Table 1. Quintiles of income before taxes: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2010

http://www.bls.gov/cex/#tables

Item All consumer 

units

Lowest 20 

percent

Second 20 

percent

Third 20 

percent

Fourth 20 

percent

Highest 20 

percent

Number of consumer units (in thousands) 121,107 24,210 24,277 24,175 24,215 24,231

Lower limit n.a. n.a. $18,439 $35,209 $57,340 $91,931

Consumer unit characteristics: 

Income before taxes $62,481 $9,906 $26,777 $45,552 $72,794 $157,369

Income after taxes $60,712 $10,034 $26,966 $45,189 $71,220 $150,144

Age of reference person 49.4 51.0 51.7 49.3 47.3 47.8

Average number in consumer unit: 

Persons 2.5 1.7 2.3 2.6 2.9 3.2

Children under 18 0.6 0.4 0.6 0.6 0.7 0.8

Persons 65 and over 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.4 0.2 0.2

Earners 1.3 0.5 0.9 1.3 1.7 2.0

Vehicles 1.9 0.9 1.5 2.0 2.4 2.8

Percent distribution: 

Sex of reference person: 

Male 47 37 41 49 52 54

Female 53 63 59 51 48 46

 Housing tenure: 

 Homeowner 66 40 54 67 78 89

 With mortgage 41 12 23 41 57 71

 Without mortgage 25 28 31 27 21 18

 Renter 34 60 46 33 22 11

 Race of reference person: 

 Black or African-American 12 19 15 12 10 5

 White, Asian, and all other races 88 81 85 88 90 95

 Hispanic or Latino origin of reference person: 

 Hispanic or Latino 12 14 16 12 11 8

 Not Hispanic or Latino 88 86 84 88 89 92

 Education of reference person: 

1
 Elementary (1-8) 5 9 7 5 3 1

 High school (9-12) 35 48 45 37 29 15

 College 60 43 48 59 68 84

 Never attended and other a/ 1 a/ a/ a/ a/

 At least one vehicle owned or leased 88 66 86 94 97 98

Average annual expenditures $48,109 $20,953 $30,285 $41,212 $55,212 $92,870

 Food $6,129 $3,309 $4,214 $5,596 $6,843 $10,676

 Food at home $3,624 $2,270 $2,816 $3,433 $3,917 $5,683

 Cereals and bakery products $502 $315 $400 $465 $552 $775

 Cereals and cereal products $165 $104 $135 $153 $180 $251

 Bakery products $337 $211 $265 $312 $373 $524

 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs $784 $519 $608 $762 $854 $1,179

