U.S. Department of Labor 

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

April 2009

Report 1016

Consumer Expenditures

in 2007

1 2 5 Y E AR S

BLS

Consumer units

 (CUs) spent $49,638, on average, in 

2007, a 2.6-percent increase over the previous year. 

This was a more moderate increase than the 4.3-percent growth in spending in 2006 and the 6.9-percent increase 

in 2005. The increase in consumer expenditures in 2007 was 

close to the 2.8-percent increase in the Consumer Price Index 

for All Items (CPI-U) in 2007. This report shows the latest 

results from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer 

Expenditure Survey (CE).

Developments in 2007

The major components of spending—food, housing, apparel 

and services, transportation, healthcare, entertainment, and 

personal insurance and pensions—account for about 90 percent of total expenditures, and all of these showed increases 

in 2007. (See table A.) Expenditures increased by 0.4 percent 

for food, by 3.4 percent for housing, by 0.4 percent for apparel and services, by 2.9 percent for transportation, by 3.

percent for healthcare, by 13.6 percent for entertainment, and

by 1.3 percent for personal insurance and pensions

A 1.4-percent increase in spending on food at home followed an increase of 3.6 percent in 2006. Spending on food

away from home decreased by 1.0 percent in 2007, after increasing 2.3 percent in 2006. Thus, total food expenditures in

2007 rose 0.4 percent, following increases of 3.0 percent in 

2006 and 2.6 percent in 2005. 

Across the four Census regions—Northeast, Midwest, 

South, and West—changes on food spending in 2007 were 

quite varied. The West region had the highest dollar expenditures compared with the other regions. However, food 

expenditures in the West decreased by 4.8 percent in 2007, 

compared with an increase of 12.9 percent in 2006. Also in

the West region, spending on food at home decreased by 4.9 

percent and spending on food away from home decreased 

by 4.8 percent. In contrast, total food spending in the Northeast increased 3.2 percent as food at home increased by 3.8 

percent and food away from home increased by 2.4 percent. 

Expenditures on food in the Midwest in 2007 were similar 

to 2006 expenditures, with an increase of 0.5 percent in total 

food spending, resulting from a small decrease in expenditures on food at home (–0.2 percent) and an increase in expenditures on food away from home (1.5 percent). Spending

in the South increased for total food (2.3 percent), as food 

at home rose by 5.6 percent and food away from home decreased by 1.8 percent.

Housing expenditures, the largest component of spending, 

rose 3.4 percent in 2007, following a 7.9-percent increase in 

2006. By comparison, housing expenditures rose 9.0 percent 

in 2005 and 3.6 percent in 2004. The share of total expenditures allocated to housing increased over the last 3 years, 

from 32.7 percent in 2005, to 33.8 percent in 2006, to 34.

percent in 2007. (See table B.) There were increases across 

several of the housing expenditure subcomponents in 2007. 

Spending on shelter increased 3.6 percent, following a 9.9-

percent increase in 2006. In the owned dwellings subcomponent of shelter, expenditures on mortgage interest and charges 

increased 3.7 percent in 2007, less than the increase of 13

percent in 2006. Spending on the other subcomponents of 

shelter rose 0.5 percent for rented dwellings and 21.9 percent

for other lodging in 2007, compared with increases of 10.4

percent and 12.9 percent, respectively, in 2006. Expenditures

for utilities, fuels, and public services increased 2.4 percent, 

lower than the 6.7-percent increase in 2006. The 3.0-percent 

increase in the CPI for fuels and utilities in 2007 was close to 

the change in spending. 

In 2007, the increase in housing expenditures in rural areas (5.6 percent) was higher than those in urban areas (3.3 

percent). Despite the larger spending increase in rural areas 

in 2007, urban consumer units continued to spend a larger 

share of their overall expenditures on housing than did rural consumers. There were also differences in the way urban 

and rural consumers allocated their expenditures among the 

housing components, especially for shelter. Chart  shows

the share of total expenditures allocated to housing and its 

components in urban and rural areas.

Spending on household operations, another subcomponent of housing, showed an increase of 3.8 percent in 2007, 

much smaller than the 18.4-percent increase in 2006. The increase in 2007 was the result of moderate increases in the two

subcomponents of household operations: personal services 

spending rose 5.6 percent and other household expenses rose 

 See the glossary at the end of this report for a definition of consumer 

unit.


	 	 	 	

Percent change

2005–06	 2006–07

Number of consumer units (in thousands)....................... 	 117,356	 118,843	 120,171	 ...	 ...	

Income before taxes .......................................................	 $58,712	 $60,533	 $63,091	 ...	 ...

Averages:	 	

	 Age of reference person............................................. 	 48.6	 48.7	 48.8	 ...	 ...

	 Number of persons in consumer unit ......................... 	 2.5	 2.5	 2.5	 ...	 ...

	 Number of earners ..................................................... 	 1.3	 1.3	 1.3	 ...	 ...

	 Number of vehicles ....................................................	 2.0	 1.9	 1.9	 ...	 ...

Percent homeowner ........................................................ 67	 67	 67	 ...	 ...

	 	 	 	 	

Average annual expenditures.......................................... 	 $46,409	 $48,398	 $49,638	 4.3	 2.6

	 Food...........................................................................	 5,931	 6,111	 6,133	 3.0	 

	 	 Food at home........................................................ 	 3,297	 3,417	 3,465	 3.6	 1.4

	 	 	 Cereals and bakery products .......................... 	 445	 446	 460	 .2	 3.1

	 	 	 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs.......................... 	 764	 797	 777	 4.3	 –2.5

	 	 	 Dairy products ................................................. 	 378	 368	 387	 –2.6	 5.2

	 	 	 Fruits and vegetables...................................... 	 552	 592	 600	 7.2	 1.4

	 	 	 Other food at home ......................................... 	 1,158	 1,212	 1,241	 4.7	 2.4

	 	 Food away from home.......................................... 	 2,634	 2,694	 2,668	 2.3	 –1.0

	 Alcoholic beverages................................................... 	 426	 497	 457	 16.7	 –8.0

	 Housing .....................................................................	 15,167	 16,366	 16,920	 7.9	 3.4

	 	 Shelter .................................................................	 8,805	 9,673	 10,023	 9.9	 3.6

	 	 Utilities, fuels, and public services........................ 	 3,183	 3,397	 3,477	 6.7	 2.4

	 	 Household operations........................................... 	 801	 948	 984	 18.4	 3.8

	 	 Housekeeping supplies......................................... 	 611	 640	 639	 4.7	 –.2

	 	 Household furnishings and equipment ................. 	 1,767	 1,708	 1,797	 –3.3	 5.2

	 Apparel and services.................................................. 	 1,886	 1,874	 1,881	 –.6	 .4

	 Transportation ............................................................	 8,344	 8,508	 8,758	 2.0	 2.9

	 	 Vehicle purchases (net outlay).............................. 	 3,544	 3,421	 3,244	 –3.5	 –5.2

	 	 Gasoline and motor oil.......................................... 	 2,013	 2,227	 2,384	 10.6	 7.0

	 	 Other vehicle expenses ........................................ 	 2,339	 2,355	 2,592	 .7	 10.1

	 	 Public transportation............................................. 	 448	 505	 538	 12.7	 6.5

	 Healthcare..................................................................	 2,664	 2,766	 2,853	 3.8	 3.1

	 Entertainment.............................................................	 2,388	 2,376	 2,698	 –.5	 13.6

	 Personal care products and services......................... 	 541	 585	 588	 8.1	 .5

	 Reading......................................................................	 126	 117	 118	 –7.1	 .9

	 Education	...................................................................	 940	 888	 945	 –5.5	 6.4

	 Tobacco products and smoking supplies ................... 	 319	 327	 323	 2.5	 –1.2

	 Miscellaneous ...........................................................	 808	 846	 808	 4.7	 –4.5

	 Cash contributions .....................................................	 1,663	 1,869	 1,821	 12.4	 –2.6

	 Personal insurance and pensions.............................. 	 5,204	 5,270	 5,336	 1.3	 1.3

	 	 Life and other personal insurance ........................ 	 381	 322	 309	 –15.5	 –4.0

	 	 Pensions and Social Security.......................... 	 4,823	 4,948	 5,027	 2.6	 1.6

	 	 	 	

Item	 2004	 2005	 2006	 2007

Average annual expenditures....................................................................	 100.0	 100.0	 100.0	 100.0

	 Food.....................................................................................................	 13.3	 12.8	 12.6	 12.4

	 	 Food at home..................................................................................	 7.7	 7.1	 7.1	 7.0

	 	 Food away from home....................................................................	 5.6	 5.7	 5.6	 5.4

	 Alcoholic beverages.............................................................................	 1.1	 .9	 1.0	 .9

	 Housing................................................................................................	 32.1	 32.7	 33.8	 34.1

	 Apparel and services............................................................................	 4.2	 4.1	 3.9	 3.8

	 Transportation ......................................................................................	 18.0	 18.0	 17.6	 17.6

	 	 Vehicles ..........................................................................................	 7.8	 7.6	 7.1	 6.5

	 	 Gasoline and motor oil....................................................................	 3.7	 4.3	 4.6	 4.8

	 	 Other transportation........................................................................	 6.5	 6.0	 5.9	 6.3

	 Healthcare............................................................................................	 5.9	 5.7	 5.7	 5.7

	 Entertainment.......................................................................................	 5.1	 5.1	 4.9	 5.4

	 Personal care products and services...................................................	 1.3	 1.2	 1.2	 1.2

	 Reading................................................................................................	 .3	 .3	 .2	 .2

	 Education .............................................................................................	 2.1	 2.0	 1.8	 1.9

	 Tobacco products and smoking supplies .............................................	 .7	 .7	 .7	 .7

	 Miscellaneous ...................................................................................... 

	 Cash contributions ...............................................................................	 3.2	 3.6	 3.9	 3.7

	 Personal insurance and pensions........................................................	 11.1	 11.2	 10.9	 10.7

	 	 Life and other personal insurance ..................................................	 .9	 .8	 .7	 .6

	 	 Pensions and Social Security .........................................................	 10.2	 10.4	 10.2	 10.1

	 	

Table A. Average annual expenditures of all consumer units and percent changes, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2005–

Table B. Percent distribution of total annual expenditures, by major category, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2004–07

Item	 2005	 2006	 2007
2.5 percent. Within the personal services subcomponent, a 

couple of items showed large increases: spending on care for 

the elderly and invalids increased 34.9 percent in 2007 and 

spending on babysitting and childcare in one’s own home 

increased 18.2 percent. Expenditures on housekeeping supplies, the smallest component of housing, decreased by 0.2

percent in 2007, whereas expenditures on household furnishings and equipment increased by 5.2 percent. 

