U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

APRIL 2013 REPOR T 1042

BLS Reports │ April 2013 • www.bls.gov 1

Consumer Expenditures in 2011

Consumer spending increased for the first time in

three years based on 2011 data from the Consumer 

Expenditure Survey (CE). Consumer units’ (CUs) 

average annual expenditures increased from $48,109 in 

2010 to $49,705 in 2011. This 3.3-percent rise followed a 

4.8-percent drop from 2008 to 2010. Even with the increase, 

spending is still below the 2008 level of $50,486. The rise 

in expenditures in 2011 was due in part to a rise in incomes 

from 2010 to 2011 and the effect of inflation on prices paid by

consumers. Average annual income before taxes increased 1.9 

percent from $62,481 in 2010 to $63,685 in 2011. The average 

2011 income was just $122 higher than the average income 

in 2008. Prices, as measured by the average annual change in 

the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U, 

U.S. city average, all items) rose by 3.2 percent in 2011, just 

below the 3.3-percent increase in spending. In 2010, prices 

increased by just 1.6 percent. The remainder of this report 

highlights consumer spending patterns for 2011 from the CE.

Developments in 2011

During 2011, consumers increased spending in all seven 

major categories of expenditures tracked by CE: food, 

housing, apparel and services, transportation, healthcare, 

entertainment, and personal insurance and pensions. (See 

table A.) This differed from 2010 where, transportation 

and healthcare expenditures were the only increases from 

the year before. In 2011, expenditures increased by a range 

of 0.9 percent for personal insurance and pensions to 8.0 

percent for transportation. The increase in transportation 

expenditures can largely be attributed to the 24.5-percent 

increase in gasoline and motor oil expenditures (Gasoline 

prices, as measured by the CPI-U, rose by 26.5 percent 

over the same period).

Although the increase in average annual expenditures 

(3.3 percent) was higher than the increase in average 

income before taxes in 2011 (1.9 percent), this increase 

CONTENTS

Developments in 2011. 

Expenditure shares. 

Housing. 

Gasoline and motor oil. 

Food. 

Race/ethnicity. 

Statistical Tables. 

Technical Notes. .

Brief description of the Consumer Expenditure

Survey. .

Interpreting the data. .

Tables and data. .

Other available data. .
2 BLS Reports │ April 2013 • www.bls.gov

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2011

Average annual expenditures and percent changes by major category of all consumer units, 

Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2008–2011

Item 2008 2009 2010 2011

Percent change

2008–09 2009–10 2010–11

Number of consumer units (in thousands) 120,770 120,847 121,107 122,287 ... ... ...

Consumer unit characteristics

Income before taxes $63,563 $62,857 $62,481 $63,685 -1.1 -0.6 1.9

Age of reference person 49.1 49.4 49.4 49.7 ... ... ...

Average number in consumer unit

Persons 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 ... ... ...

Children under 18 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 ... ... ...

Persons 65 or older 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 ... ... ...

Earners 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 ... ... ...

Vehicles 2 2 1.9 1.9 ... ... ...

Percent homeowner 66 66 66 65 ... ... ...

Spending categories

Average annual expenditures $50,486 $49,067 $48,109 $49,705 -2.8 -2.0 3.3

Food 6,443 6,372 6,129 6,458 -1.1 -3.8 5.4

Food at home 3,744 3,753 3,624 3,838 0.2 -3.4 5.9

Cereals and bakery products 507 506 502 531 -0.2 -0.8 5.8

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs 846 841 784 832 -0.6 -6.8 6.1

Dairy products 430 406 380 407 -5.6 -6.4 7.1

Fruits and vegetables 657 656 679 715 -0.2 3.5 5.3

Other food at home 1,305 1,343 1,278 1,353 2.9 -4.8 5.9

Food away from home 2,698 2,619 2,505 2,620 -2.9 -4.4 4.6

Alcoholic beverages 444 435 412 456 -2.0 -5.3 10.7

Housing 17,109 16,895 16,557 16,803 -1.3 -2.0 1.5

Shelter 10,183 10,075 9,812 9,825 -1.1 -2.6 0.1

Owned dwellings 6,760 6,543 6,277 6,148 -3.2 -4.1 -2.1

Rented dwellings 2,724 2,860 2,900 3,029 5.0 1.4 4.4

Other Lodging 698 672 635 648 -3.7 -5.5 2.0

Utilities, fuels, and public services 3,649 3,645 3,660 3,727 -0.1 0.4 1.8

Household operations 998 1,011 1,007 1,122 1.3 -0.4 11.4

Housekeeping supplies 654 659 612 615 0.8 -7.1 0.5

Household furnishings and equipment 1,624 1,506 1,467 1,514 -7.3 -2.6 3.2

Apparel and services 1,801 1,725 1,700 1,740 -4.2 -1.4 2.4

Transportation 8,604 7,658 7,677 8,293 -11.0 0.2 8.0

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) 2,755 2,657 2,588 2,669 -3.6 -2.6 3.1

Gasoline and motor oil 2,715 1,986 2,132 2,655 -26.9 7.4 24.5

Other vehicle expenses 2,621 2,536 2,464 2,454 -3.2 -2.8 -0.4

Public and other transportation 513 479 493 516 -6.6 2.9 4.7

Healthcare 2,976 3,126 3,157 3,313 5.0 1.0 4.9

Entertainment 2,835 2,693 2,504 2,572 -5.0 -7.0 2.7

Personal care products and services 616 596 582 634 -3.2 -2.3 8.9

Reading 116 110 100 115 -5.2 -9.1 15

Education 1,046 1,068 1,074 1,051 2.1 0.6 -2.1

Tobacco products and smoking supplies 317 380 362 351 19.9 -4.7 -3.0

Miscellaneous 840 816 849 775 -2.9 4.0 -8.7

Cash contributions 1,737 1,723 1,633 1,721 -0.8 -5.2 5.4

Personal insurance and pensions 5,605 5,471 5,373 5,424 -2.4 -1.8 0.9

Life and other personal insurance 317 309 318 317 -2.5 2.9 -0.3

Pensions and Social Security 5,288 5,162 5,054 5,106 -2.4 -2.1 1.0

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Table A
BLS Reports │ April 2013 • www.bls.gov 3

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2011

in spending did not coincide with a large rise in consumer 

confidence. In fact, consumer confidence levels remained

subpar throughout 2011, as reflected by the Consumer

Confidence Index of the Conference Board, which

registered a 2011 average of 58, up just slightly from 54 

in 2010.1

 (The level is an index, with 1985 = 100. Levels 

of 100 or more reflect consumer optimism.) The low

level of consumer confidence may be partially attributed

to the high unemployment rate that persisted in 2011. 

The unemployment rate, while improved, still remained 

well above pre-recession levels. According to the Current 

Population Survey (CPS), the average monthly national 

unemployment rate was 8.9 percent in 2011, somewhat 

lower than the average rate of 9.6 percent for 2010. The 

number of long-term (27 weeks or more) unemployed 

individuals, despite declining from 6.4 million in 2010 to 

just over 6 million in 2011, was still at historically high 

levels. Even though unemployment figures fell, compared

with 2010, they still reflected a slow recovery, confirmed

by the 1.7-percent increase in real GDP2 in 2011 and the 

small increase in expenditures and income. 

Expenditure shares

Table B provides the percent distribution of total annual 

expenditures by major category for all CUs from 2008 

to 2011. Expenditure shares usually do not fluctuate

much in the short term and thus are more useful for 

identifying spending trends over a number of years. As 

in previous years, housing is the largest component of 

overall expenditures, accounting for 33.8 percent of total 

expenditures in 2011. This was followed by transportation 

(16.7 percent) and food expenditures (13.0 percent). The 

Table B

Percent distribution of total annual expenditures by major category for all consumer units, 

Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2008–2011

Spending category 2008 2009 2010 2011

Average annual expenditures 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Food 12.8 13.0 12.7 13.0

Food at home 7.4 7.6 7.5 7.7

Food away from home 5.3 5.3 5.2 5.3

Alcoholic beverages 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9

Housing 33.9 34.4 34.4 33.8

Shelter 20.2 20.5 20.4 19.8

Utilities, fuels, and public services 7.2 7.4 7.6 7.5

Household operations 2.0 2.1 2.1 2.3

Housekeeping supplies 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.2

Household furnishings and equipment 3.2 3.1 3.0 3.0

Apparel and services 3.6 3.5 3.5 3.5

Transportation 17.0 15.6 16.0 16.7

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) 5.5 5.4 5.4 5.4

Gasoline and motor oil 5.4 4.0 4.4 5.3

Other vehicle expenses 5.2 5.2 5.1 4.9

Public transportation 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

Healthcare 5.9 6.4 6.6 6.7

Entertainment 5.6 5.5 5.2 5.2

Personal care products and services 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.3

Reading 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2

Education 2.1 2.2 2.2 2.1

Tobacco products and smoking supplies 0.6 0.8 0.8 0.7

Miscellaneous 1.7 1.7 1.8 1.6

Cash contributions 3.4 3.5 3.4 3.5

Personal insurance and pensions 11.1 11.2 11.2 10.9

Life and other personal insurance 0.6 0.6 0.7 0.6

Pensions and Social Security 10.5 10.5 10.5 10.3

Source: U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics.
4 BLS Reports │ April 2013 • www.bls.gov

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2011

most notable change in expenditure shares was in gasoline 

and motor oil, which increased to 5.3 percent of total 

expenditures in 2011, compared with 4.4 percent in 2010. 

