 7.

0

4

55–64 65–74 75 or older

X

X X

Age group

Other expenditures Per capita other expenditures

25th

percentile Median

75th

percentile Mean

25th

percentile Median

75th

percentile Mean

55–64 2,104 5,129 11,055 9,331 1,068 2,682 5,685 4,873

65–74 910 2,524 5,529 5,711 568 1,452 3,105 3,325

75 or older 420 1,344 3,264 3,849 320 908 2,268 2,664

65 or older 608 1,900 4,458 4,802 420 1,174 2,662 3,002
Expenditures of the Aged Chartboo

SOURCE: Interview and diary portions of the 2002 Consumer Expenditure Survey.

a. Cash contributed to persons or organizations outside the consumer unit, including alimony and child support payments; care of stu

away from home; and contributions to religious, educational, charitable, or political organizations.

Percent

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Social Security

payroll taxes

Pension

contributions

Personal

insurance

Cash

contributions a

Miscellaneous

items

Tobacco

3.9

10.0

13.9

14.9

16.3

28.3

45.2

6.4

9.1

7.5

16.1

6.7

28.7

15.9

7.4

2.8

2.1
38 ♦ Expenditures of the Aged Chartbook

SOURCE: Interview portion of the 2002 Consumer Expenditure 

Survey.

65 or

older 24.7 percent have travel expenditures 

0

10

20

55–64 65–74 75 or older

17.7

0

10

20

55–64 65–74 75 or o

X X X

Age

group

25th

percentile Median

75th

percentile 

55–64 1.7 4.6 10.0 

65–74 1.8 5.1 12.1 

75 or older 1.8 4.3 10.5 

65 or older 1.8 4.5 11.5 

SOURCE: Interview portion of the 2002 Consumer E

Survey.

NOTE: Defi nition of data points in box plots appears