Expenditures on apparel and services increased by 0.4 percent in 2007, following a decrease of 0.6 percent in 2006 and 

an increase of 3.9 percent in 2005. Spending on footwear increased by 7.6 percent, whereas spending on men’s and boys’ 

apparel decreased by 2.0 percent and spending on women’s 

and girls’ apparel dropped 0.3 percent. Expenditures on other 

apparel products and services also fell in 2007, by 1.4 percent. Other apparel products and services include items such

as jewelry, alterations, and drycleaning. 

Transportation spending rose by 2.9 percent in 2007, following an increase of 2.0 percent in 2006. Several subcomponents experienced increases in 2007: vehicle insurance by 

20.9 percent, gasoline and motor oil by 7.0 percent, maintenance and repairs by 7.3 percent, and public transportation by 

6.5 percent. (The increase in spending on vehicle insurance 

can be attributed to a change from the Interview Survey to the 

Diary Survey as the source for data on that item. When data 

are available from both surveys, the more reliable of the two 

(as determined by statistical methods) is selected. As a result, 

some items are selected from the Interview Survey, others from 

the Diary Survey. The survey source is periodically reviewed 

to determine which source is better.) However, the increases 

in the subcomponent of transportation were partially offset by 

a decrease in spending on vehicle purchases (5.2 percent). The 

biggest subcomponent, vehicle purchases, typically consists 

of large expenditures made infrequently, so it is common to 

see fluctuations from year to year because even small changes 

in the percentage of consumer units purchasing vehicles can 

affect the mean expenditure for that category. The increase in 

gasoline and motor oil expenditures (7.0 percent) was slightly 

less than the 8.2-percent rise in motor fuel prices as measured 

by the CPI. In terms of quintiles of income, CUs in the fourth 

income quintile had the largest increase in transportation expenditures (9.3 percent) in 2007, followed by the second income quintile (8.3 percent). Transportation expenditures decreased in the highest income quintile (–3.6 percent). Those in 

the third income quintile had the largest spending increase on 

gasoline and motor oil (10.8 percent), followed by the second

income quintile (8.9 percent). The latter quintile also had the 

largest increase in spending on public transportation in 2007 

(14.7 percent), followed by the highest income quintile (14.

percent). The rise in expenditures on public transportation in 

these two components was due primarily to large increases in 

airline fares: 34.7 percent for the second income quintile and 

17.7 percent for the highest income quintile.

Expenditures on healthcare increased 3.1 percent in

2007, compared with a 3.8-percent increase in 2006. Of the 

healthcare subcomponents, health insurance (5.5 percent), 

medical services (5.8 percent), and medical supplies (0.9 

percent) posted spending increases. The increase in health 

insurance expenditures was smaller than the 7.6-percent 

increase in 2006 but larger than the increase of 2.2 percent 

Chart 1. Shares of total expenditures for housing, by type of area, Consumer Expenditure Survey 2007

Share of total 

expediture

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

34.5

20.8

6.9

2 1.3

3.5

28.6

12.7

8.1

1.7 1.5

4.6

Urban Rural

Housing Shelter Utilities, fuels, 

and public 

services

Household 

operations

Housekeeping 

supplies

Household 

furnishings and 

equipment

Share of total 

expediture

Chart 1. Shares of total expenditures for housing, by type of area, Consumer Expenditure Survey 2007

Share of total

expenditure

Share of total

expenditure


Chart 2. Shares of total expenditures for health care, by age group, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 1997 and 2007

Share of total 

expediture

Share of total 

expediture

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

5.3

2.3

3.5

4 4.3

6.1

11.7

5.7

2.7

3.7 3.9

4.8

6.5

1997 2007 12.7

All consumer 

units

Under 25 years 25–34 years 35–44 years 45–54 years 55–64 years 65 years and 

older

Share of total

expenditure

Share of total

expenditure

Chart 2. Shares of total expenditures for health care, by age group, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 1997 and 2007

in 2005, and lower than the increase of 6.4 percent in 2004

The under-25 age group showed the largest increase (13.3 

percent) in healthcare expenditures in 2007, followed by the 

65-and-older group (6.9 percent) and the 25-to-34-year-old

group (5.3 percent). Medical service expenditures for those 

under 25 increased by 38.3 percent in 2007, due to a 61.7-

percent increase in expenditures on physician’s services. 

Health insurance expenditures for the 65-and-older group 

rose 5.8 percent in 2007, driven mainly by an increase of 

7.0 percent in Medicare payments and by more consumer 

units reporting expenditures on the Medicare prescription 

drug premium. The 65-and-older group spent an average of 

$198 on the Medicare prescription drug premium in 2007, an 

83.3-percent increase from 2006. The only subcomponent of 

healthcare that showed a decrease in expenditures was drugs, 

which fell 6.4 percent. For all consumer units, out-of-pocket

spending on prescription drugs dropped 8.7 percent, with a 

7.3-percent decrease in the 65-and-older group likely due to 

the increased participation in the Medicare prescription drug 

benefit program. In comparison, in 2006, the first year the 

benefit was implemented, expenditures on prescription drugs 

decreased 3.0 percent for all consumer units and 12.4 percent

for those 65 and older.

Despite the fact that the under-25 age group had the largest increase in healthcare expenditures in 2007, only 2.7 

percent of total expenditures for the group was allocated to 

healthcare, compared with the 12.7-percent share spent by 

the 65-and-older group. Chart 2 shows the shares of total expenditures for healthcare in 1997 and 2007. Over that period, 

expenditure shares increased for most groups.

The 13.6-percent increase in entertainment spending in 

2007 followed a 0.5-percent decrease in 2006. In 2007, expenditures for pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment 

rose by 35.9 percent, due to a large increase in spending on 

pet purchases, supplies, and medicine. The increase in pet purchases, supplies, and medicine is attributable to a switch from 

the Diary Survey to the Interview Survey in 2007. Spending 

on other entertainment supplies, equipment, and services increased by 9.3 percent in 2007, compared with a decrease of 

8.3 percent in 2006. This subcomponent includes items such 

as recreational vehicles, boats, and campers, which are typically large and infrequent purchases. Accordingly, it is common to see volatility from year to year because even small 

changes in the percentage of consumer units purchasing these 

items can affect the mean expenditure for the subcomponent.

Spending on personal insurance and pensions, increased 

by 1.3 percent in 2007, following a similar increase in 2006 

and a 7.9-percent increase in 2005. In 2007, a 4.0-percent 

decrease in expenditures in the life and other personal insurance subcomponent was offset by a 1.6-percent increase in 

expenditures in the larger subcomponent of pensions and Social Security. 

In regards to other spending components, expenditures 

on cash contributions decreased by 2.6 percent in 2007, following an increase of 12.4 percent in 2006 and an increase

of 18.1 percent in 2005. The 2007 decrease was due largely 

to spending decreases in contributions to churches and religious organizations (9.0 percent), to educational institutions 

(54.5 percent), and to political organizations (54.5 percent)

A relatively low percentage of CUs report contributions to 
educational institutions and political organizations, and the 

amounts contributed can be large; thus, expenditure changes 

in this category tend to be volatile.

Spending on personal care products and services increased 

by 0.5 percent in 2007, following an increase of 8.1 percent

in 2006 and a drop of 6.9 percent in 2005, as the category exhibited some year-to-year volatility. Expenditures on reading 

increased by 0.9 percent in 2007, following a decrease of 7.

percent in 2006. In 2007, education spending increased by 

6.4 percent, after a 5.5-percent decrease in 2006, and a 3.9-

percent increase in 2005. Of the two major items in this expenditure category, college tuition increased by 11.6 percen

and elementary and high school tuition decreased by 1.9 percent. These large expenditures with low percent reporting by

consumer units display volatility from year to year. Spending 

on alcoholic beverages also has shown some volatility over 

the last few years: expenditures fell by 8.0 percent in 2007, 

following an increase of 16.7 percent in 2006 and a decrease

of 7.2 percent in 2005. Finally, spending on tobacco products 

and smoking supplies decreased by 1.2 percent in 2007, after

an increase of 2.5 percent in 2006. 

Brief description of the Consumer Expenditure 

Survey

The current CE program began in 1980. Its principal objective is to collect information on the buying habits of American

consumers. Consumer Expenditure Survey data are used in a 

variety of research endeavors by government, business, labor, and academic analysts. In addition, the data are required 

for the regular revision of the CPI market basket.

The survey, which is conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau 

for the Bureau of Labor Statistics, consists of two components: a diary, or recordkeeping, survey, completed by participating consumer units for two consecutive 1-week periods;

and an interview survey, in which expenditures of consumer 

units are obtained in five interviews conducted at 3-month 

intervals. Results in this report are based on integrated data 

from both surveys.

Survey participants record dollar amounts for goods and 

services purchased during the reporting period, regardless of 

whether payment is or is not made at the time of purchase. 

Expenditure amounts include all sales and excise taxes for all 

items purchased by the consumer unit for itself or for others. 

Excluded from both surveys are all business-related expenditures, as well as expenditures for which the consumer unit is 

reimbursed.

Each component of the survey queries an independent 

sample of consumer units that is representative of the U.S. 

population. For the Diary Survey, about 7,000 consumer 

units are sampled each year. Each consumer unit keeps a diary for two 1-week periods, yielding approximately 14,00

diaries a year. The Interview sample, selected on a rotating 

panel basis, surveys about 7,000 consumer units each quarter. 