Housing

Spending on housing had decreased across all income 

quintiles in 2010, but in 2011 spending on housing rebounded 

for all but the highest income quintile. The second income 

quintile increased its spending on housing the most, from 

$11,369 in 2010 to $12,136 in 2011, which was also the 

largest percentage increase across quintiles: 6.7 percent. 

Homeowners have reported declining expenditures on 

mortgage interest and charges, a subcategory of housing, 

since 2007. Homeowners spent 16.2-percent less on this 

component of housing in 2011 ($4,860) than they did in 

2007 ($5,799). This is likely the result of the continuing 

trend of lower interest rates, which have been in place 

since the Great Recession. 

In addition, the recession also led to an overall trend of 

fewer CUs owning homes: the CE measured 79.4 million 

homeowners in 2010 and 2011, compared with 80.2 

million in 2007. Concurrently, there has been an increase 

in renters since 2007. In 2011, there were 42.9 million 

renters, compared with 39.9 million in 2007. According to 

the CPI-U, rents for primary residences have increased 6.2 

percent since 2007. During that same time span, the average 

annual rental payments reported in the CE increased 10.6 

percent ($8,548 in 2011, compared with $7,732 in 2007), 

reflecting the increase in demand for rental units.

Gasoline and motor oil

Expenditures on gasoline and motor oil increased significantly

in 2011, following a smaller increase in 2010. CUs spent 24.5 

percent more in 2011 ($2,655) than they did in 2010 ($2,132). 

Despite this increase, expenditures on gasoline and motor oil 

still remain below their peak of $2,715 in 2008. Chart 1 shows 

the changes in expenditures on gasoline and motor oil, and the 

price of motor fuel between 2007 and 2011. For the most part, 

the trend in consumer spending followed price fluctuations —

as the price of motor fuel increased, consumers spent more on 

gasoline and motor oil, and as the price of motor fuel dropped, 

Chart 1

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

7.0

13.9

-26.9

7.4

24.5

8.2

17.0

-27.8

18.4

26.5

-40

-30

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Percent change Gasoline and motor oil (CE) CPI-U Motor fuel

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Spending and price percent changes on gas and motor oil, Consumer Expenditure Survey (CE), and Motor fuel, 

Consumer Price Index (CPI), 2007–2011
BLS Reports │ April 2013 • www.bls.gov 5

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2011

consumers spent less. From 2007 to 2009, annual consumer 

spending on gasoline and motor oil rose and fell by roughly 

the same percentage as the change in the price index for 

motor fuel, therefore quantity consumed remained relatively 

unchanged during that time. However, in 2010, consumers 

increased their expenditures on gasoline and motor oil (7.4 

percent) by less than half of the percentage change in price 

(18.4 percent), showing a decrease in quantity consumed. In 

2011, the percentage increase in spending on gasoline and 

motor oil (24.5 percent) approximately equaled the increase 

in the price index of motor fuel (26.5 percent), meaning that 

spending and prices returned to their earlier pattern.

Food

Food expenditures increased for all income quintiles in 2011. 

This differs from 2010, when food expenditures decreased 

in all but the third income quintile. In 2011, the second 

income quintile registered the largest percentage increase in 

food expenditures, an increase of 10.6 percent from $4,214 

in 2010, to $4,659. This reflected an 8.3-percent increase

in food at home spending and a 15.0-percent increase in 

food away from home expenditures. The third income 

quintile barely increased overall food expenditures (0.4 

percent). This quintile’s 1.8-percent increase in food at home 

expenditures was mostly offset by a 1.8-percent decrease in 

food away from home expenditures. There was an increase 

in food expenditures across all age groups between 2010 

and 2011. The two oldest age groups (65 to 74 years old and 

75 and older) had the highest percentage increase in overall 

food expenditures, with spending rising 12.7 percent for 

the 65- to 74-year-old age group and 13.8 percent for the 

75-and-older age group. For both of these age groups, the 

over-the-year percentage increase was higher for food away 

from home expenditures than for food at home expenditures.

Race/ethnicity

Comparing the Hispanic and non-Hispanic populations 

indicated differences in spending patterns in most 

categories. Chart 2 shows that both groups increased 

spending from 2010 to 2011, however, the increase by 

Chart 2

Note: Expenditure categories ordered largest to smallest by share of 2011 expenditures for all consumer units.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

0.3 1.5 1.4

13.4

-1.7

0.4

-3.7

5.7

-0.5

-24.4

2.2 3.6

1.5

7.4 6.4

1.1

5.8

2.5 2.8

8.1

-30

-25

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

20

Income

before

taxes

Total 

expenditures

Housing Transportation Food Personal

insurance

and pensions

Healthcare Entertainment Apparel Cash

contributions

Hispanic Non-Hispanic

Percent change in income and major components of expenditures for Hispanics and non-Hispanics, 2010 to 2011

Percent change

Note: Expenditure categories ordered largest to smallest by share of 2011 expenditures for all consumer units.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
6 BLS Reports │ April 2013 • www.bls.gov

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2011

Hispanics was only one-third that of non-Hispanics 

($630 compared with $1,750). Non-Hispanics spent 5.8 

percent more on healthcare, while Hispanics decreased 

their healthcare spending by 3.7 percent. Other notable 

differences among Hispanics and non-Hispanics were 

in food and transportation. In 2011, non-Hispanics’ food 

expenditures increased an average of $390 (6.4 percent) 

from 2010. In contrast, Hispanics spent, on average, $113 

less in 2011 than they did in 2010—a decrease of 1.7

percent. Hispanics spent, on average, $891 (13.4 percent) 

more on transportation in 2011 than they did in 2010. 

Non-Hispanics, however, spent $580 (7.4 percent) more 

on transportation in 2011 than they did in 2010. NonHispanics increased their spending on cash contributions 

on average from 2010 to 2011 ($139, 8.1 percent); however 

Hispanics decreased their spending by 24.4 percent during 

the same time frame. Both groups showed little change in 

their spending on personal insurance and pensions. Chart 2 

shows that there were no major differences in spending on 

housing between Hispanics and non-Hispanics. 

In addition, within the non-Hispanic population, there 

were many differences. Chart 3 shows that the pre-tax 

income for the Black, non-Hispanic population rose 

only slightly, and their total expenditures increased 2.9 

percent from 2010 to 2011. The same group increased 

spending on all major expenditure categories with 

the exception of food. Some notable results include a 

16.0 percent increase on apparel and apparel services 

from 2010 to 2011 and an increase of 10.4 percent for 

healthcare spending. In contrast, the non-Black, nonHispanic population spent only 1.1 percent more on 

apparel and apparel services and 5.5 percent more on 

healthcare from 2010 to 2011. 

Endnotes

1. For more information regarding the Conference 

Board’s Consumer Confidence Survey, see http://www.

tradingeconomics.com/united-states/consumer-confidence.

2. For more information on the Bureau of Economic Analysis 

2011 real GDP release, see http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/

national/gdp/2012/gdp4q11_3rd.htm.