 Beef $217 $133 $157 $213 $254 $326

 Pork $149 $99 $120 $160 $162 $203

 Other meats $117 $78 $85 $109 $137 $177

 Poultry $138 $100 $115 $136 $141 $199

 Fish and seafood $117 $74 $91 $99 $113 $209

 Eggs $46 $35 $40 $45 $46 $65

 Dairy products $380 $230 $291 $355 $414 $611

 Fresh milk and cream $141 $95 $118 $132 $155 $205

 Other dairy products $240 $135 $174 $224 $259 $406

 Fruits and vegetables $679 $410 $539 $615 $711 $1,122

 Fresh fruits $232 $133 $181 $195 $244 $408

 Fresh vegetables $210 $127 $170 $188 $222 $345

 Processed fruits $113 $70 $85 $108 $115 $186

 Processed vegetables $124 $80 $103 $123 $130 $183

 Other food at home $1,278 $796 $977 $1,236 $1,385 $1,996

 Sugar and other sweets $132 $85 $101 $124 $146 $203

 Fats and oils $103 $69 $83 $103 $105 $153

 Miscellaneous foods $667 $414 $499 $630 $731 $1,059

 Nonalcoholic beverages $333 $217 $276 $345 $348 $481

 Food prepared by consumer unit on out-of-town trips $43 $10 $18 $34 $55 $99

 Food away from home $2,505 $1,039 $1,398 $2,164 $2,926 $4,993

 Alcoholic beverages $412 $153 $211 $359 $466 $869

2
 Housing $16,557 $8,667 $11,369 $14,508 $18,625 $29,615

 Shelter $9,812 $5,167 $6,586 $8,496 $10,912 $17,897

 Owned dwellings $6,277 $1,739 $2,929 $4,960 $7,663 $14,096

 Mortgage interest and charges $3,351 $690 $1,180 $2,531 $4,347 $8,009

 Property taxes $1,814 $589 $1,003 $1,440 $2,118 $3,920

 Maintenance, repairs, insurance, other expenses $1,112 $460 $746 $989 $1,198 $2,167

 Rented dwellings $2,900 $3,262 $3,421 $3,184 $2,657 $1,974

 Other lodging $635 $167 $236 $353 $592 $1,827

 Utilities, fuels, and public services $3,660 $2,216 $3,053 $3,603 $4,185 $5,242

 Natural gas $440 $239 $365 $414 $486 $696

 Electricity $1,413 $957 $1,242 $1,408 $1,583 $1,873

 Fuel oil and other fuels $140 $89 $109 $127 $144 $232

 Telephone services $1,178 $654 $956 $1,193 $1,392 $1,693

 Water and other public services $489 $276 $382 $461 $580 $748

 Household operations $1,007 $373 $513 $733 $1,147 $2,270

 Personal services $340 $92 $124 $188 $403 $893

 Other household expenses $667 $281 $389 $545 $744 $1,377

 Housekeeping supplies $612 $343 $423 $525 $713 $1,054

 Laundry and cleaning supplies $150 $104 $115 $146 $171 $216

 Other household products $329 $167 $225 $271 $397 $585

 Postage and stationery $132 $72 $83 $108 $145 $253

 Household furnishings and equipment $1,467 $568 $794 $1,151 $1,668 $3,152

 Household textiles $102 $52 $52 $80 $115 $213

 Furniture $355 $140 $195 $280 $383 $778

 Floor coverings $36 $7 $9 $29 $33 $103

 Major appliances $209 $69 $114 $183 $276 $404

 Small appliances, miscellaneous housewares $107 $46 $61 $110 $107 $208

 Miscellaneous household equipment $657 $255 $362 $469 $753 $1,446

 

 Apparel and services $1,700 $774 $1,154 $1,372 $1,737 $3,461

 Men and boys $382 $145 $236 $301 $393 $833

 Men, 16 and over $304 $102 $184 $227 $310 $697

 Boys, 2 to 15 $78 $43 $52 $74 $83 $136

 Women and girls $663 $295 $455 $522 $735 $1,304

 Women, 16 and over $562 $236 $384 $439 $632 $1,115

 Girls, 2 to 15 $101 $59 $71 $83 $103 $189

 Children under 2 $91 $54 $76 $89 $95 $138

 Footwear $303 $174 $254 $303 $280 $507

3
 Other apparel products and services $261 $106 $133 $157 $233 $679

 

 Transportation $7,677 $2,868 $5,002 $7,160 $9,432 $13,924

 Vehicle purchases (net outlay) $2,588 $627 $1,583 $2,320 $3,373 $5,040

 Cars and trucks, new $1,219 $127 $533 $1,074 $1,557 $2,805

 Cars and trucks, used $1,318 $497 $1,015 $1,174 $1,724 $2,179

 Other vehicles $51 b/ 2 b/ 35 $71 $92 $55

 Gasoline and motor oil $2,132 $1,009 $1,598 $2,180 $2,634 $3,240

 Other vehicle expenses $2,464 $1,082 $1,585 $2,347 $2,967 $4,337

 Vehicle finance charges $243 $48 $127 $234 $365 $441

 Maintenance and repairs $787 $369 $537 $721 $917 $1,392

 Vehicle insurance $1,010 $535 $708 $1,082 $1,199 $1,526

 Vehicle rental, leases, licenses, and other charges $423 $130 $212 $311 $485 $979