Each consumer unit is interviewed once per quarter, for five 

consecutive quarters. Data are collected on an ongoing basis 

in 91 areas of the United States

The Interview Survey is designed to capture expenditure 

data that respondents can reasonably recall for a period of 3 

months or longer. In general, these expenditures are relatively large, such as expenditures for real property, automobiles, 

and major appliances, or occur on a regular basis, like rent, 

utility payments, and insurance premiums. The Interview 

Survey also collects data on expenditures incurred on leisure 

trips. Including global estimates of spending for food, it is 

estimated that about 95 percent of expenditures are covered 

in the Interview Survey. Nonprescription drugs, household 

supplies, and personal care items are excluded. In 2007, there 

were a number of revisions to the survey questionnaires to 

capture new products and services that are available to consumers. This was the latest in a series of periodic revisions to 

keep the surveys current with changes in the marketplace. 

The Diary Survey is designed to capture expenditures on 

small, frequently purchased items that are normally difficult 

for respondents to recall. Detailed records of expenses are 

kept for food and beverages—consumed either at home or 

in eating places—and for tobacco, housekeeping supplies, 

nonprescription drugs, and personal care products and services. Expenditures incurred by members of the consumer 

unit while away from home overnight or longer are excluded 

from the Diary Survey. Although this survey was designed to 

collect information on expenditures that could not be recalled 

easily over an extended period, respondents are asked to report all expenses (except those for overnight travel) that the 

consumer unit incurs during the survey week.

Integrated data from the BLS Diary and Interview Surveys 

provide a complete accounting of consumer expenditures and 

income that neither survey alone is designed to do. Data on 

some expenditure items are collected in only one of the surveys. For example, the Diary Survey does not collect data on 

expenditures for overnight travel or data on reimbursements, 

whereas the Interview Survey does. Examples of expenditures 

for which reimbursements are excluded from the Diary Survey 

are expenditures on medical care; automobile repair; and construction, repairs, alterations, and maintenance of property.

For items that are unique to one survey or the other, the 

choice of which survey to use as the source of data is obvious. 

However, there is considerable overlap in coverage between 

the surveys. Consequently, integrating the data involves determining the appropriate survey component from which to 

select expenditure items. When data are available from both 

surveys, the more reliable of the two (as determined by statistical methods) is selected. As a result, some items are selected 

from the Interview Survey, others from the Diary Survey. 

Due to the overlap in the item coverage between the two surveys, the survey source is periodically reviewed and statistical methods are used to select the best source. For 2007, the 

source of a number of expenditure items changed from the 

Interview Survey to the Diary Survey or vice versa. 

The population coverage of the CE differs from that of 

the CPI. CE data cover the total population, whereas the CPI 

covers only the population in urban and metropolitan areas. 

Definitions of components also differ between the CE and 
CPI. For example, homeownership is treated differently in 

the two surveys: actual expenditures of homeownership are 

reported in the CE, whereas the CPI uses a rental equivalence 

approach that estimates the change in the cost of obtaining, in 

the rental marketplace, services equivalent to those provided 

by owner-occupied homes.

Interpreting the data

Expenditures are averages for consumer units with specified characteristics, regardless of whether a particular unit 

incurred an expense for a specific item during the recordkeeping period. The average expenditure for an item may be 

considerably lower than the actual expenditure by the CUs 

that purchased the item. The less frequently an item is purchased, the greater is the difference between the average for 

all consumer units and the average for those purchasing the 

item. Also, an individual CU may spend more or less than 

the average, depending on its particular characteristics. Factors such as income, age of family members, geographic location, and personal preference also influence expenditures. 

Furthermore, even within groups with similar characteristics, 

the distribution of expenditures varies substantially. These 

points should be considered in relating reported averages to 

individual circumstances.

Users of these survey data should also keep in mind that 

prices for many goods and services have risen since the survey was conducted. For example, rent, as measured by the 

CPI, rose 5.4 percent between 2007 (annual average index) 

and December 2008 (not seasonally adjusted).

In addition, sample surveys are subject to two types of 

error: sampling and nonsampling. Sampling errors occur because the data are collected from a sample representing the 

population, rather than from the entire population. Nonsampling errors result from the inability or unwillingness of 

respondents to provide correct information, differences in 

interviewers’ abilities, mistakes in recording or coding, and 

other processing errors.

Tables and data 

Tables in this report include integrated data from both the Diary and Interview components of the CE, enabling data users 

to associate the full range of expenditures with consumers’ 

demographic characteristics. Tables show data classified by 

income quintile, income class, age of the reference person, 

size of the consumer unit, composition of the consumer unit, 

number of earners, housing tenure, type of area (urban or rural), race, Hispanic origin, region of residence, occupation, 

and education. These are the same classifications published 

in previous reports and bulletins.

Tables for the aforementioned classifications, but with 

more detail than is given in this report, can be accessed via 

the BLS Web site (http://www.bls.gov/cex). Also available are tables showing average annual data over a 2-year 

period for (1) income before taxes, cross-tabulated by age,

consumer unit size, or region; (2) single consumers by sex, 

cross-tabulated by either income or age; and (3) selected 

Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs). Data are available 

for 1984–2007. Other survey items available on the Web site

include answers to frequently asked questions, a glossary of 

terms, and order forms for survey products. Beginning with 

the 2000 data, estimates of standard errors for integrated Diary and Interview Survey data also are available. Many of the 

tables that are shown on the BLS Web site are published in 

biennial reports.

Other available data

The 2007 Diary and Interview Survey microdata—that is, 

data on individual consumer units—are available for purchase on CD-ROM. The Interview Survey files contain expenditure data in two different formats: MTAB files, which 

present monthly values in an item coding framework based 

on the CPI pricing scheme; and EXPN files, which organize 

expenditures by the section of the interview questionnaire in 

which they are collected. Expenditure values on EXPN files 

cover different periods, depending on the specific question 

asked; the files also contain relevant nonexpenditure information not found on the MTAB files. Currently available on 

CD-ROM are microdata files back to 1990 and for selected 

earlier years. 

The Consumer Expenditure Survey also publishes CE 

anthologies. These reports include analyses of expenditure 

data as they apply to various topics of interest, as well as 

methodological and research articles pertaining to a number 

of survey topics. The most recent of these reports, Consumer 

Expenditure Survey Anthology, 2008, Report 1009, was published in December 2008. Additional data also are presented

in articles in the Monthly Labor Review. 

For more detailed information on the availability of current and earlier data, contact the Division of Consumer Expenditure Surveys, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room 3985, 

2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20212-0001

Telephone: (202) 691–6900. E-mail: cexinfo@bls.gov. Internet: http://www.bls.gov/cex

Material in this publication is in the public domain and, 

with appropriate credit, may be reproduced without permission. Information in this report is available upon request to 

sensory-impaired individuals: Voice phone: (202) 691-5200,

Federal Relay Service: 1–800–877–8339
Consumer unit. Members of a household consisting of (a) occupants related by blood, marriage, adoption, or some other 

legal arrangement; (b) a single person living alone or sharing 

a household with others, but who is financially independent; 

or (c) two or more persons living together who share responsibility for at least 2 out of 3 major types of expenses—food, 

housing, and other expenses. Students living in universitysponsored housing also are included in the sample as separate 

consumer units.

Reference person. The first member mentioned by the respondent when asked to “Start with the name of the person 

or one of the persons who owns or rents the home.” It is with 

respect to this person that the relationship of other consumer 

unit members is determined.

Total expenditures. The transaction costs, including excise 

and sales taxes, of goods and services acquired during the interview period. Estimates include expenditures for gifts and 

Glossary

contributions, as well as payments for pensions and personal 

insurance.

Income. The combined income earned by all consumer unit 

members 14 years or older during the 12 months precedin

the interview. The components of income are wages and salaries; self-employment income; Social Security and private 

and government retirement income; interest, dividends, and 

rental and other property income; unemployment and workers’ compensation and veterans’ benefits; public assistance, 

Supplemental Security Income, and Food Stamps; rent or 

meals as pay; and regular contributions for support, such as 

alimony and child-support payments.

Quintiles of income before taxes. Categories of income reporters, ranked in ascending order of income and divided into 

five equal groups. The lower limit shown in the quintiles of 

income before taxes indicates the amount of income before 

taxes of the lowest ranked consumer unit in each income 

quintile.
Table 1. Quintiles of income before taxes: Average annual expenditures and characteristics,

Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2007

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) ....... 120,171 24,008 24,037 24,033 24,022 24,070 

Lower limit ........................................................ n.a. n.a. $19,301 $36,070 $57,944 $91,297

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ...................................... $63,091 $10,531 $27,674 $46,213 $72,460 $158,388 

Age of reference person ................................. 48.8 52.0 51.1 47.2 46.5 47.3 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ........................................................ 2.5 1.7 2.2 2.5 2.9 3.2 

Children under 18 ......................................... .6 .4 .5 .6 .7 .9 

Persons 65 and over .................................... .3 .4 .4 .3 .2 .2 

Earners ......................................................... 1.3 .5 1.0 1.4 1.8 2.0 

Vehicles ........................................................ 1.9 .9 1.5 2.0 2.4 2.8 

Percent homeowner ....................................... 67 41 55 66 80 92 

Average annual expenditures ........................... $49,638 $20,471 $31,150 $42,447 $57,285 $96,752 

Food ............................................................... 6,133 3,035 4,260 5,682 7,242 10,444 

Food at home ............................................... 3,465 2,005 2,741 3,333 3,980 5,265 

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 460 269 359 440 542 687 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 777 470 650 771 865 1,128 

Dairy products ............................................ 387 219 301 373 456 588 

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 600 346 476 574 654 948 

Other food at home .................................... 1,241 701 954 1,175 1,463 1,913 

Food away from home .................................. 2,668 1,030 1,519 2,349 3,262 5,179 

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 457 176 272 413 506 917 

Housing .......................................................... 16,920 8,285 11,390 14,388 19,017 31,492 

Shelter .......................................................... 10,023 4,948 6,707 8,446 11,172 18,823 

Owned dwellings ........................................ 6,730 1,716 3,174 4,973 8,376 15,395 

Rented dwellings ........................................ 2,602 3,124 3,343 3,078 2,173 1,293 

Other lodging .............................................. 691 107 190 395 623 2,136 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 3,477 2,085 2,827 3,358 4,013 5,100 

Household operations .................................. 984 320 449 662 1,135 2,352 

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 639 286 459 546 708 1,195 

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,797 646 949 1,376 1,990 4,022 

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,881 765 1,042 1,654 2,092 3,849 

Transportation ................................................ 8,758 3,242 5,717 7,926 11,058 15,831 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 3,244 1,075 1,945 2,601 4,460 6,133 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 2,384 1,046 1,768 2,418 2,988 3,696 