Chart 3

Note: Expenditure categories ordered largest to smallest by share of 2011 expenditures for all consumer units.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

0.9

2.9

0.1

4.5

-1.3

6.4

10.4

8.0

16.0

1.5

2.4

4.6

1.7

7.8 7.3

0.7

5.5

2.1

1.1

9.0

-5

0

5

10

15

20

Income

before

taxes

Total 

expenditures

Housing Transportation Food Personal

insurance

and pensions

Healthcare Entertainment Apparel Cash

contributions

Black non-Hispanic White and other non-Hispanic

Percent change in income and major components of expenditures for non-Hispanics, 2010 to 2011

Percent change

Note: Expenditure categories ordered largest to smallest by share of 2011 expenditures for all consumer units.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
BLS Reports │ April 2013 • www.bls.gov 7

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2011

Statistical Tables
8 BLS Reports │ April 2013 • www.bls.gov

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2011

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

Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2011

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) ....... 122,287 24,435 24,429 24,473 24,520 24,430 

Lower limit ........................................................ n.a. n.a. $18,559 $35,645 $58,272 $93,837 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ...................................... $63,685 $9,805 $27,117 $46,190 $74,019 $161,292 

Age of reference person ................................. 49.7 51.8 51.7 48.9 48.0 48.2 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ........................................................ 2.5 1.7 2.2 2.6 2.8 3.2 

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

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

Earners ......................................................... 1.3 .5 .9 1.3 1.7 2.0 

Vehicles ........................................................ 1.9 1.0 1.5 1.9 2.3 2.8 

Percent homeowner ....................................... 65 39 53 65 79 88 

Average annual expenditures ........................... $49,705 $22,001 $32,092 $42,403 $57,460 $94,551 

Food ............................................................... 6,458 3,547 4,659 5,620 7,466 10,991 

Food at home ............................................... 3,838 2,448 3,051 3,496 4,364 5,828 

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 531 344 428 480 603 798 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 832 532 703 745 929 1,252 

Dairy products ............................................ 407 253 317 380 458 626 

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 715 448 566 633 791 1,136 

Other food at home .................................... 1,353 871 1,038 1,257 1,582 2,015 

Food away from home .................................. 2,620 1,099 1,608 2,125 3,103 5,163 

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 456 170 265 324 528 994 

Housing .......................................................... 16,803 8,771 12,136 14,944 18,840 29,321 

Shelter .......................................................... 9,825 5,159 6,969 8,611 10,815 17,572 

Owned dwellings ........................................ 6,148 1,638 2,957 4,819 7,635 13,688 

Rented dwellings ........................................ 3,029 3,324 3,758 3,436 2,585 2,046 

Other lodging .............................................. 648 197 255 356 594 1,839 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 3,727 2,284 3,072 3,687 4,280 5,309 

Household operations .................................. 1,122 430 718 829 1,223 2,411 

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 615 344 440 542 694 1,052 

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,514 553 936 1,275 1,828 2,976 

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,740 850 1,140 1,453 1,988 3,266 

Transportation ................................................ 8,293 3,256 5,142 7,592 10,205 15,264 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 2,669 827 1,358 2,208 3,392 5,557 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 2,655 1,227 1,981 2,694 3,295 4,073 

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,454 1,020 1,599 2,322 3,043 4,281 

Public and other transportation .................... 516 182 204 367 475 1,352 

Health care ..................................................... 3,313 1,489 2,611 3,319 3,994 5,149 

Entertainment ................................................. 2,572 981 1,622 2,121 3,107 5,027 

Personal care products and services ............. 634 270 408 549 742 1,202 

Reading .......................................................... 115 50 72 101 135 219 

Education ....................................................... 1,051 807 474 562 827 2,585 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 351 316 359 409 403 266 

Miscellaneous ................................................. 775 385 579 593 883 1,434 

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,721 687 931 1,311 1,910 3,766 

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 5,424 422 1,693 3,505 6,431 15,068 

Life and other personal insurance ................ 317 81 218 217 353 717 

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 5,106 341 1,474 3,288 6,078 14,351 

n.a. Not applicable.
BLS Reports │ April 2013 • www.bls.gov 9

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2011

Table 2. Income before taxes: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2011

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) ...... 122,287 4,978 5,449 8,170 7,745 14,460 13,328 11,347 17,376 39,434 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes .................................... $63,685 $-1,393 $8,056 $12,654 $17,563 $24,940 $34,777 $44,698 $59,306 $130,588

Age of reference person ............................... 49.7 44.2 49.1 55.9 55.5 52.6 49.5 48.8 48.2 48.0 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ...................................................... 2.5 1.7 1.7 1.6 2.0 2.2 2.4 2.6 2.7 3.1 

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

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

Earners ....................................................... 1.3 .5 .5 .4 .6 .8 1.1 1.3 1.5 1.9 

Vehicles ...................................................... 1.9 .9 .8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.9 2.1 2.6 

Percent homeowner ..................................... 65 32 33 41 50 52 58 64 73 85 

Average annual expenditures ......................... $49,705 $22,960 $20,884 $19,959 $24,806 $30,398 $36,769 $40,306 $50,034 $81,767

Food ............................................................. 6,458 3,452 3,595 3,272 3,748 4,278 5,326 5,154 6,546 9,775 

Food at home ............................................. 3,838 2,147 2,518 2,396 2,560 2,804 3,476 3,184 3,995 5,307 

Cereals and bakery products .................... 531 302 339 328 382 390 488 447 544 727 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ................... 832 472 558 558 507 632 791 674 849 1,142 

Dairy products .......................................... 407 232 253 247 262 299 359 343 422 569 

Fruits and vegetables ............................... 715 400 474 418 479 516 647 572 728 1,009 

Other food at home ................................... 1,353 741 893 845 930 967 1,191 1,147 1,452 1,861 

Food away from home ................................ 2,620 1,305 1,077 876 1,188 1,473 1,850 1,969 2,551 4,467 

Alcoholic beverages ..................................... 456 223 222 149 145 212 315 309 384 844 

Housing ........................................................ 16,803 8,578 8,134 8,481 9,852 11,721 13,425 14,562 16,888 25,689

Shelter ........................................................ 9,825 5,173 4,941 5,075 5,464 6,789 7,758 8,429 9,628 15,229 

Owned dwellings ...................................... 6,148 1,479 1,508 1,548 1,980 2,778 3,747 4,590 6,238 11,605 

Rented dwellings ...................................... 3,029 3,282 3,220 3,407 3,379 3,745 3,708 3,476 2,923 2,251 

Other lodging ............................................ 648 412 213 120 105 266 303 363 467 1,372 

Utilities, fuels, and public services .............. 3,727 2,079 2,075 2,271 2,739 2,989 3,338 3,666 4,000 4,958 

Household operations ................................. 1,122 494 343 344 584 703 760 837 934 2,018 

Housekeeping supplies .............................. 615 270 295 295 455 409 465 530 626 924 

Household furnishings and equipment ....... 1,514 562 480 496 611 832 1,104 1,100 1,701 2,560 

Apparel and services .................................... 1,740 1,126 938 740 819 942 1,468 1,175 1,767 2,821 

Transportation .............................................. 8,293 3,457 3,201 2,559 4,019 4,664 6,406 7,128 9,010 13,580 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ................... 2,669 1,122 1,090 283 1,106 1,035 1,988 1,957 2,879 4,824 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................ 2,655 1,148 1,112 1,172 1,487 1,971 2,247 2,679 2,961 3,841 

Other vehicle expenses .............................. 2,454 956 842 931 1,248 1,470 1,889 2,149 2,762 3,879 

Public and other transportation ................... 516 231 157 173 177 188 282 343 409 1,036 

Health care ................................................... 3,313 1,235 1,098 1,578 2,024 2,646 2,751 3,317 3,722 4,742 

Entertainment ............................................... 2,572 901 994 922 1,098 1,636 1,695 1,876 2,830 4,325 

Personal care products and services ........... 634 256 287 249 305 367 479 519 620 1,053 

Reading ........................................................ 115 48 48 44 60 72 76 89 132 188 

Education ...................................................... 1,051 1,896 932 338 349 523 441 539 630 1,976 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ..... 351 299 305 332 328 361 379 416 392 321 

Miscellaneous ............................................... 775 538 376 329 343 599 551 656 682 1,246 

Cash contributions ........................................ 1,721 639 468 540 1,049 885 1,104 1,269 1,561 3,123 

Personal insurance and pensions ................ 5,424 310 287 425 666 1,492 2,353 3,297 4,871 12,084 

Life and other personal insurance .............. 317 88 56 86 100 271 163 209 289 585 

Pensions and Social Security ..................... 5,106 222 230 339 566 1,221 2,190 3,088 4,582 11,499 
10 BLS Reports │ April 2013 • www.bls.gov

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2011

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

2011

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) ....... 122,287 82,853 7,385 10,456 21,593 7,045 6,107 8,440 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ...................................... $63,685 $31,842 $74,742 $89,108 $169,776 $108,549 $133,318 $247,261 

Age of reference person ................................. 49.7 50.5 47.5 48.1 48.2 47.1 48.3 49.0 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ........................................................ 2.5 2.2 2.8 3.0 3.2 3.2 3.1 3.2 

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

Persons 65 and older ................................... .3 .4 .2 .2 .2 .2 .2 .2 

Earners ......................................................... 1.3 1.0 1.7 1.8 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 

Vehicles ........................................................ 1.9 1.5 2.4 2.5 2.8 2.8 2.7 2.8 

Percent homeowner ....................................... 65 55 79 83 88 86 88 91 

Average annual expenditures ........................... $49,705 $34,391 $57,977 $65,390 $97,728 $76,496 $87,239 $123,056 

Food ............................................................... 6,458 4,854 7,679 8,139 11,233 9,569 10,674 13,055 

Food at home ............................................... 3,838 3,126 4,474 4,627 5,897 5,184 5,533 6,768 