 Public transportation $493 $150 $235 $313 $457 $1,307

 

 Health care $3,157 $1,524 $2,649 $3,068 $3,715 $4,827

 Health insurance $1,831 $886 $1,578 $1,863 $2,201 $2,624

 Medical services $722 $264 $537 $631 $845 $1,335

 Drugs $485 $321 $437 $476 $538 $653

 Medical supplies $119 $54 $96 $98 $132 $215

 

 Entertainment $2,504 $1,018 $1,450 $1,984 $2,792 $5,277

 Fees and admissions $581 $131 $193 $373 $599 $1,610

 Audio and visual equipment and services $954 $538 $698 $919 $1,129 $1,487

 Pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment $606 $261 $408 $502 $727 $1,128

 Other entertainment supplies, equipment, and services $364 $88 $150 $190 $338 $1,052

 

 Personal care products and services $582 $277 $386 $488 $642 $1,117

 

 Reading $100 $45 $66 $84 $107 $197

 

 Education $1,074 $635 $408 $510 $813 $3,005

 

 Tobacco products and smoking supplies $362 $323 $375 $421 $420 $272

 

 Miscellaneous $849 $356 $461 $797 $1,169 $1,461

4
 

 Cash contributions $1,633 $559 $981 $1,392 $1,927 $3,307

 

 Personal insurance and pensions $5,373 $446 $1,560 $3,473 $6,523 $14,861

 Life and other personal insurance $318 $89 $148 $215 $364 $775

 Pensions and Social Security $5,054 $357 $1,412 $3,258 $6,159 $14,086

 

Sources of income and personal taxes: 

 Money income before taxes $62,481 $9,906 $26,777 $45,552 $72,794 $157,369

 Wages and salaries $49,568 $3,856 $15,419 $33,159 $59,928 $135,474

 Self-employment income $2,820 -$957 $634 $1,334 $3,001 $10,087

 Social Security, private and government retirement $7,173 $4,644 $8,251 $8,499 $7,375 $7,094

 Interest, dividends, rental income, other property income $1,182 $131 $409 $885 $945 $3,539

 Unemployment and workers' compensation, veterans' benefits $634 $380 $714 $797 $769 $508

 Public assistance, supplemental security income, food stamps $505 $1,086 $747 $377 $235 $82

 Regular contributions for support $407 $401 $409 $357 $433 $437

 Other income $192 $365 $195 $145 $109 $149

 

 Personal taxes $1,769 -$129 -$189 $363 $1,573 $7,225

 Federal income taxes $1,136 -$163 -$330 $54 $898 $5,219

 2008 Tax stimulus (thru Q20091) c/ c/ c/ c/ c/ c/

 State and local income taxes $482 -$3 $66 $212 $494 $1,643

 Other taxes $151 $38 $75 $98 $181 $364

 

 Income after taxes $60,712 $10,034 $26,966 $45,189 $71,220 $150,144

 

Addenda: 

 Net change in total assets and liabilities -$4,458 $557 -$345 -$1,894 -$7,194 -$13,412

 Net change in total assets $5,503 $1,250 $889 $4,477 $5,096 $15,805

 Net change in total liabilities $9,960 $692 $1,234 $6,371 $12,290 $29,216

 

 Other financial information: 

 

 Other money receipts $555 $399 $427 $558 $383 $1,008

 Mortgage principal paid on owned property -$2,013 -$389 -$706 -$1,427 -$2,527 -$5,018

 Estimated market value of owned home $155,083 $57,423 $92,064 $123,211 $173,902 $328,790

5
 Estimated monthly rental value of owned home $849 $350 $536 $731 $989 $1,640

 