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,592 950 1,762 2,544 3,105 4,596 

Public transportation ..................................... 538 171 242 362 506 1,406 

Healthcare ...................................................... 2,853 1,474 2,448 2,826 3,268 4,244 

Entertainment ................................................. 2,698 926 1,505 2,150 2,982 5,921 

Personal care products and services ............. 588 244 371 497 693 1,132 

Reading .......................................................... 118 54 71 94 136 234 

Education ....................................................... 945 614 346 532 692 2,541 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 323 259 337 381 371 268 

Miscellaneous ................................................. 808 305 553 703 918 1,557 

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,821 546 898 1,561 1,826 4,272 

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 5,336 547 1,942 3,641 6,483 14,050 

Life and other personal insurance ................ 309 88 196 210 333 720 

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 5,027 459 1,746 3,431 6,150 13,330 

n.a. Not applicable.
Table 2. Income before taxes: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2007

Item

All

consumer

units

Less

than

$5,000

$5,000

to

$9,999

$10,000

to

$14,999

$15,000

to

$19,999

$20,000

to

$29,999

$30,000

to

$39,999

$40,000

to

$49,999

$50,000

to

$69,999

$70,000

and

more

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ...... 120,171 4,184 5,406 7,552 7,562 14,720 13,211 11,824 18,390 37,322 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes .................................... $63,091 - $1,053 $8,079 $12,676 $17,307 $24,893 $34,751 $44,555 $59,527 $130,455 

Age of reference person ............................... 48.8 42.8 49.7 56.9 54.5 52.3 48.6 46.8 46.8 47.0 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ...................................................... 2.5 1.6 1.5 1.7 1.9 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.7 3.1 

Children under 18 ....................................... .6 .3 .3 .4 .4 .5 .6 .6 .7 .8 

Persons 65 and over .................................. .3 .2 .3 .5 .5 .5 .4 .3 .2 .2 

Earners ....................................................... 1.3 .5 .5 .5 .7 .9 1.1 1.3 1.6 2.0 

Vehicles ...................................................... 1.9 .8 .8 1.0 1.2 1.5 1.6 1.9 2.3 2.7 

Percent homeowner ..................................... 67 32 31 45 50 55 59 64 74 89 

Average annual expenditures ......................... $49,638 $19,697 $16,623 $20,611 $24,106 $29,704 $34,739 $41,083 $50,428 $84,072

Food ............................................................. 6,133 2,985 2,493 3,182 3,220 4,071 4,645 5,689 6,371 9,464 

Food at home ............................................. 3,465 1,766 1,765 2,106 2,149 2,648 2,913 3,368 3,630 4,853 

Cereals and bakery products .................... 460 232 236 285 293 347 384 440 495 638 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ................... 777 406 411 525 479 647 664 777 822 1,038 

Dairy products .......................................... 387 197 175 234 239 288 326 370 412 548 

Fruits and vegetables ............................... 600 313 319 364 360 454 504 580 615 850 

Other food at home ................................... 1,241 619 623 697 777 911 1,035 1,200 1,286 1,779 

Food away from home ................................ 2,668 1,219 728 1,076 1,071 1,423 1,731 2,321 2,741 4,611 

Alcoholic beverages ..................................... 457 182 123 159 189 257 305 423 489 768 

Housing ........................................................ 16,920 7,511 7,219 8,330 9,519 10,994 12,389 13,997 17,014 27,408

Shelter ........................................................ 10,023 4,808 4,126 4,879 5,713 6,456 7,365 8,180 9,908 16,363 

Owned dwellings ...................................... 6,730 1,756 1,094 1,726 2,201 3,016 3,701 4,655 6,698 13,245 

Rented dwellings ...................................... 2,602 2,927 2,937 3,082 3,360 3,286 3,389 3,195 2,659 1,501 

Other lodging ............................................ 691 124 94 70 152 154 275 331 551 1,617 

Utilities, fuels, and public services .............. 3,477 1,736 1,760 2,230 2,422 2,748 3,072 3,282 3,697 4,772 

Household operations ................................. 984 203 230 352 427 437 496 640 890 1,966 

Housekeeping supplies .............................. 639 266 242 314 288 427 482 544 632 1,035 

Household furnishings and equipment ....... 1,797 498 861 556 669 926 974 1,350 1,887 3,272 

Apparel and services .................................... 1,881 1,042 625 779 731 1,016 1,274 1,517 1,856 3,275 

Transportation .............................................. 8,758 3,046 2,312 3,236 4,292 5,434 6,503 7,346 9,828 14,362 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ................... 3,244 753 620 1,118 1,689 1,887 2,233 2,149 3,840 5,595 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................ 2,384 933 886 986 1,318 1,695 1,999 2,335 2,788 3,486 

Other vehicle expenses .............................. 2,592 1,205 692 990 1,025 1,644 1,971 2,514 2,788 4,167 

Public transportation ................................... 538 156 115 142 261 208 300 348 412 1,115 

Healthcare .................................................... 2,853 1,035 978 1,605 2,044 2,481 2,493 2,800 3,066 3,928 

Entertainment ............................................... 2,698 1,070 701 890 1,101 1,375 1,766 2,029 2,660 4,927 

Personal care products and services ........... 588 197 205 254 285 350 414 505 573 998 

Reading ........................................................ 118 47 38 61 67 71 70 96 110 205 

Education ...................................................... 945 1,309 791 360 328 382 285 501 632 1,921 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ..... 323 234 267 237 296 319 380 361 405 293 

Miscellaneous ............................................... 808 224 197 355 475 410 685 648 836 1,354 

Cash contributions ........................................ 1,821 405 340 652 716 794 1,052 1,737 1,468 3,534 

Personal insurance and pensions ................ 5,336 410 333 511 841 1,749 2,478 3,435 5,120 11,635 

Life and other personal insurance .............. 309 48 71 98 138 216 166 184 254 606 

Pensions and Social Security ..................... 5,027 363 262 413 703 1,534 2,312 3,251 4,866 11,030 
1

Table 3. Higher income before taxes: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey,

2007

Item

All

consumer

units

Less

than

$70,000

$70,000

to

$79,999

$80,000

to

$99,999

$100,000

and

more

$100,000

to

$119,999

$120,000

to

$149,999

$150,000

and

more

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ....... 120,171 82,849 6,957 9,777 20,588 6,651 5,708 8,229 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ...................................... $63,091 $32,745 $74,679 $88,830 $169,072 $108,502 $132,523 $243,376 

Age of reference person ................................. 48.8 49.6 46.0 46.4 47.6 47.0 47.3 48.3 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ........................................................ 2.5 2.2 2.9 3.0 3.2 3.1 3.2 3.2 

Children under 18 ......................................... .6 .5 .7 .8 .9 .9 .8 .9 

Persons 65 and over .................................... .3 .4 .2 .2 .2 .2 .2 .2 

Earners ......................................................... 1.3 1.1 1.8 1.9 2.0 2.0 2.1 2.0 

Vehicles ........................................................ 1.9 1.6 2.5 2.6 2.8 2.8 2.8 2.9 

Percent homeowner ....................................... 67 57 82 85 93 90 93 95 

Average annual expenditures ........................... $49,638 $34,109 $58,005 $67,640 $101,041 $77,838 $91,864 $126,443 

Food ............................................................... 6,133 4,625 7,541 8,128 10,890 8,856 10,567 12,849 

Food at home ............................................... 3,465 2,836 4,080 4,335 5,428 4,550 5,433 6,178 

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 460 379 536 598 699 571 733 784 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 777 658 874 922 1,165 1,007 1,168 1,300 

Dairy products ............................................ 387 315 469 496 606 513 628 671 

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 600 487 682 710 990 791 985 1,166 

Other food at home .................................... 1,241 998 1,520 1,609 1,967 1,669 1,920 2,257 

Food away from home .................................. 2,668 1,789 3,461 3,793 5,462 4,307 5,134 6,671 

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 457 316 463 586 979 628 871 1,357 

Housing .......................................................... 16,920 12,193 19,178 21,703 32,965 24,952 30,391 41,294 

Shelter .......................................................... 10,023 7,166 11,396 12,850 19,710 15,064 18,543 24,274 

Owned dwellings ........................................ 6,730 3,795 8,793 10,313 16,141 12,230 15,542 19,718 

Rented dwellings ........................................ 2,602 3,098 1,971 1,771 1,214 1,413 1,342 965 

Other lodging .............................................. 691 273 631 765 2,354 1,420 1,658 3,592 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 3,477 2,894 4,129 4,256 5,234 4,657 5,077 5,809 

Household operations .................................. 984 542 1,120 1,440 2,501 1,527 2,143 3,537 

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 639 459 747 836 1,254 875 1,094 1,700 

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,797 1,131 1,785 2,321 4,266 2,830 3,535 5,973 

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,881 1,250 2,189 2,470 4,096 2,819 3,373 5,698 

Transportation ................................................ 8,758 6,232 10,886 13,039 16,163 13,892 16,050 18,074 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 3,244 2,185 4,046 5,386 6,217 5,626 6,198 6,708 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 2,384 1,887 3,041 3,243 3,751 3,600 3,772 3,859 

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,592 1,882 3,329 3,705 4,666 3,837 4,857 5,201 

Public transportation ..................................... 538 278 470 704 1,528 829 1,223 2,307 

Healthcare ...................................................... 2,853 2,368 3,136 3,619 4,348 3,794 4,297 4,836 

Entertainment ................................................. 2,698 1,692 2,913 3,722 6,225 5,382 5,220 7,632 

Personal care products and services ............. 588 402 701 860 1,172 888 1,239 1,358 

Reading .......................................................... 118 78 141 168 244 195 226 296 

Education ....................................................... 945 506 841 997 2,725 1,580 2,227 3,996 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 323 336 356 350 245 280 275 196 

Miscellaneous ................................................. 808 561 958 1,110 1,601 1,217 1,179 2,206 

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,821 1,050 2,047 2,481 4,537 2,640 3,106 7,064 

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 5,336 2,499 6,655 8,406 14,852 10,715 12,843 19,588 

Life and other personal insurance ................ 309 176 333 482 756 542 676 984 