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 531 435 616 646 801 708 767 906 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 832 682 1,003 970 1,268 1,110 1,200 1,452 

Dairy products ............................................ 407 328 464 498 635 552 598 734 

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 715 573 765 871 1,152 977 1,065 1,365 

Other food at home .................................... 1,353 1,107 1,626 1,643 2,041 1,838 1,903 2,312 

Food away from home .................................. 2,620 1,728 3,205 3,512 5,336 4,385 5,141 6,286 

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 456 269 563 670 1,018 745 934 1,311 

Housing .......................................................... 16,803 12,568 19,178 20,926 30,212 23,660 27,420 37,700 

Shelter .......................................................... 9,825 7,253 10,887 12,247 18,158 13,546 16,546 23,175 

Owned dwellings ........................................ 6,148 3,550 7,676 9,122 14,152 10,539 12,841 18,117 

Rented dwellings ........................................ 3,029 3,400 2,711 2,364 2,039 2,112 2,101 1,934 

Other lodging .............................................. 648 303 500 761 1,967 895 1,603 3,124 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 3,727 3,141 4,273 4,537 5,395 4,903 5,126 6,001 

Household operations .................................. 1,122 696 1,379 1,381 2,543 1,732 2,035 3,589 

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 615 465 680 755 1,083 1,065 1,026 1,138 

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,514 1,013 1,959 2,005 3,032 2,414 2,688 3,797 

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,740 1,218 1,984 2,220 3,380 2,833 2,779 4,272 

Transportation ................................................ 8,293 5,772 9,804 12,185 15,538 13,962 14,274 17,756 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 2,669 1,642 3,095 4,455 5,595 4,966 4,878 6,639 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 2,655 2,090 3,345 3,612 4,121 3,921 4,150 4,267 

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,454 1,771 2,937 3,458 4,397 4,239 3,973 4,823 

Public and other transportation .................... 516 269 427 660 1,425 836 1,273 2,027 

Health care ..................................................... 3,313 2,632 4,130 4,106 5,258 4,590 5,038 5,976 

Entertainment ................................................. 2,572 1,733 3,110 3,373 5,193 4,092 4,566 6,564 

Personal care products and services ............. 634 433 829 828 1,236 997 1,054 1,567 

Reading .......................................................... 115 81 123 151 228 169 214 289 

Education ....................................................... 1,051 610 756 1,117 2,809 1,729 1,722 4,497 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 351 365 402 401 255 356 249 173 

Miscellaneous ................................................. 775 550 951 898 1,517 1,081 1,240 2,079 

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,721 1,054 2,019 2,099 3,996 2,178 3,242 6,059 

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 5,424 2,254 6,449 8,275 15,856 10,536 13,835 21,758 

Life and other personal insurance ................ 317 190 350 399 755 437 677 1,078 

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 5,106 2,064 6,099 7,876 15,100 10,099 13,158 20,681 
BLS Reports │ April 2013 • www.bls.gov 11

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2011

Table 4. Age of reference person: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2011

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) ....... 122,287 7,743 20,463 21,699 24,821 21,688 25,873 14,079 11,794 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ...................................... $63,685 $27,514 $58,179 $77,376 $78,519 $75,517 $43,232 $52,521 $32,144

Age of reference person ................................. 49.7 21.7 29.5 39.6 49.6 59.2 74.8 68.9 81.8 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ........................................................ 2.5 2.1 2.9 3.3 2.8 2.1 1.7 1.9 1.6 

Children under 18 ......................................... .6 .5 1.1 1.4 .7 .2 .1 .1 1 ( )

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

Earners ......................................................... 1.3 1.3 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.3 .5 .6 .3 

Vehicles ........................................................ 1.9 1.1 1.7 2.0 2.3 2.1 1.6 1.9 1.3 

Percent homeowner ....................................... 65 15 43 62 72 79 81 83 79 

Average annual expenditures ........................... $49,705 $29,912 $48,097 $57,271 $58,050 $53,616 $39,173 $44,646 $32,688 

Food ............................................................... 6,458 4,354 6,211 7,765 7,424 6,520 5,158 5,804 4,408 

Food at home ............................................... 3,838 2,382 3,447 4,594 4,421 3,908 3,309 3,594 2,980 

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 531 336 479 644 610 515 469 479 458 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 832 527 733 1,006 965 894 671 759 569 

Dairy products ............................................ 407 244 379 481 475 394 359 387 326 

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 715 424 627 841 803 734 663 713 605 

Other food at home .................................... 1,353 850 1,230 1,622 1,567 1,372 1,147 1,255 1,021 

Food away from home .................................. 2,620 1,973 2,764 3,171 3,003 2,611 1,849 2,210 1,429 

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 456 418 513 497 494 468 338 422 241 

Housing .......................................................... 16,803 10,282 17,026 19,979 18,782 17,173 13,706 15,105 12,046

Shelter .......................................................... 9,825 6,732 10,480 12,068 11,111 9,755 7,178 7,966 6,237 

Owned dwellings ........................................ 6,148 1,277 4,826 7,844 7,774 7,002 4,953 5,802 3,939 

Rented dwellings ........................................ 3,029 5,111 5,338 3,714 2,582 1,784 1,480 1,234 1,772 

Other lodging .............................................. 648 345 316 510 756 969 745 929 525 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 3,727 1,918 3,296 4,065 4,318 4,053 3,485 3,782 3,131 

Household operations .................................. 1,122 505 1,359 1,494 969 958 1,093 952 1,261 

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 615 268 420 702 691 722 636 695 568 

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,514 858 1,471 1,650 1,693 1,685 1,314 1,711 849 

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,740 1,448 1,818 2,227 1,978 1,719 1,129 1,195 1,052 

Transportation ................................................ 8,293 5,474 8,860 9,700 9,505 8,991 5,751 6,962 4,309 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 2,669 2,068 3,203 3,434 2,624 2,953 1,588 1,858 1,267 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 2,655 1,840 2,726 3,188 3,270 2,713 1,755 2,218 1,201 

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,454 1,265 2,402 2,565 2,985 2,746 1,994 2,343 1,581 

Public and other transportation .................... 516 300 529 513 626 579 414 543 260 

Health care ..................................................... 3,313 841 2,094 2,762 3,411 4,048 4,769 5,038 4,449 

Entertainment ................................................. 2,572 1,345 2,423 2,926 3,169 2,769 2,009 2,493 1,437 

Personal care products and services ............. 634 324 570 736 709 695 567 609 517 

Reading .......................................................... 115 45 74 100 113 149 157 163 148 

Education ....................................................... 1,051 2,253 1,049 818 1,879 866 247 262 229 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 351 256 378 343 465 401 212 289 120 

Miscellaneous ................................................. 775 285 606 781 947 931 753 821 674 

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,721 367 1,130 1,570 1,722 2,112 2,392 2,526 2,231 

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 5,424 2,220 5,346 7,068 7,453 6,775 1,985 2,957 825 

Life and other personal insurance ................ 317 67 138 308 401 534 280 361 183 

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 5,106 2,154 5,207 6,760 7,052 6,242 1,706 2,596 643 

1 Value is less than or equal to 0.05.
12 BLS Reports │ April 2013 • www.bls.gov

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2011

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

2011

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) ................. 122,287 36,110 86,177 38,445 18,886 16,245 12,601 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ............................................... $63,685 $34,540 $75,897 $69,877 $76,582 $88,037 $77,586 

Age of reference person .......................................... 49.7 53.8 48.0 54.2 44.9 41.7 42.0 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ................................................................. 2.5 1.0 3.1 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.7 

Children under 18 .................................................. .6 n.a. .9 .1 .7 1.6 2.7 

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

Earners .................................................................. 1.3 .6 1.6 1.2 1.7 1.9 2.1 

Vehicles ................................................................. 1.9 1.1 2.2 2.1 2.2 2.4 2.4 

Percent homeowner ................................................ 65 50 71 75 68 70 66 

Average annual expenditures .................................... $49,705 $30,613 $57,614 $52,385 $58,388 $65,597 $62,429 

Food ........................................................................ 6,458 3,638 7,590 6,431 7,466 8,983 9,747 

Food at home ........................................................ 3,838 2,072 4,545 3,691 4,410 5,411 6,400 

Cereals and bakery products ............................... 531 285 629 502 596 782 893 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .............................. 832 397 1,007 776 984 1,224 1,510 

Dairy products ..................................................... 407 221 481 393 464 567 682 

Fruits and vegetables .......................................... 715 402 840 703 804 980 1,159 

Other food at home .............................................. 1,353 767 1,588 1,318 1,563 1,858 2,156 

Food away from home ........................................... 2,620 1,567 3,045 2,740 3,056 3,571 3,347 

Alcoholic beverages ................................................ 456 370 491 569 448 449 358 

Housing ................................................................... 16,803 11,456 19,034 17,119 19,371 21,886 20,694 

