file:///U|/Desktop/test/PURLS%20for%20Perm/1992_cesan_110893.txt[11/26/2018 1:33:04 PM]

TEXT

 

 Technical information:(202) 606-6900 USDL 93-479 

 Media contact: 606-5902 FOR RELEASE: 10:00 A.M. EST 

 Monday, Nov. 8, 1993 

 

 CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 1992 

 Average annual expenditures per consumer unit edged upward in 1992, 

 increasing less than 1 percent from 1991, according to results from the 

 Consumer Expenditure Survey released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. 

 Department of Labor. Expenditures rose 4 percent in 1991 and 2 percent in 

 1990. General price levels, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), 

 rose 3 percent from 1991 to 1992. 

 

 The percent changes in expenditures from 1991 to 1992 varied among the 

 major components of spending. Food expenditures showed no change; housing, 

 transportation, and entertainment rose about 2 percent; health care rose 5 

 percent; and apparel and services and personal insurance and pensions each 

 fell by 1 percent. Consumer Expenditure Survey data for 1990, 1991, and 1992 

 are shown in table 1. 

 

 Table 1. Annual expenditures of all consumer units and percent changes, 

 Consumer Expenditure Survey, 1990-92 

 Percent change 

 Item 1990 1991 1992 1990-91 1991-92 

 Number of consumer units 96,968 97,918 100,019 

 Income before taxes 1/ $31,889 $33,901 $33,854 

 Average age 

 of reference person 47.2 47.5 47.6 

 Average number in consumer unit: 

 Persons 2.6 2.6 2.5 

 Earners 1.4 1.4 1.3 

 Vehicles 2.0 2.0 1.9 

 Percent homeowner 62 63 61 

 

 Average annual 

 expenditures $28,369 $29,614 $29,846 4.4 0.8 

 Food 4,296 4,271 4,273 -0.6 0 

 Food at home 2,485 2,651 2,643 6.7 -.3 

 Food away from home 1,811 1,620 1,631 -10.5 .7 

 Housing 8,690 9,252 9,477 6.5 2.4 

 Apparel and services 1,617 1,735 1,710 7.3 -1.4 

 Transportation 5,122 5,151 5,228 0.6 1.5 

 Health care 1,480 1,554 1,634 5.0 5.1 

 Entertainment 1,422 1,472 1,500 3.5 1.9 

 Personal insurance 

 and pensions 2,592 2,787 2,750 7.5 -1.3 
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 Other expenditures 3,149 3,392 3,274 7.7 -3.5 

 1/ Income values are derived from "complete income reporters" only. 

 

 The strength of the Consumer Expenditure Survey data is in the ability to 

 associate expenditures by consumers with the demographic characteristics of 

 those consumers. A soon-to-be-published report will include tables showing 

 the data classified by income quintile, income class, size of consumer unit, 

 number of earners, type of consumer unit, age of the reference person, region 

 of residence, housing tenure, race, type of area (urban-rural), and 

 occupation. These are standard classifications that have been published in 

 prior reports and bulletins. The report will be sent to all persons on the 

 Consumer Expenditure Survey mailing list. 

 

 There is an ongoing effort by BLS to provide as much reliable data from 

 the Consumer Expenditure Survey as is possible. An example of this effort can 

 be seen in the expanded income class table in the upcoming annual report. 

 Until now, the highest income class shown in published tables was $50,000 and 

 over. As consumer unit incomes have increased over time, the number of 

 consumers in the highest income class has reached the point where it is 

 sufficiently large to be divided into two new classes. Starting with the 

 upcoming report, the income class table will show upper classes of $50,000 to 

 $69,999 and $70,000 and over. Tables with an upper class of $50,000 and over 

 will be made available to users who wish to make comparisons with earlier 

 years. 

 

 The 1992 Diary and Interview microdata are now available on public use 

 tapes. These tapes are available for annual data back to 1980. The 1992 EXPN 

 public use tapes which include non-expenditure information and more detailed 

 expenditure records than are found on the Interview survey tapes will be 

 available in the near future. Tabulations of integrated data for 1992 with 

 more detail than is shown in this news release or in the annual report are 

 available. 

 

 For further information, contact the Division of Consumer Expenditure 

 Surveys, Office of Prices and Living Conditions, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2 

 Massachusetts Ave., NE., Washington, DC 20212-0001 or call 202-606-6900.