 Gifts of goods and services $1,029 $374 $557 $701 $1,002 $2,513

 Food $89 $26 $28 $64 $85 $239

 Alcoholic beverages $14 $4 $9 $11 $22 $25

 Housing $199 $134 $104 $149 $191 $417

 Housekeeping supplies $25 $17 $19 $22 $26 $42

 Household textiles $8 $3 $3 $11 $9 $16

 Appliances and miscellaneous housewares $22 $9 $8 $29 $18 $47

 Major appliances $5 a/ $3 b/ 3 $6 $12

 Small appliances and miscellaneous housewares $17 $8 $6 $26 $12 $35

 Miscellaneous household equipment $47 $13 $29 $33 $45 $113

 Other housing $97 $93 $45 $53 $94 $198

 Apparel and services $212 $89 $192 $212 $218 $348

 Males, 2 and over $50 $17 $36 $40 $51 $103

 Females, 2 and over $73 $31 $80 $75 $67 $113

 Children under 2 $47 $22 $36 $49 $51 $76

 Other apparel products and services $42 $18 $39 $48 $49 $56

 Jewelry and watches $17 $5 $11 $20 $24 $26

 All other apparel products and services $25 $13 $28 $28 $24 $30

 Transportation $85 $17 $48 $61 $151 $147

 Health care $21 b/ 4 $9 $20 $23 $49

 Entertainment $95 $45 $51 $64 $96 $219

 Toys, games, arts and crafts, and tricycles $38 b/ 12 $25 $19 $34 $98

 Other entertainment $58 $34 $26 $45 $63 $120

 Personal care products and services $13 $3 $24 $9 $8 $23

 Reading $1 $1 $1 $1 $1 $2

 Education $221 $17 $39 $56 $105 $886

 All other gifts $80 $34 $53 $55 $101 $157

 a Value is less than or equal to 0.5. 

 b Data are likely to have large sampling errors. 

 c No data reported. 

 n.a. Not applicable. 

 

Source: Consumer Expenditure Survey, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, September, 2011

6
112,630

0.02752

0.03729

7
8
9
http://www.bls.gov/cex/csxgloss.htm#trans

"Vehicle purchases (net outlay) includes the net outlay (purchase price 

minus trade-in value) on new and used domestic and imported cars and 

trucks and other vehicles, including motorcycles and private planes."

"Vehicle finance charges includes the dollar amount of interest paid for a loan contracted for the purchase of vehicles described above."

10
Item 

All 

consumer 

units

Lowest 20 

percent

Second 20 

percent

Third 20 

percent

Fourth 20 

percent

Highest 20 

percent

Number of consumer units (in thousands) 121,107 24,210 24,277 24,175 24,215 24,231

Lower limit n.a. n.a. $18,439 $35,209 $57,340 $91,931

Consumer unit characteristics: 

Income before taxes $62,481 $9,906 $26,777 $45,552 $72,794 $157,369

Income after taxes $60,712 $10,034 $26,966 $45,189 $71,220 $150,144

Age of reference person 49.4 51.0 51.7 49.3 47.3 47.8

Average number in consumer unit: 

Persons 2.5 1.7 2.3 2.6 2.9 3.2

Children under 18 0.6 0.4 0.6 0.6 0.7 0.8

Persons 65 and over 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.4 0.2 0.2

Earners 1.3 0.5 0.9 1.3 1.7 2.0

Vehicles 1.9 0.9 1.5 2.0 2.4 2.8

 Housing tenure: 

 Homeowner 66 40 54 67 78 89

 With mortgage 41 12 23 41 57 71

 Without mortgage 25 28 31 27 21 18

 Renter 34 60 46 33 22 11

 Housing $16,557 $8,667 $11,369 $14,508 $18,625 $29,615

 Shelter $9,812 $5,167 $6,586 $8,496 $10,912 $17,897

 Owned dwellings $6,277 $1,739 $2,929 $4,960 $7,663 $14,096

 Mortgage interest and charges $3,351 $690 $1,180 $2,531 $4,347 $8,009

0.134622 0.573052 0.190256 0.136608 0.107081 0.07513