Shelter ................................................................... 9,825 7,176 10,935 9,851 11,026 12,750 11,769 

Owned dwellings ................................................. 6,148 3,438 7,283 6,483 7,194 8,949 7,709 

Rented dwellings ................................................. 3,029 3,443 2,856 2,367 3,154 3,117 3,565 

Other lodging ....................................................... 648 295 796 1,000 678 684 495 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ......................... 3,727 2,380 4,291 3,843 4,313 4,767 5,011 

Household operations ............................................ 1,122 692 1,302 979 1,559 1,780 1,287 

Housekeeping supplies ......................................... 615 348 721 702 675 751 811 

Household furnishings and equipment .................. 1,514 859 1,784 1,744 1,797 1,838 1,816 

Apparel and services ............................................... 1,740 1,021 2,030 1,634 2,016 2,404 2,842 

Transportation ......................................................... 8,293 4,367 9,929 8,637 10,321 11,682 11,042 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) .............................. 2,669 1,235 3,269 2,638 3,479 4,251 3,618 

Gasoline and motor oil ........................................... 2,655 1,399 3,181 2,708 3,255 3,675 3,875 

Other vehicle expenses ......................................... 2,454 1,418 2,879 2,678 3,020 3,061 3,067 

Public and other transportation .............................. 516 316 600 614 567 696 481 

Health care .............................................................. 3,313 2,112 3,815 4,197 3,744 3,455 3,209 

Entertainment .......................................................... 2,572 1,522 3,005 2,915 2,876 3,416 2,957 

Personal care products and services ...................... 634 388 735 698 737 806 763 

Reading ................................................................... 115 90 126 147 117 112 92 

Education ................................................................. 1,051 782 1,163 746 1,400 1,764 1,310 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ................ 351 255 390 352 422 399 447 

Miscellaneous .......................................................... 775 577 857 887 900 753 835 

Cash contributions ................................................... 1,721 1,446 1,836 2,225 1,547 1,468 1,559 

Personal insurance and pensions ........................... 5,424 2,588 6,612 5,827 7,023 8,019 6,576 

Life and other personal insurance ......................... 317 179 375 366 431 387 302 

Pensions and Social Security ................................ 5,106 2,409 6,237 5,461 6,592 7,632 6,274 

n.a. Not applicable.
BLS Reports │ April 2013 • www.bls.gov 13

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2011

Table 6. Composition of consumer unit: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2011

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) ............. 60,144 25,270 29,097 5,825 14,661 8,612 5,777 6,956 55,187 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ........................................... $86,700 $78,823 $93,677 $91,014 $93,029 $96,583 $86,014 $37,188 $41,942

Age of reference person ...................................... 49.8 58.1 42.6 32.0 40.9 52.5 50.2 37.7 51.1 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons .............................................................. 3.2 2.0 4.0 3.5 4.2 3.9 5.0 2.9 1.7 

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

Persons 65 and older ......................................... .4 .7 .1 1 ( ) 1 ( ) .2 .6 1 ( ) .3 

Earners .............................................................. 1.6 1.2 1.9 1.7 1.7 2.3 2.2 .9 .9 

Vehicles ............................................................. 2.5 2.4 2.6 2.1 2.5 3.0 2.7 1.1 1.3 

Percent homeowner ............................................. 80 85 76 66 76 84 78 37 52 

Average annual expenditures ................................ $63,972 $57,658 $69,724 $65,948 $70,709 $70,412 $63,925 $37,553 $35,709

Food ..................................................................... 8,315 6,895 9,557 8,028 9,813 10,042 9,149 5,676 4,539

Food at home ..................................................... 4,944 3,935 5,785 5,010 5,877 6,080 5,792 3,526 2,674 

Cereals and bakery products ........................... 687 535 820 673 864 832 771 519 362 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .......................... 1,084 820 1,275 921 1,276 1,480 1,492 790 564 

Dairy products .................................................. 533 420 636 597 650 635 576 355 276 

Fruits and vegetables ....................................... 926 761 1,067 996 1,059 1,122 1,041 600 500 

Other food at home .......................................... 1,714 1,400 1,987 1,824 2,030 2,011 1,912 1,262 972 

Food away from home ....................................... 3,370 2,960 3,772 3,018 3,936 3,962 3,357 2,150 1,865 

Alcoholic beverages ............................................. 515 610 459 424 459 479 307 246 421 

Housing ................................................................ 20,664 18,329 22,788 25,009 23,158 20,648 20,185 14,563 12,882

Shelter ................................................................ 11,780 10,404 13,122 14,571 13,609 11,311 11,040 8,426 7,872

Owned dwellings .............................................. 8,620 7,622 9,646 10,295 9,974 8,649 7,821 3,405 3,799 

Rented dwellings .............................................. 2,145 1,471 2,649 3,608 2,792 1,758 2,550 4,851 3,764 

Other lodging ................................................... 1,015 1,312 826 668 843 905 669 170 308 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ..................... 4,540 4,073 4,797 3,989 4,856 5,244 5,288 3,445 2,876 

Household operations ........................................ 1,451 1,021 1,891 3,679 1,660 1,074 1,127 1,185 756 

Housekeeping supplies ...................................... 826 800 860 834 851 890 762 392 415 

Household furnishings and equipment ............... 2,067 2,029 2,118 1,935 2,182 2,129 1,969 1,115 964 

Apparel and services ........................................... 2,184 1,715 2,541 2,157 2,587 2,687 2,745 1,835 1,243 

Transportation ...................................................... 10,972 9,474 12,182 10,698 12,218 13,120 11,466 5,471 5,732

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ........................... 3,609 2,793 4,302 3,562 4,382 4,666 3,686 1,394 1,805 

Gasoline and motor oil ....................................... 3,472 2,923 3,852 3,205 3,921 4,173 3,955 2,119 1,832 

Other vehicle expenses ..................................... 3,204 3,056 3,319 3,297 3,168 3,588 3,311 1,636 1,742 

Public and other transportation .......................... 687 702 709 633 747 693 514 323 354 

Health care ........................................................... 4,479 5,127 3,910 3,486 3,753 4,465 4,489 1,892 2,222 

Entertainment ....................................................... 3,418 3,286 3,591 2,956 4,086 3,161 3,220 1,821 1,747 

Personal care products and services ................... 819 761 884 707 915 938 785 548 444 

Reading ................................................................ 148 177 132 107 136 141 104 52 88 

Education ............................................................. 1,340 716 1,904 729 1,739 2,978 1,246 553 798 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ............. 342 293 320 204 312 411 666 322 364 

Miscellaneous ...................................................... 897 902 865 973 811 883 1,070 668 656 

Cash contributions ............................................... 2,227 2,824 1,833 1,589 1,877 1,924 1,595 665 1,303 

Personal insurance and pensions ........................ 7,652 6,549 8,759 8,882 8,843 8,533 6,899 3,241 3,270 

Life and other personal insurance ...................... 463 473 473 509 443 501 368 135 181 

Pensions and Social Security ............................ 7,189 6,077 8,286 8,373 8,400 8,032 6,531 3,107 3,089 

1 Value is less than or equal to 0.05.

n.a. Not applicable.
14 BLS Reports │ April 2013 • www.bls.gov

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2011

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

Expenditure Survey, 2011

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) ....... 122,287 15,120 20,990 11,874 26,302 38,387 9,614 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ...................................... $63,685 $18,804 $45,875 $31,943 $60,959 $92,683 $104,027 

Age of reference person ................................. 49.7 67.5 43.9 63.8 47.7 43.6 47.0 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ........................................................ 2.5 1.0 1.0 2.4 3.1 3.1 4.5 

Children under 18 ......................................... .6 n.a. n.a. .4 1.1 .9 1.1 

Persons 65 and older ................................... .3 .7 .1 1.2 .3 .1 .1 

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

Vehicles ........................................................ 1.9 .9 1.2 1.7 1.9 2.4 3.1 

Percent homeowner ....................................... 65 57 45 74 65 73 77 

Average annual expenditures ........................... $49,705 $23,640 $35,529 $38,183 $50,945 $64,755 $72,867 

Food ............................................................... 6,458 2,950 4,083 5,876 6,891 8,082 10,416 

Food at home ............................................... 3,838 2,049 2,087 3,948 4,315 4,558 6,253 

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 531 303 273 559 589 632 868 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 832 383 406 865 976 969 1,518 

Dairy products ............................................ 407 220 222 426 446 492 642 

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 715 415 393 719 804 846 1,135 

Other food at home .................................... 1,353 727 793 1,380 1,499 1,619 2,090 

Food away from home .................................. 2,620 901 1,996 1,928 2,576 3,524 4,163 

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 456 144 514 340 365 594 700 

Housing .......................................................... 16,803 9,913 12,565 13,673 17,743 21,058 21,164 