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 5,027 2,322 6,321 7,924 14,096 10,173 12,168 18,604 
Table 4. Age of reference person: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2007

Item

All

consumer

units

Under

25

years

25-34

years

35-44

years

45-54

years

55-64

years

65 years

and older

65-74

years

75 years

and older

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ....... 120,171 8,150 20,499 23,416 25,245 19,462 23,400 12,011 11,390 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ...................................... $63,091 $31,443 $57,256 $76,540 $80,560 $71,048 $40,305 $47,708 $32,499

Age of reference person ................................. 48.8 21.5 29.6 39.6 49.4 59.2 75.2 69.1 81.5 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ........................................................ 2.5 2.0 2.8 3.2 2.7 2.1 1.7 1.8 1.5 

Children under 18 ......................................... .6 .4 1.1 1.3 .6 .2 .1 .1 1 ( )

Persons 65 and over .................................... .3 1 ( ) 1 ( ) 1 ( ) 1 ( ) .1 1.4 1.4 1.3 

Earners ......................................................... 1.3 1.3 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.4 .4 .7 .2 

Vehicles ........................................................ 1.9 1.2 1.7 2.2 2.3 2.2 1.6 1.8 1.3 

Percent homeowner ....................................... 67 16 47 68 75 81 79 81 77 

Average annual expenditures ........................... $49,638 $29,457 $47,510 $58,934 $58,331 $53,786 $36,530 $42,262 $30,414 

Food ............................................................... 6,133 4,141 6,000 7,393 7,181 6,241 4,515 5,226 3,738 

Food at home ............................................... 3,465 2,265 3,210 4,125 4,003 3,457 2,905 3,348 2,419 

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 460 274 427 548 522 456 405 459 346 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 777 491 692 976 907 758 634 738 520 

Dairy products ............................................ 387 238 368 459 442 384 332 376 284 

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 600 340 529 677 684 640 557 628 479 

Other food at home .................................... 1,241 922 1,194 1,465 1,447 1,219 976 1,147 789 

Food away from home .................................. 2,668 1,876 2,790 3,268 3,178 2,784 1,610 1,878 1,319 

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 457 461 514 469 498 533 285 346 218 

Housing .......................................................... 16,920 9,598 17,329 20,952 19,195 17,223 12,396 13,547 11,173 

Shelter .......................................................... 10,023 6,220 10,536 12,758 11,617 9,763 6,656 7,271 6,009 

Owned dwellings ........................................ 6,730 1,398 5,985 9,232 8,626 7,063 4,414 5,329 3,448 

Rented dwellings ........................................ 2,602 4,649 4,288 2,849 2,055 1,539 1,639 1,277 2,020 

Other lodging .............................................. 691 173 263 677 936 1,161 604 664 540 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 3,477 1,813 3,063 3,928 4,053 3,754 3,117 3,392 2,828 

Household operations .................................. 984 363 1,175 1,422 867 860 825 715 941 

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 639 278 522 646 724 902 562 661 453 

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,797 925 2,034 2,198 1,933 1,944 1,235 1,508 943 

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,881 1,477 2,106 2,335 2,191 1,888 1,040 1,323 732 

Transportation ................................................ 8,758 5,708 9,065 10,558 9,943 9,608 5,785 7,669 3,784 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 3,244 2,273 3,930 4,183 3,223 3,348 1,977 2,701 1,213 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 2,384 1,760 2,446 2,870 2,846 2,504 1,461 1,862 1,039 

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,592 1,365 2,293 2,966 3,213 2,993 1,928 2,536 1,270 

Public transportation ..................................... 538 310 396 540 661 763 420 569 262 

Healthcare ...................................................... 2,853 800 1,740 2,315 2,792 3,476 4,631 4,967 4,275 

Entertainment ................................................. 2,698 1,448 2,462 3,551 3,163 2,730 1,966 2,636 1,255 

Personal care products and services ............. 588 337 512 662 686 632 528 599 451 

Reading .......................................................... 118 51 72 107 137 151 143 151 136 

Education ....................................................... 945 1,787 604 819 1,687 929 292 245 341 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 323 290 331 379 388 353 176 243 106 

Miscellaneous ................................................. 808 368 589 845 1,008 1,084 672 787 548 

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,821 549 1,027 1,569 1,972 2,746 2,282 1,923 2,661 

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 5,336 2,440 5,159 6,980 7,489 6,193 1,819 2,600 996 

Life and other personal insurance ................ 309 39 164 286 402 461 329 375 279 

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 5,027 2,401 4,995 6,694 7,087 5,732 1,491 2,225 716 

1 Value is less than or equal to 0.05.
1

Table 5. Size of consumer unit: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey,

2007

Item

All

consumer

units

One

person

Two or more persons

Total Two

persons

Three

persons

Four

persons

Five or

more

persons

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ................. 120,171 35,740 84,431 38,260 18,175 16,496 11,499 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ............................................... $63,091 $31,962 $76,269 $70,095 $74,809 $86,902 $83,866 

Age of reference person .......................................... 48.8 52.4 47.3 53.4 44.3 41.1 40.8 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ................................................................. 2.5 1.0 3.1 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.6 

Children under 18 .................................................. .6 n.a. .9 .1 .8 1.6 2.7 

Persons 65 and over ............................................. .3 .3 .3 .5 .2 .1 .1 

Earners .................................................................. 1.3 .6 1.6 1.3 1.8 2.0 2.2 

Vehicles ................................................................. 1.9 1.1 2.3 2.1 2.3 2.5 2.5 

Percent homeowner ................................................ 67 51 73 75 69 76 71 

Average annual expenditures .................................... $49,638 $29,285 $58,209 $53,091 $57,326 $66,476 $65,042 

Food ........................................................................ 6,133 3,328 7,298 6,209 7,251 8,671 9,220 

Food at home ........................................................ 3,465 1,814 4,150 3,375 4,227 4,967 5,564 

Cereals and bakery products ............................... 460 238 551 437 563 654 783 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .............................. 777 390 937 744 940 1,146 1,310 

Dairy products ..................................................... 387 201 465 385 449 562 628 

Fruits and vegetables .......................................... 600 322 715 616 708 832 903 

Other food at home .............................................. 1,241 662 1,482 1,193 1,567 1,775 1,939 

Food away from home ........................................... 2,668 1,514 3,149 2,834 3,024 3,704 3,656 

Alcoholic beverages ................................................ 457 428 469 528 448 429 353 

Housing ................................................................... 16,920 11,269 19,307 17,248 19,035 22,635 21,789 

Shelter ................................................................... 10,023 7,212 11,212 9,923 11,116 13,123 12,914 

Owned dwellings ................................................. 6,730 3,628 8,043 6,770 7,879 10,134 9,541 

Rented dwellings ................................................. 2,602 3,228 2,337 2,153 2,559 2,258 2,710 

Other lodging ....................................................... 691 356 832 1,001 678 731 663 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ......................... 3,477 2,206 4,015 3,577 4,068 4,481 4,722 

Household operations ............................................ 984 486 1,195 823 1,361 1,800 1,303 

Housekeeping supplies ......................................... 639 316 773 825 647 775 780 

Household furnishings and equipment .................. 1,797 1,049 2,111 2,100 1,842 2,456 2,070 

Apparel and services ............................................... 1,881 971 2,260 1,848 2,330 2,859 2,719 

Transportation ......................................................... 8,758 4,539 10,539 9,274 10,801 11,655 12,754 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) .............................. 3,244 1,478 3,991 3,361 4,121 4,338 5,388 

Gasoline and motor oil ........................................... 2,384 1,276 2,853 2,452 2,804 3,364 3,531 

Other vehicle expenses ......................................... 2,592 1,461 3,067 2,740 3,330 3,329 3,382 

Public transportation .............................................. 538 324 628 722 546 624 453 

Healthcare ............................................................... 2,853 1,790 3,302 3,709 2,876 3,147 2,840 

Entertainment .......................................................... 2,698 1,413 3,238 3,079 3,009 3,785 3,373 

Personal care products and services ...................... 588 364 681 650 653 756 725 

Reading ................................................................... 118 97 127 140 114 131 94 

Education ................................................................. 945 621 1,082 777 1,242 1,483 1,277 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ................ 323 223 365 350 417 335 378 

Miscellaneous .......................................................... 808 533 923 977 836 935 863 

Cash contributions ................................................... 1,821 1,219 2,076 2,512 1,655 1,819 1,663 

Personal insurance and pensions ........................... 5,336 2,491 6,540 5,789 6,659 7,835 6,994 

Life and other personal insurance ......................... 309 146 379 349 394 432 378 

Pensions and Social Security ................................ 5,027 2,345 6,162 5,441 6,265 7,403 6,616 

n.a. Not applicable.
1

Table 6. Composition of consumer unit: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2007

Item

Husband and wife consumer units

One

parent,

at least

one child

under 18

Single

person

and other

consumer

units

Total

Husband

and wife

only

Husband and wife with children Other

husband

and wife

consumer

units

Total

Oldest

child

under 6

Oldest

child

6 to 17

Oldest

child 18

or older

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ............. 60,747 25,923 29,984 5,865 15,265 8,854 4,841 7,139 52,286 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ........................................... $85,803 $78,434 $92,655 $83,372 $92,569 $98,952 $82,825 $35,490 $40,473

Age of reference person ...................................... 48.9 57.1 42.1 32.3 40.1 52.0 48.1 38.6 50.1 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons .............................................................. 3.2 2.0 3.9 3.5 4.2 3.9 4.9 2.9 1.6 

Children under 18 .............................................. .9 n.a. 1.6 1.5 2.2 .6 1.4 1.7 .2 

Persons 65 and over .......................................... .3 .6 .1 1 ( ) 1 ( ) .2 .5 1 ( ) .3 

Earners .............................................................. 1.7 1.2 2.0 1.7 1.8 2.5 2.4 1.0 1.0 

Vehicles ............................................................. 2.5 2.4 2.6 2.1 2.6 3.1 2.7 1.2 1.3 

Percent homeowner ............................................. 82 85 81 68 81 88 77 41 52 

Average annual expenditures ................................ $64,104 $58,637 $69,101 $62,403 $70,766 $70,822 $63,339 $38,239 $34,360

Food ..................................................................... 7,900 6,690 8,876 7,137 9,151 9,623 9,138 5,614 4,142 

Food at home ..................................................... 4,460 3,617 5,080 4,243 5,115 5,626 5,737 3,295 2,328 

Cereals and bakery products ........................... 596 472 693 516 730 750 752 456 301 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .......................... 986 790 1,113 784 1,122 1,337 1,394 793 532 

Dairy products .................................................. 511 424 581 514 605 582 602 356 247 

Fruits and vegetables ....................................... 780 676 848 735 856 914 998 492 403 

Other food at home .......................................... 1,586 1,255 1,845 1,694 1,802 2,043 1,990 1,198 845 

Food away from home ....................................... 3,440 3,073 3,796 2,894 4,036 3,997 3,401 2,319 1,814 

Alcoholic beverages ............................................. 506 559 470 513 405 566 421 212 428 

Housing ................................................................ 20,922 18,420 23,078 24,354 24,032 20,596 20,842 14,354 12,610

Shelter ................................................................ 12,036 10,358 13,458 13,815 14,343 11,696 12,215 8,512 7,890

Owned dwellings .............................................. 9,350 7,707 10,819 10,757 11,627 9,466 9,049 3,931 4,069 

Rented dwellings .............................................. 1,657 1,370 1,774 2,637 1,779 1,195 2,469 4,323 3,465 

Other lodging ................................................... 1,029 1,280 865 421 937 1,035 697 258 357 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ..................... 4,233 3,785 4,518 3,828 4,567 4,891 4,869 3,214 2,635 

Household operations ........................................ 1,351 879 1,786 3,431 1,644 943 1,178 1,056 548 

Housekeeping supplies ...................................... 869 963 789 750 767 861 801 500 387 

Household furnishings and equipment ............... 2,433 2,436 2,527 2,531 2,711 2,206 1,778 1,071 1,150 

Apparel and services ........................................... 2,369 1,956 2,723 2,400 2,766 2,876 2,570 2,077 1,289 

Transportation ...................................................... 11,600 10,347 12,609 10,876 12,688 13,651 12,114 6,359 5,783

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ........................... 4,435 3,828 4,919 4,529 4,912 5,190 4,687 2,139 2,011 

Gasoline and motor oil ....................................... 3,109 2,649 3,421 2,717 3,474 3,797 3,631 1,771 1,625 

Other vehicle expenses ..................................... 3,332 2,994 3,639 3,112 3,605 4,076 3,287 2,085 1,801 

Public transportation .......................................... 725 875 630 517 697 588 509 364 345 

Healthcare ............................................................ 3,870 4,542 3,328 2,826 3,286 3,737 3,610 1,282 1,883 

Entertainment ....................................................... 3,578 3,324 3,915 3,102 4,366 3,682 2,884 2,062 1,760 

Personal care products and services ................... 741 716 768 637 758 881 716 522 418 

Reading ................................................................ 147 166 137 105 143 149 109 61 91 

Education ............................................................. 1,250 860 1,643 431 1,560 2,587 908 768 616 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ............. 324 293 316 257 321 346 539 256 331 

Miscellaneous ...................................................... 979 1,069 892 749 883 1,011 1,010 746 616 

Cash contributions ............................................... 2,466 3,232 1,937 1,407 1,991 2,194 1,642 729 1,222 

Personal insurance and pensions ........................ 7,452 6,462 8,408 7,607 8,416 8,923 6,836 3,197 3,170 

Life and other personal insurance ...................... 465 441 489 306 504 585 439 145 152 

Pensions and Social Security ............................ 6,988 6,021 7,918 7,301 7,912 8,339 6,398 3,052 3,018 

1 Value is less than or equal to 0.05.

n.a. Not applicable.
1

Table 7. Number of earners in consumer unit: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer

Expenditure Survey, 2007

Item

All

consumer

units

Single consumers Consumer units of two or more persons

No earner One earner No earner One earner Two earners

Three or

more

earners

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ....... 120,171 13,210 22,531 10,133 23,945 40,006 10,346 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ...................................... $63,091 $17,986 $40,156 $33,176 $60,069 $90,315 $101,654 

Age of reference person ................................. 48.8 68.7 42.9 66.1 46.8 43.1 46.5 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ........................................................ 2.5 1.0 1.0 2.3 3.0 3.0 4.3 

Children under 18 ......................................... .6 n.a. n.a. .3 1.1 .9 1.0 

Persons 65 and over .................................... .3 .7 .1 1.3 .3 .1 .1 

Earners ......................................................... 1.3 n.a. 1.0 n.a. 1.0 2.0 3.3 

Vehicles ........................................................ 1.9 .9 1.2 1.8 1.9 2.4 3.1 

Percent homeowner ....................................... 67 58 47 78 66 75 80 

Average annual expenditures ........................... $49,638 $21,046 $34,135 $39,020 $51,092 $63,676 $72,821 

Food ............................................................... 6,133 2,409 3,875 5,486 6,511 7,647 9,777 

Food at home ............................................... 3,465 1,630 1,923 3,535 3,971 4,085 5,570 

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 460 228 244 490 537 536 721 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 777 354 411 788 909 909 1,298 

Dairy products ............................................ 387 178 214 397 448 462 595 

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 600 311 330 628 703 696 926 

Other food at home .................................... 1,241 559 723 1,232 1,374 1,482 2,029 

Food away from home .................................. 2,668 779 1,952 1,951 2,539 3,562 4,207 

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 457 154 591 305 373 548 546 

Housing .......................................................... 16,920 9,048 12,573 13,506 17,771 21,201 21,264 

Shelter .......................................................... 10,023 5,370 8,292 6,657 10,446 12,576 12,176 

Owned dwellings ........................................ 6,730 2,559 4,254 4,450 6,791 9,406 9,192 

Rented dwellings ........................................ 2,602 2,647 3,569 1,571 2,773 2,315 2,159 

Other lodging .............................................. 691 163 469 636 882 854 825 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 3,477 2,153 2,237 3,371 3,746 4,101 4,940 

Household operations .................................. 984 502 476 768 1,076 1,458 871 

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 639 312 318 1,128 684 716 861 

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,797 711 1,249 1,583 1,819 2,350 2,416 

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,881 549 1,222 1,255 1,992 2,497 3,015 

Transportation ................................................ 8,758 2,850 5,531 6,665 9,134 11,248 14,940 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 3,244 955 1,785 2,289 3,523 4,251 5,741 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 2,384 735 1,592 1,659 2,405 3,117 4,035 

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,592 996 1,735 2,243 2,588 3,200 4,562 

Public transportation ..................................... 538 164 418 473 618 680 602 

Healthcare ...................................................... 2,853 2,358 1,456 5,069 3,019 3,018 3,329 

Entertainment ................................................. 2,698 903 1,713 2,116 2,828 3,656 3,696 

Personal care products and services ............. 588 322 389 519 574 733 904 

Reading .......................................................... 118 94 98 125 114 131 141 

Education ....................................................... 945 268 828 204 755 1,257 2,025 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 323 169 255 242 338 383 482 

Miscellaneous ................................................. 808 393 616 674 914 990 933 

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,821 1,298 1,173 2,305 2,105 1,961 2,233 

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 5,336 231 3,816 549 4,663 8,408 9,534 

Life and other personal insurance ................ 309 180 126 280 315 407 513 

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 5,027 152 3,690 1268 4,348 8,001 9,021 

1 Data are likely to have large sampling errors.

n.a. Not applicable.
1

Table 8. Housing tenure and type of area: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2007

Item

All

consumer

units

Housing tenure Type of area

Homeowner

Renter

Urban

Rural

Total

Homeowner

with

mortgage

Homeowner

without

mortgage

Total Central

City

Other

Urban

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ....... 120,171 80,244 52,203 28,042 39,927 109,771 35,489 74,282 10,401 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ...................................... $63,091 $76,875 $87,915 $56,323 $35,390 $64,285 $56,404 $68,050 $50,497

Age of reference person ................................. 48.8 52.5 47.0 62.9 41.3 48.5 46.3 49.5 52.3 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ........................................................ 2.5 2.6 2.9 2.1 2.2 2.5 2.3 2.5 2.5 

Children under 18 ......................................... .6 .6 .8 .3 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 

Persons 65 and over .................................... .3 .4 .2 .8 .2 .3 .3 .3 .4 

Earners ......................................................... 1.3 1.4 1.7 .9 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.3 

Vehicles ........................................................ 1.9 2.3 2.5 2.1 1.1 1.9 1.5 2.1 2.5 

Percent homeowner ....................................... 67 100 100 100 n.a. 66 51 73 80 

Average annual expenditures ........................... $49,638 $57,997 $65,282 $44,044 $32,829 $50,391 $45,600 $52,664 $41,680 

Food ............................................................... 6,133 6,908 7,524 5,552 4,573 6,235 5,749 6,458 5,060 

Food at home ............................................... 3,465 3,856 4,087 3,333 2,678 3,500 3,229 3,624 3,091 

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 460 520 542 472 337 462 416 482 439 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 777 846 906 711 637 787 738 810 667 

Dairy products ............................................ 387 435 462 376 290 388 351 404 385 

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 600 670 694 614 459 612 576 628 473 

Other food at home .................................... 1,241 1,384 1,483 1,161 954 1,252 1,149 1,299 1,127 

Food away from home .................................. 2,668 3,052 3,436 2,218 1,895 2,734 2,520 2,834 1,969 

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 457 507 548 415 355 474 503 461 274 

Housing .......................................................... 16,920 19,297 23,018 12,368 12,141 17,395 16,175 17,975 11,912

Shelter .......................................................... 10,023 11,025 14,147 5,213 8,009 10,469 10,010 10,688 5,312 

Owned dwellings ........................................ 6,730 10,029 13,173 4,176 100 6,987 5,361 7,763 4,023 

Rented dwellings ........................................ 2,602 49 34 77 7,732 2,757 3,963 2,181 961 

Other lodging .............................................. 691 947 939 960 176 725 686 744 329 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 3,477 4,107 4,390 3,581 2,211 3,487 3,105 3,670 3,371 

Household operations .................................. 984 1,212 1,380 901 526 1,012 891 1,070 692 

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 639 776 745 845 363 641 641 641 617 

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,797 2,177 2,356 1,828 1,033 1,786 1,529 1,906 1,920 

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,881 2,100 2,351 1,572 1,438 1,940 1,998 1,914 1,248 