Shelter .......................................................... 9,825 5,753 8,201 6,948 10,186 12,418 11,988 

Owned dwellings ........................................ 6,148 2,828 3,878 4,392 6,258 8,601 8,398 

Rented dwellings ........................................ 3,029 2,723 3,962 1,835 3,182 2,959 2,815 

Other lodging .............................................. 648 203 361 722 746 859 775 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 3,727 2,313 2,429 3,765 4,105 4,314 5,354 

Household operations .................................. 1,122 844 583 872 1,096 1,633 1,081 

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 615 374 332 683 661 754 842 

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,514 629 1,020 1,404 1,694 1,939 1,898 

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,740 810 1,160 1,367 1,902 2,146 2,976 

Transportation ................................................ 8,293 2,713 5,552 5,673 8,477 11,267 14,025 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 2,669 585 1,703 1,482 2,687 3,864 4,696 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 2,655 908 1,753 1,937 2,804 3,502 4,466 

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,454 1,015 1,700 1,877 2,467 3,234 4,031 

Public and other transportation .................... 516 205 396 376 520 667 833 

Health care ..................................................... 3,313 2,522 1,817 4,662 3,584 3,688 3,910 

Entertainment ................................................. 2,572 1,224 1,728 2,214 2,597 3,456 3,407 

Personal care products and services ............. 634 346 416 533 665 798 979 

Reading .......................................................... 115 97 86 133 115 131 129 

Education ....................................................... 1,051 522 968 353 945 1,259 2,389 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 351 218 282 332 384 376 539 

Miscellaneous ................................................. 775 524 613 807 718 979 806 

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,721 1,372 1,499 1,876 1,744 1,901 1,783 

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 5,424 285 4,247 345 4,815 9,021 9,648 

Life and other personal insurance ................ 317 132 213 231 353 420 433 

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 5,106 1153 4,034 1114 4,462 8,601 9,214 

1 Data are likely to have large sampling errors.

n.a. Not applicable.
BLS Reports │ April 2013 • www.bls.gov 15

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2011

Table 8. Housing tenure and type of area: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2011

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) ....... 122,287 79,353 49,120 30,233 42,934 112,203 35,763 76,440 10,084 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ...................................... $63,685 $76,634 $89,156 $56,289 $39,751 $64,986 $56,256 $69,070 $49,207

Age of reference person ................................. 49.7 54.1 48.3 63.5 41.6 49.3 46.9 50.5 53.9 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ........................................................ 2.5 2.6 2.9 2.1 2.3 2.5 2.4 2.6 2.5 

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

Persons 65 and older ................................... .3 .4 .2 .8 .1 .3 .3 .3 .4 

Earners ......................................................... 1.3 1.3 1.6 .9 1.1 1.3 1.2 1.3 1.2 

Vehicles ........................................................ 1.9 2.3 2.4 2.1 1.2 1.8 1.5 2.0 2.4 

Percent homeowner ....................................... 65 100 100 100 n.a. 63 48 70 83 

Average annual expenditures ........................... $49,705 $57,502 $64,852 $45,300 $35,274 $50,348 $45,147 $52,773 $42,540 

Food ............................................................... 6,458 7,244 7,666 6,402 4,996 6,489 6,102 6,666 6,090 

Food at home ............................................... 3,838 4,286 4,440 3,963 3,005 3,824 3,517 3,964 4,013 

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 531 593 616 546 414 528 467 556 565 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 832 921 953 853 668 830 781 852 866 

Dairy products ............................................ 407 461 471 441 306 402 356 423 465 

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 715 800 827 744 556 721 679 740 639 

Other food at home .................................... 1,353 1,511 1,574 1,380 1,060 1,343 1,234 1,393 1,478 

Food away from home .................................. 2,620 2,958 3,227 2,439 1,991 2,665 2,585 2,702 2,077 

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 456 500 536 427 376 470 530 443 290 

Housing .......................................................... 16,803 18,680 22,380 12,653 13,330 17,226 16,039 17,779 12,115

Shelter .......................................................... 9,825 10,315 13,462 5,202 8,920 10,211 9,877 10,368 5,529 

Owned dwellings ........................................ 6,148 9,399 12,506 4,352 139 6,308 4,773 7,027 4,362 

Rented dwellings ........................................ 3,029 44 46 40 8,548 3,228 4,523 2,622 824 

Other lodging .............................................. 648 873 910 811 233 675 582 719 343 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 3,727 4,412 4,682 3,973 2,460 3,723 3,259 3,940 3,766 

Household operations .................................. 1,122 1,366 1,497 1,153 671 1,164 1,054 1,215 660 

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 615 745 752 729 373 609 487 665 685 

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,514 1,842 1,987 1,596 905 1,519 1,362 1,591 1,475 

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,740 1,882 2,014 1,632 1,474 1,771 1,773 1,770 1,371 

Transportation ................................................ 8,293 9,766 11,039 7,690 5,567 8,266 6,906 8,900 8,606 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 2,669 3,200 3,757 2,295 1,687 2,646 2,156 2,876 2,916 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 2,655 3,072 3,439 2,474 1,884 2,613 2,080 2,863 3,115 

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,454 2,915 3,206 2,433 1,599 2,462 2,030 2,662 2,370 

Public and other transportation .................... 516 580 637 489 398 544 640 499 205 

Health care ..................................................... 3,313 4,220 4,012 4,564 1,635 3,303 2,637 3,615 3,426 

Entertainment ................................................. 2,572 3,133 3,390 2,691 1,533 2,566 2,136 2,766 2,652 

Personal care products and services ............. 634 728 780 636 460 644 576 675 526 

Reading .......................................................... 115 143 139 149 65 117 104 124 94 

Education ....................................................... 1,051 1,103 1,376 656 954 1,107 1,112 1,105 425 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 351 327 347 295 394 336 315 347 507 

Miscellaneous ................................................. 775 920 940 890 507 773 663 824 798 

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,721 2,138 1,951 2,441 951 1,746 1,492 1,865 1,438 

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 5,424 6,717 8,281 4,174 3,034 5,533 4,761 5,895 4,201 

Life and other personal insurance ................ 317 437 517 307 95 300 223 337 504 

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 5,106 6,280 7,764 3,867 2,938 5,233 4,538 5,558 3,697 

n.a. Not applicable.
16 BLS Reports │ April 2013 • www.bls.gov

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2011

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

Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2011

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) ....... 122,287 107,168 102,121 5,048 15,118 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ...................................... $63,685 $66,243 $65,295 $85,415 $45,552 

Age of reference person ................................. 49.7 50.0 50.3 45.1 47.4 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ........................................................ 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.7 2.6 

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

Persons 65 and older ................................... .3 .3 .3 .3 .2 

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

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

Percent homeowner ....................................... 65 68 68 54 45 

Average annual expenditures ........................... $49,705 $51,538 $51,113 $60,136 $36,644 

Food ............................................................... 6,458 6,695 6,623 8,163 4,743 

Food at home ............................................... 3,838 3,955 3,931 4,439 2,989 

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 531 548 545 618 405 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 832 834 821 1,094 822 

Dairy products ............................................ 407 429 434 337 246 

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 715 741 725 1,059 527 

Other food at home .................................... 1,353 1,403 1,407 1,332 988 

Food away from home .................................. 2,620 2,740 2,692 3,724 1,754 

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 456 492 501 311 199 

Housing .......................................................... 16,803 17,199 17,019 20,834 13,985 

Shelter .......................................................... 9,825 10,067 9,859 14,269 8,111 

Owned dwellings ........................................ 6,148 6,500 6,416 8,209 3,651 

Rented dwellings ........................................ 3,029 2,855 2,756 4,843 4,268 

Other lodging .............................................. 648 712 687 1,217 192 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 3,727 3,730 3,753 3,279 3,701 

Household operations .................................. 1,122 1,166 1,145 1,593 810 

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 615 641 653 393 426 

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,514 1,594 1,609 1,300 938 

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,740 1,750 1,721 2,324 1,669 

Transportation ................................................ 8,293 8,623 8,542 10,281 5,944 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 2,669 2,818 2,787 3,450 1,608 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 2,655 2,716 2,737 2,283 2,221 

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,454 2,540 2,514 3,075 1,833 

Public and other transportation .................... 516 549 503 1,473 283 

Health care ..................................................... 3,313 3,512 3,542 2,919 1,897 

Entertainment ................................................. 2,572 2,731 2,753 2,301 1,432 

Personal care products and services ............. 634 648 650 602 533 

Reading .......................................................... 115 125 126 111 48 

Education ....................................................... 1,051 1,131 1,075 2,267 479 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 351 363 374 152 260 

Miscellaneous ................................................. 775 811 817 696 521 

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,721 1,774 1,793 1,405 1,341 

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 5,424 5,682 5,579 7,771 3,593 

Life and other personal insurance ................ 317 327 326 337 250 

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 5,106 5,355 5,252 7,434 3,344 

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

approximately 1 percent reporting more than one race.
BLS Reports │ April 2013 • www.bls.gov 17

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2011

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

characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2011

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) ....... 122,287 15,222 107,065 92,163 14,901 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ...................................... $63,685 $49,966 $65,635 $68,907 $45,400 

Age of reference person ................................. 49.7 42.9 50.7 51.2 47.5 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ........................................................ 2.5 3.4 2.4 2.4 2.6 

Children under 18 ......................................... .6 1.1 .6 .5 .7 

Persons 65 and older ................................... .3 .2 .3 .4 .2 

Earners ......................................................... 1.3 1.6 1.2 1.3 1.1 

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

Percent homeowner ....................................... 65 46 68 71 45 

Average annual expenditures ........................... $49,705 $42,086 $50,782 $53,056 $36,573 

Food ............................................................... 6,458 6,373 6,470 6,743 4,717 

Food at home ............................................... 3,838 3,849 3,836 3,970 2,971 

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 531 493 536 556 402 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 832 968 814 813 825 

Dairy products ............................................ 407 388 409 435 243 

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 715 778 707 735 521 

Other food at home .................................... 1,353 1,221 1,371 1,431 979 

Food away from home .................................. 2,620 2,524 2,634 2,773 1,746 

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 456 281 480 525 192 

Housing .......................................................... 16,803 15,648 16,965 17,449 13,943 

Shelter .......................................................... 9,825 9,766 9,834 10,122 8,053 

Owned dwellings ........................................ 6,148 4,713 6,352 6,791 3,638 

Rented dwellings ........................................ 3,029 4,806 2,777 2,543 4,222 

Other lodging .............................................. 648 248 705 788 193 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 3,727 3,462 3,764 3,773 3,713 

Household operations .................................. 1,122 755 1,174 1,233 812 

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 615 536 625 656 425 

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,514 1,129 1,567 1,666 940 

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,740 1,989 1,706 1,714 1,658 

Transportation ................................................ 8,293 7,520 8,402 8,798 5,938 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 2,669 2,208 2,734 2,919 1,593 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 2,655 2,721 2,645 2,714 2,220 

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,454 2,174 2,493 2,596 1,844 

Public and other transportation .................... 516 417 530 570 280 

Health care ..................................................... 3,313 1,774 3,531 3,793 1,906 

Entertainment ................................................. 2,572 1,738 2,688 2,888 1,431 

Personal care products and services ............. 634 611 638 654 531 

Reading .......................................................... 115 46 125 138 48 

Education ....................................................... 1,051 624 1,111 1,212 485 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 351 164 377 396 262 

Miscellaneous ................................................. 775 476 817 864 526 

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,721 812 1,850 1,930 1,353 

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 5,424 4,030 5,622 5,951 3,583 

Life and other personal insurance ................ 317 115 346 361 251 

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 5,106 3,915 5,276 5,590 3,332 
18 BLS Reports │ April 2013 • www.bls.gov

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2011

Table 11. Region of residence: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2011

Item

All

consumer

units

Northeast Midwest South West

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ........................ 122,287 22,538 27,107 44,901 27,741 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ...................................................... $63,685 $71,733 $60,897 $58,780 $67,810 

Age of reference person ................................................. 49.7 50.8 49.1 50.2 48.7 

Average number in consumer unit:

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

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

Persons 65 and older .................................................... .3 .4 .3 .3 .3 

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

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

Percent homeowner ........................................................ 65 64 68 68 58 

Average annual expenditures ........................................... $49,705 $54,547 $47,192 $45,699 $54,745 

Food ................................................................................ 6,458 6,799 6,236 5,980 7,188 

Food at home ................................................................ 3,838 4,099 3,841 3,505 4,169 

Cereals and bakery products ...................................... 531 610 545 478 538 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..................................... 832 882 791 811 868 

Dairy products ............................................................. 407 444 409 356 458 

Fruits and vegetables .................................................. 715 811 696 612 825 

Other food at home ..................................................... 1,353 1,351 1,401 1,248 1,481 

Food away from home .................................................. 2,620 2,700 2,395 2,474 3,019 

Alcoholic beverages ........................................................ 456 491 387 386 614 

Housing ........................................................................... 16,803 19,557 14,926 14,968 19,373 

Shelter ........................................................................... 9,825 12,033 8,409 8,110 12,193 

Owned dwellings ......................................................... 6,148 7,642 5,691 5,110 7,060 

Rented dwellings ......................................................... 3,029 3,567 2,153 2,505 4,297 

Other lodging .............................................................. 648 823 565 494 835 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................................ 3,727 4,096 3,486 3,898 3,385 

Household operations ................................................... 1,122 1,267 934 967 1,439 

Housekeeping supplies ................................................. 615 641 645 567 642 

Household furnishings and equipment .......................... 1,514 1,520 1,451 1,427 1,714 

Apparel and services ...................................................... 1,740 1,905 1,624 1,615 1,926 

Transportation ................................................................. 8,293 8,435 8,114 8,264 8,399 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ...................................... 2,669 2,675 2,805 2,736 2,420 

Gasoline and motor oil .................................................. 2,655 2,510 2,632 2,794 2,569 

Other vehicle expenses ................................................ 2,454 2,519 2,223 2,400 2,713 

Public and other transportation ..................................... 516 730 453 334 698 

Health care ...................................................................... 3,313 3,368 3,620 3,160 3,216 

Entertainment .................................................................. 2,572 2,632 2,505 2,350 2,950 

Personal care products and services .............................. 634 627 582 606 739 

Reading ........................................................................... 115 130 123 88 140 

Education ........................................................................ 1,051 1,620 1,095 680 1,145 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ........................ 351 356 364 391 268 

Miscellaneous ................................................................. 775 858 764 661 903 

Cash contributions .......................................................... 1,721 1,809 1,675 1,613 1,869 

Personal insurance and pensions ................................... 5,424 5,961 5,178 4,936 6,016 

Life and other personal insurance ................................. 317 406 296 307 282 

Pensions and Social Security ....................................... 5,106 5,554 4,882 4,629 5,734 
BLS Reports │ April 2013 • www.bls.gov 19

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2011

Table 12. Occupation of reference person: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2011

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) 5,288 76,476 30,520 20,233 13,165 3,852 8,706 21,891 18,631 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes .............................. $83,041 $75,319 $103,075 $64,780 $49,313 $58,862 $49,112 $38,340 $40,217 

Age of reference person ......................... 49.1 43.7 44.8 42.8 42.8 43.2 43.3 73.9 46.2 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ................................................. 2.7 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.7 2.9 2.8 1.7 2.8 

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

Persons 65 and older ............................ .2 .1 .1 .1 .2 .1 .1 1.2 .2 

Earners ................................................. 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7 .2 .6 

Vehicles ................................................ 2.3 2.0 2.2 1.9 1.7 2.3 2.0 1.6 1.5 

Percent homeowner ................................ 71 63 74 58 50 62 57 81 50 

Average annual expenditures ................... $60,041 $54,885 $69,177 $50,000 $40,955 $46,197 $40,722 $38,302 $38,932 

Food ........................................................ 7,407 6,896 8,171 6,462 5,491 6,238 5,707 5,197 5,883 

Food at home ........................................ 4,395 3,893 4,442 3,593 3,209 3,929 3,638 3,378 3,975 

Cereals and bakery products .............. 623 533 609 508 435 535 466 481 549 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ............. 900 839 905 768 719 929 919 710 925 

Dairy products ..................................... 513 409 481 378 315 368 382 368 410 

Fruits and vegetables .......................... 816 725 871 646 586 673 607 658 710 

Other food at home ............................. 1,543 1,387 1,575 1,292 1,155 1,423 1,263 1,162 1,381 

Food away from home .......................... 3,012 3,003 3,730 2,869 2,281 2,309 2,069 1,819 1,908 

Alcoholic beverages ................................ 761 521 634 516 374 529 335 346 237 

Housing ................................................... 19,123 18,262 22,425 17,081 14,420 15,600 13,348 13,583 13,934 

Shelter ................................................... 11,313 10,933 13,547 10,228 8,643 8,919 7,758 7,064 8,102 

Owned dwellings ................................. 7,430 6,934 9,548 6,012 4,383 5,436 4,433 4,843 4,091 

Rented dwellings ................................. 2,950 3,336 2,887 3,778 3,943 3,078 3,082 1,510 3,578 

Other lodging ...................................... 933 663 1,113 437 317 405 244 712 432 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ........ 4,061 3,838 4,238 3,719 3,374 3,739 3,460 3,470 3,476 

Household operations ........................... 1,265 1,225 1,707 1,099 754 974 653 1,056 737 

Housekeeping supplies ......................... 699 618 753 566 476 550 492 666 518 