Transportation ................................................ 8,758 10,324 11,499 8,118 5,608 8,736 7,296 9,422 8,986 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 3,244 3,846 4,361 2,888 2,034 3,202 2,525 3,526 3,684 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 2,384 2,746 3,073 2,139 1,655 2,337 1,897 2,547 2,878 

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,592 3,092 3,418 2,465 1,587 2,625 2,300 2,778 2,244 

Public transportation ..................................... 538 640 648 626 333 572 573 571 180 

Healthcare ...................................................... 2,853 3,555 3,272 4,087 1,441 2,820 2,272 3,081 3,197 

Entertainment ................................................. 2,698 3,318 3,690 2,560 1,452 2,714 2,285 2,915 2,532 

Personal care products and services ............. 588 681 752 536 399 604 571 619 417 

Reading .......................................................... 118 144 148 135 65 120 112 124 90 

Education ....................................................... 945 1,068 1,253 720 699 989 940 1,013 483 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 323 296 314 261 377 310 278 326 455 

Miscellaneous ................................................. 808 981 1,045 855 458 801 752 824 878 

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,821 2,256 1,899 2,921 948 1,846 1,917 1,812 1,562 

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 5,336 6,562 7,968 3,945 2,873 5,407 4,752 5,720 4,586 

Life and other personal insurance ................ 309 415 455 341 97 309 241 342 310 

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 5,027 6,147 7,513 3,604 2,775 5,098 4,511 5,378 4,276 

n.a. Not applicable.
1

Table 9. Race of reference person: Average annual expenditures and characteristics,

Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2007

Item

All

consumer

units

White and all other races, and Asian

Black or

AfricanTotal American

White and

all other

races1

Asian

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ....... 120,171 105,749 101,509 4,240 14,422 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ...................................... $63,091 $65,643 $65,023 $80,487 $44,381 

Age of reference person ................................. 48.8 49.2 49.4 45.0 46.1 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ........................................................ 2.5 2.5 2.4 2.8 2.6 

Children under 18 ......................................... .6 .6 .6 .7 .8 

Persons 65 and over .................................... .3 .3 .3 .3 .2 

Earners ......................................................... 1.3 1.4 1.3 1.5 1.2 

Vehicles ........................................................ 1.9 2.0 2.0 1.6 1.3 

Percent homeowner ....................................... 67 69 70 61 47 

Average annual expenditures ........................... $49,638 $51,487 $51,120 $60,402 $36,067 

Food ............................................................... 6,133 6,342 6,312 7,139 4,601 

Food at home ............................................... 3,465 3,551 3,539 3,890 2,831 

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 460 472 473 469 365 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 777 769 760 1,026 834 

Dairy products ............................................ 387 405 407 349 259 

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 600 620 610 887 455 

Other food at home .................................... 1,241 1,285 1,290 1,159 919 

Food away from home .................................. 2,668 2,791 2,773 3,249 1,771 

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 457 492 499 290 198 

Housing .......................................................... 16,920 17,387 17,169 22,554 13,494 

Shelter .......................................................... 10,023 10,287 10,074 15,383 8,084 

Owned dwellings ........................................ 6,730 7,088 6,950 10,387 4,110 

Rented dwellings ........................................ 2,602 2,456 2,389 4,073 3,669 

Other lodging .............................................. 691 743 736 923 305 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 3,477 3,474 3,476 3,436 3,500 

Household operations .................................. 984 1,034 1,029 1,157 616 

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 639 674 680 496 383 

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,797 1,918 1,910 2,081 910 

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,881 1,899 1,869 2,709 1,743 

Transportation ................................................ 8,758 9,071 8,996 10,921 6,458 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 3,244 3,383 3,357 4,007 2,223 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 2,384 2,445 2,447 2,391 1,935 

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,592 2,673 2,662 2,978 2,001 

Public transportation ..................................... 538 570 530 1,545 299 

Healthcare ...................................................... 2,853 3,011 3,046 2,170 1,689 

Entertainment ................................................. 2,698 2,890 2,908 2,454 1,288 

Personal care products and services ............. 588 602 603 564 485 

Reading .......................................................... 118 127 129 98 46 

Education ....................................................... 945 979 952 1,627 700 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 323 337 346 135 219 

Miscellaneous ................................................. 808 856 861 719 453 

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,821 1,909 1,899 2,153 1,178 

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 5,336 5,584 5,531 6,868 3,515 

Life and other personal insurance ................ 309 318 317 353 245 

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 5,027 5,266 5,214 6,515 3,271 

1 All other races includes Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, American Indian or Alaska Native, and

approximately 1.2 percent reporting more than one race.
1

Table 10. Hispanic or Latino origin of reference person: Average annual expenditures and

characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2007

Item

All

consumer

units

Hispanic

or Latino

Not Hispanic or Latino

Total

White and

all other

races

Black

or

AfricanAmerican

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ....... 120,171 14,185 105,987 91,734 14,253 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ...................................... $63,091 $48,330 $65,067 $68,285 $44,358 

Age of reference person ................................. 48.8 42.5 49.7 50.2 46.1 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ........................................................ 2.5 3.2 2.4 2.3 2.6 

Children under 18 ......................................... .6 1.1 .6 .5 .8 

Persons 65 and over .................................... .3 .2 .3 .3 .2 

Earners ......................................................... 1.3 1.6 1.3 1.3 1.2 

Vehicles ........................................................ 1.9 1.6 2.0 2.1 1.3 

Percent homeowner ....................................... 67 51 69 72 47 

Average annual expenditures ........................... $49,638 $41,501 $50,720 $53,003 $35,984 

Food ............................................................... 6,133 5,933 6,160 6,399 4,603 

Food at home ............................................... 3,465 3,424 3,470 3,568 2,831 

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 460 410 466 481 366 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 777 890 763 752 832 

Dairy products ............................................ 387 368 390 410 258 

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 600 652 593 615 455 

Other food at home .................................... 1,241 1,104 1,258 1,310 920 

Food away from home .................................. 2,668 2,508 2,690 2,831 1,772 

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 457 262 481 525 193 

Housing .......................................................... 16,920 15,573 17,097 17,662 13,449 

Shelter .......................................................... 10,023 9,794 10,053 10,367 8,035 

Owned dwellings ........................................ 6,730 5,419 6,906 7,346 4,071 

Rented dwellings ........................................ 2,602 4,135 2,397 2,200 3,659 

Other lodging .............................................. 691 239 751 820 305 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 3,477 3,274 3,504 3,505 3,502 

Household operations .................................. 984 681 1,025 1,088 617 

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 639 571 647 688 382 

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,797 1,253 1,867 2,014 914 

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,881 1,994 1,867 1,886 1,743 

Transportation ................................................ 8,758 8,035 8,857 9,234 6,428 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 3,244 2,876 3,293 3,463 2,203 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 2,384 2,304 2,394 2,466 1,936 

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,592 2,525 2,603 2,697 1,997 

Public transportation ..................................... 538 330 566 608 293 

Healthcare ...................................................... 2,853 1,486 3,035 3,244 1,691 

Entertainment ................................................. 2,698 1,674 2,831 3,072 1,276 

Personal care products and services ............. 588 526 596 614 481 

Reading .......................................................... 118 38 128 141 46 

Education ....................................................... 945 415 1,016 1,065 701 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 323 165 344 363 220 

Miscellaneous ................................................. 808 478 851 913 453 

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,821 1,083 1,920 2,035 1,185 

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 5,336 3,837 5,537 5,851 3,514 

Life and other personal insurance ................ 309 109 336 350 245 

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 5,027 3,729 5,200 5,501 3,268 
1

Table 11. Region of residence: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2007

Item

All

consumer

units

Northeast Midwest South West

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ........................ 120,171 22,382 27,462 43,152 27,176 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ...................................................... $63,091 $69,937 $59,389 $58,224 $68,923 

Age of reference person ................................................. 48.8 50.5 48.4 48.8 47.9 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ......................................................................... 2.5 2.4 2.4 2.5 2.6 

Children under 18 ......................................................... .6 .6 .6 .7 .7 

Persons 65 and over ..................................................... .3 .3 .3 .3 .3 

Earners ......................................................................... 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.3 1.4 

Vehicles ........................................................................ 1.9 1.6 2.1 1.9 2.0 

Percent homeowner ........................................................ 67 64 69 69 63 

Average annual expenditures ........................................... $49,638 $51,624 $48,014 $45,464 $56,291 

Food ................................................................................ 6,133 6,419 5,793 5,780 6,811 

Food at home ................................................................ 3,465 3,595 3,252 3,311 3,822 

Cereals and bakery products ...................................... 460 495 444 438 480 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..................................... 777 832 691 770 830 

Dairy products ............................................................. 387 400 375 366 422 

Fruits and vegetables .................................................. 600 647 546 552 693 

Other food at home ..................................................... 1,241 1,221 1,196 1,185 1,396 

Food away from home .................................................. 2,668 2,824 2,541 2,470 2,988 

Alcoholic beverages ........................................................ 457 508 501 382 488 

Housing ........................................................................... 16,920 19,085 15,380 14,911 19,885 

Shelter ........................................................................... 10,023 11,640 8,839 8,233 12,729 

Owned dwellings ......................................................... 6,730 7,616 6,238 5,723 8,097 

Rented dwellings ......................................................... 2,602 3,036 1,883 2,072 3,811 

Other lodging .............................................................. 691 988 717 437 821 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................................ 3,477 3,832 3,323 3,547 3,229 

Household operations ................................................... 984 1,011 855 933 1,174 

Housekeeping supplies ................................................. 639 576 620 595 782 

Household furnishings and equipment .......................... 1,797 2,026 1,742 1,604 1,970 

Apparel and services ...................................................... 1,881 2,068 1,866 1,692 2,042 

Transportation ................................................................. 8,758 8,014 8,684 8,485 9,882 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ...................................... 3,244 2,508 3,407 3,216 3,729 

Gasoline and motor oil .................................................. 2,384 2,080 2,408 2,522 2,389 

Other vehicle expenses ................................................ 2,592 2,678 2,418 2,378 3,042 

Public transportation ..................................................... 538 749 451 368 721 

Healthcare ....................................................................... 2,853 2,645 3,097 2,800 2,860 

Entertainment .................................................................. 2,698 2,811 2,585 2,320 3,319 

Personal care products and services .............................. 588 609 544 565 650 

Reading ........................................................................... 118 135 126 89 140 

Education ........................................................................ 945 1,163 1,187 744 842 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ........................ 323 361 365 332 234 

Miscellaneous ................................................................. 808 826 778 652 1,071 

Cash contributions .......................................................... 1,821 1,421 1,792 1,762 2,275 

Personal insurance and pensions ................................... 5,336 5,558 5,315 4,948 5,791 

Life and other personal insurance ................................. 309 342 347 298 262 

Pensions and Social Security ....................................... 5,027 5,216 4,968 4,650 5,529 
1

Table 12. Occupation of reference person: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2007

Item

Selfemployed

workers

Wage and salary earners

Retired

All other,

including

not

reporting

Total

wage and

salary

earners

Managers

and

professionals

Technical,

sales and

clerical

workers

Service

workers

Construction

workers and

mechanics

Operators,

fabricators

and

laborers

Number of consumer units (in thousands) 5,471 79,622 30,543 21,668 13,178 4,663 9,570 20,658 14,419 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes .............................. $90,530 $71,518 $99,577 $60,210 $47,797 $56,150 $47,715 $35,040 $46,341 

Age of reference person ......................... 48.4 43.0 44.5 42.0 41.8 41.6 43.0 73.5 45.7 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ................................................. 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.7 2.6 1.7 2.9 

Children under 18 ................................. .7 .7 .7 .8 .8 .7 .7 .1 .9 

Persons 65 and over ............................. .2 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 1.2 .2 

Earners ................................................. 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.8 1.7 .2 .7 

Vehicles ................................................ 2.2 2.1 2.2 2.0 1.8 2.4 2.0 1.6 1.6 

Percent homeowner ................................ 76 65 76 60 53 61 58 79 56 

Average annual expenditures ................... $63,455 $53,873 $69,510 $48,509 $40,246 $44,100 $39,377 $35,424 $41,661 

Food ........................................................ 7,236 6,614 7,988 6,222 5,321 5,610 5,276 4,420 5,643 

Food at home ........................................ 4,039 3,582 4,090 3,394 3,110 3,382 3,082 2,813 3,592 

Cereals and bakery products .............. 502 477 548 450 418 435 403 382 465 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ............. 881 796 833 790 732 846 753 629 853 

Dairy products ..................................... 457 401 463 377 350 373 342 315 394 

Fruits and vegetables .......................... 728 612 753 531 531 529 486 537 584 

Other food at home ............................. 1,472 1,295 1,494 1,246 1,079 1,199 1,099 950 1,295 

Food away from home .......................... 3,197 3,033 3,898 2,827 2,212 2,227 2,194 1,607 2,052 

Alcoholic beverages ................................ 508 525 653 503 351 602 359 303 294 

Housing ................................................... 20,678 18,187 23,295 16,579 13,869 15,107 12,932 12,274 15,181 

Shelter ................................................... 12,326 10,985 14,337 9,966 8,246 8,886 7,391 6,455 8,945 

Owned dwellings ................................. 9,088 7,434 10,635 6,379 4,596 5,667 4,371 4,277 5,467 

Rented dwellings ................................. 2,335 2,817 2,419 3,070 3,310 2,958 2,765 1,635 2,902 

Other lodging ...................................... 903 735 1,282 517 340 261 255 543 577 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ........ 3,964 3,587 4,077 3,432 3,097 3,449 3,115 3,022 3,338 

Household operations ........................... 1,261 1,085 1,588 1,039 572 618 519 726 690 

Housekeeping supplies ......................... 833 597 707 601 444 539 468 791 579 

Household furnishings and equipment .. 2,294 1,932 2,586 1,540 1,510 1,615 1,439 1,280 1,628 

Apparel and services .............................. 2,366 2,116 2,740 1,901 1,646 1,402 1,569 1,044 1,649 

Transportation ......................................... 10,139 9,609 11,448 8,881 7,989 8,586 8,102 5,970 7,544 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) .............. 3,416 3,553 4,189 3,263 3,096 3,363 2,899 2,169 3,014 

Gasoline and motor oil .......................... 2,784 2,662 2,896 2,589 2,288 2,780 2,542 1,432 2,055 

Other vehicle expenses ........................ 3,139 2,822 3,431 2,621 2,263 2,145 2,424 1,969 2,020 

Public transportation ............................. 801 571 932 408 343 298 236 399 455 

Healthcare ............................................... 3,566 2,486 3,097 2,398 1,827 1,974 1,887 4,380 2,420 

Entertainment .......................................... 4,389 2,884 3,992 2,445 1,932 2,310 1,907 1,852 2,278 

Personal care products and services ...... 700 627 847 574 446 448 374 514 438 

Reading ................................................... 151 116 175 100 62 62 62 141 81 

Education ................................................ 1,139 1,154 1,821 909 691 479 545 279 674 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies 283 345 262 334 346 598 514 187 408 

Miscellaneous ......................................... 919 874 1,145 882 562 665 520 647 633 

Cash contributions .................................. 2,369 1,772 2,686 1,254 1,178 1,196 1,122 2,167 1,395 

Personal insurance and pensions ........... 9,011 6,563 9,359 5,529 4,026 5,063 4,209 1,246 3,025 

Life and other personal insurance ......... 398 317 444 276 177 272 219 305 240 

Pensions and Social Security ............... 8,612 6,246 8,915 5,253 3,849 4,791 3,990 941 2,785 
20

Table 13. Education of reference person: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2007

Item

All

consumer

units

Less than college graduate College graduate

Total

Less than

high

school

graduate

High

school

graduate

High

school

graduate

with

some

college

Associate’s

degree Total Bachelor’sdegree

Master’s,

professional,

doctoral

degree

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ......... 120,171 85,389 18,227 30,313 26,169 10,680 34,783 22,523 12,259 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ........................................ $63,091 $48,793 $33,913 $46,938 $54,881 $64,537 $98,193 $88,948 $115,179

Age of reference person ................................... 48.8 49.3 53.2 51.2 44.8 48.1 47.7 46.2 50.5 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons .......................................................... 2.5 2.5 2.6 2.5 2.4 2.6 2.4 2.5 2.3 

Children under 18 ........................................... .6 .6 .7 .6 .6 .7 .6 .6 .5 

Persons 65 and over ...................................... .3 .3 .4 .4 .2 .2 .2 .2 .3 

Earners ........................................................... 1.3 1.3 1.1 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.4 

Vehicles .......................................................... 1.9 1.9 1.4 1.9 2.0 2.2 2.1 2.1 2.0 

Percent homeowner ......................................... 67 63 55 66 60 73 77 74 82 

Average annual expenditures ............................ $49,638 $41,024 $30,201 $39,164 $45,876 $52,721 $70,605 $65,706 $79,532 

Food ................................................................. 6,133 5,395 4,491 5,231 5,729 6,524 7,878 7,393 8,734 

Food at home ................................................. 3,465 3,213 3,027 3,196 3,173 3,669 4,055 3,816 4,471 

Cereals and bakery products ....................... 460 427 396 427 428 477 535 512 576 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ...................... 777 762 772 779 714 813 812 782 864 

Dairy products .............................................. 387 353 311 348 367 403 467 442 512 

Fruits and vegetables ................................... 600 522 515 504 520 597 781 697 927 

Other food at home ...................................... 1,241 1,148 1,033 1,138 1,144 1,379 1,460 1,384 1,593 

Food away from home ................................... 2,668 2,181 1,464 2,035 2,555 2,855 3,823 3,577 4,262 

Alcoholic beverages ......................................... 457 341 174 329 421 448 729 743 706 

Housing ............................................................ 16,920 13,934 10,947 13,026 15,424 17,959 24,214 22,901 26,609

Shelter ............................................................ 10,023 8,111 6,311 7,532 9,111 10,380 14,715 13,997 16,033 

Owned dwellings .......................................... 6,730 5,067 3,195 4,747 5,741 7,516 10,813 10,135 12,059 

Rented dwellings .......................................... 2,602 2,688 2,995 2,463 2,884 2,320 2,391 2,580 2,043 

Other lodging ................................................ 691 357 120 321 485 544 1,511 1,282 1,931 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................. 3,477 3,265 2,930 3,312 3,272 3,686 3,998 3,860 4,254 

Household operations .................................... 984 670 340 581 842 1,062 1,756 1,570 2,096 

Housekeeping supplies .................................. 639 517 420 500 566 601 924 783 1,169 

Household furnishings and equipment ........... 1,797 1,371 947 1,101 1,633 2,230 2,821 2,691 3,057 

Apparel and services ........................................ 1,881 1,460 1,207 1,328 1,622 1,865 2,878 2,642 3,293 

Transportation .................................................. 8,758 7,831 5,655 7,614 8,658 10,092 11,031 10,707 11,626 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ....................... 3,244 2,912 2,112 2,761 3,231 3,924 4,060 4,121 3,947 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................... 2,384 2,274 1,785 2,269 2,429 2,740 2,654 2,654 2,654 

Other vehicle expenses .................................. 2,592 2,356 1,550 2,368 2,613 3,024 3,171 3,060 3,376 

Public transportation ...................................... 538 290 209 216 386 404 1,146 872 1,650 

Healthcare ........................................................ 2,853 2,537 2,003 2,594 2,654 2,998 3,625 3,362 4,105 

Entertainment ................................................... 2,698 2,108 1,295 1,966 2,481 2,957 4,130 3,727 4,873 

Personal care products and services ............... 588 475 312 462 534 639 858 798 963 

Reading ............................................................ 118 81 40 80 100 110 207 176 264 

Education ......................................................... 945 591 145 405 1,063 725 1,813 1,589 2,226 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ......... 323 392 374 457 367 297 154 177 111 

Miscellaneous .................................................. 808 651 386 591 790 940 1,192 1,073 1,408 

Cash contributions ........................................... 1,821 1,234 757 1,333 1,384 1,404 3,263 2,534 4,601 

Personal insurance and pensions .................... 5,336 3,992 2,415 3,749 4,650 5,763 8,635 7,885 10,014 

Life and other personal insurance .................. 309 244 136 257 269 328 471 434 538 

Pensions and Social Security ......................... 5,027 3,749 2,278 3,492 4,381 5,436 8,164 7,450 9,476