Household furnishings and equipment .. 1,785 1,648 2,181 1,469 1,173 1,418 985 1,327 1,101 

Apparel and services .............................. 1,732 1,888 2,288 1,878 1,396 1,362 1,436 1,286 1,675 

Transportation ......................................... 9,244 9,491 11,212 8,938 7,409 8,848 8,187 5,745 6,111 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) .............. 2,518 3,174 3,906 2,897 2,340 2,755 2,701 1,618 1,871 

Gasoline and motor oil .......................... 3,022 3,001 3,245 2,853 2,616 3,393 2,896 1,751 2,192 

Other vehicle expenses ........................ 2,875 2,744 3,170 2,754 2,091 2,471 2,344 1,950 1,747 

Public and other transportation ............. 829 572 892 434 362 230 246 426 302 

Health care .............................................. 4,132 3,069 3,946 2,819 2,102 2,343 2,347 4,664 2,493 

Entertainment .......................................... 3,379 2,772 3,721 2,367 1,937 2,085 1,913 2,116 2,059 

Personal care products and services ...... 687 691 919 608 521 414 443 560 476 

Reading ................................................... 142 113 169 93 68 57 57 155 71 

Education ................................................ 1,079 1,242 1,872 878 877 600 712 208 1,247 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies 316 358 239 372 381 649 575 220 485 

Miscellaneous ......................................... 1,223 799 1,021 734 602 751 488 748 578 

Cash contributions .................................. 1,978 1,733 2,522 1,287 1,172 1,576 921 2,210 1,024 

Personal insurance and pensions ........... 8,840 7,052 10,038 5,966 4,205 5,145 4,252 1,263 2,660 

Life and other personal insurance ......... 477 339 499 281 188 198 207 267 239 

Pensions and Social Security ............... 8,363 6,712 9,539 5,685 4,017 4,947 4,045 996 2,420 
20 BLS Reports │ April 2013 • www.bls.gov

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2011

Table 13. Education of reference person: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2011

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) ......... 122,287 85,229 16,146 30,810 25,361 12,912 37,058 23,578 13,480 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ........................................ $63,685 $48,337 $32,564 $46,370 $52,965 $63,664 $98,983 $90,962 $113,013

Age of reference person ................................... 49.7 50.3 54.6 51.6 47.2 47.8 48.4 47.1 50.6 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons .......................................................... 2.5 2.5 2.8 2.5 2.3 2.6 2.5 2.5 2.4 

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

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

Earners ........................................................... 1.3 1.2 1.0 1.2 1.2 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 

Vehicles .......................................................... 1.9 1.8 1.4 1.9 1.9 2.1 2.0 2.0 2.0 

Percent homeowner ......................................... 65 60 52 63 58 67 76 74 79 

Average annual expenditures ............................ $49,705 $41,253 $29,951 $39,704 $45,355 $50,819 $68,903 $65,051 $75,731 

Food ................................................................. 6,458 5,732 4,971 5,648 5,907 6,486 8,026 7,615 8,807 

Food at home ................................................. 3,838 3,591 3,564 3,595 3,510 3,774 4,365 4,184 4,718 

Cereals and bakery products ....................... 531 495 486 495 483 528 606 590 639 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ...................... 832 818 883 812 779 839 862 838 910 

Dairy products .............................................. 407 371 359 357 367 424 484 465 521 

Fruits and vegetables ................................... 715 637 651 642 627 627 881 816 1,009 

Other food at home ...................................... 1,353 1,270 1,186 1,288 1,254 1,357 1,532 1,476 1,640 

Food away from home ................................... 2,620 2,142 1,407 2,053 2,397 2,712 3,661 3,431 4,089 

Alcoholic beverages ......................................... 456 333 155 287 427 465 722 689 785 

Housing ............................................................ 16,803 14,042 10,843 13,571 15,259 16,744 23,123 21,702 25,621

Shelter ............................................................ 9,825 7,944 6,238 7,585 8,787 9,281 14,152 13,245 15,737 

Owned dwellings .......................................... 6,148 4,493 2,651 4,443 5,008 5,904 9,954 9,192 11,287 

Rented dwellings .......................................... 3,029 3,102 3,441 2,845 3,279 2,945 2,862 2,926 2,751 

Other lodging ................................................ 648 349 146 297 500 432 1,335 1,127 1,699 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................. 3,727 3,530 3,074 3,622 3,484 3,968 4,180 4,091 4,337 

Household operations .................................... 1,122 801 432 714 1,006 1,069 1,859 1,654 2,217 

Housekeeping supplies .................................. 615 545 429 536 551 692 762 746 795 

Household furnishings and equipment ........... 1,514 1,222 669 1,114 1,431 1,734 2,169 1,966 2,535 

Apparel and services ........................................ 1,740 1,462 1,274 1,385 1,552 1,686 2,343 2,232 2,554 

Transportation .................................................. 8,293 7,257 4,859 7,120 8,061 8,964 10,662 10,565 10,813 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ....................... 2,669 2,286 1,231 2,258 2,564 3,123 3,549 3,613 3,437 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................... 2,655 2,538 2,006 2,552 2,613 3,021 2,924 2,934 2,905 

Other vehicle expenses .................................. 2,454 2,141 1,388 2,061 2,533 2,466 3,158 3,192 3,082 

Public and other transportation ...................... 516 292 233 249 351 354 1,031 825 1,390 

Health care ....................................................... 3,313 2,929 2,257 2,986 3,020 3,449 4,192 4,022 4,490 

Entertainment ................................................... 2,572 2,108 1,223 1,967 2,465 2,822 3,616 3,499 3,822 

Personal care products and services ............... 634 514 367 479 573 662 901 851 992 

Reading ............................................................ 115 78 40 70 95 116 200 172 251 

Education ......................................................... 1,051 662 252 380 1,109 966 1,943 1,900 2,019 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ......... 351 437 400 521 384 386 152 183 97 

Miscellaneous .................................................. 775 659 392 615 715 987 1,040 907 1,269 

Cash contributions ........................................... 1,721 1,218 769 1,144 1,376 1,648 2,878 2,580 3,398 

Personal insurance and pensions .................... 5,424 3,822 2,150 3,533 4,413 5,438 9,108 8,134 10,812 

Life and other personal insurance .................. 317 248 136 264 218 406 477 414 585 

Pensions and Social Security ......................... 5,106 3,574 2,014 3,269 4,195 5,032 8,631 7,719 10,226 
Technical Notes

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2011

BLS Reports │ April 2013 • www.bls.gov 21

Brief description of the Consumer 

Expenditure Survey

The current CE Survey began in 1980 and has been 

conducted continually since then. Its principal objective is 

to collect information on the buying habits of Americans. 

CE 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 every 2 years. The survey, which 

is conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau for the Bureau 

of Labor Statistics (BLS), consists of two components: A 

diary (or recordkeeping) survey, completed by participating 

consumer units for two consecutive 1-week periods and 

an interview survey, by which expenditures of CUs 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 made at the time 

of purchase. Expenditure amounts include all sales and 

excise taxes for items purchased by the CU. All businessrelated expenditures are excluded from both surveys, as are 

expenditures for which the CU is reimbursed. 

Each component of the survey queries an independent 

sample of CU that is representative of the U.S. population. 

For the Diary Survey, about 7,000 consumer units are 

sampled each year. Each CU keeps a diary for two 1-week 

periods, yielding approximately 14,000 diaries a year. 

The Interview sample, selected on a rotating panel basis, 

surveys about 7,000 consumer units each quarter. The 

rotating panel consists of some CUs dropping out of the 

survey each quarter, while other CUs come into the survey. 

Each CU is interviewed once per quarter, for 5 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 they 

occur on a regular basis, such as 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. The Diary Survey is designed 

to capture expenditures on small, frequently purchased 

items that are normally difficult for respondents to recall

buying. 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 CU 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 spent while traveling overnight) that the CU 

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 is designed to do on its 

own. Data on some expenditure items are collected in only 

one of the surveys. For example, the Diary Survey does 

not collect information on reimbursements, whereas the 

Interview Survey does. Examples of expenditures for which 

reimbursements are excluded from the Diary Survey are 

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. Because of the overlap in the item coverage 

between the two surveys, the survey source is reviewed 

every 2 years and statistical methods are used to select 
22 BLS Reports │ April 2013 • www.bls.gov

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2011

the best source. See “CE Source Selection for Publication 

Tables” in the Consumer Expenditure Survey Anthology, 

2011 (BLS Report 1030) for source selection details. 

The population and spending coverage of the CE 

differs from that of the CPI. The CE data cover the total 

population including rural areas, 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 rentalequivalence 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 CUs 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 expenditure by 

the CUs that purchased the item. The less frequently an 

item is purchased, the greater the difference between the 

average for all consumer units and the average for those 

purchasing the item. Similarly, an individual consumer 

unit 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, gasoline 

(all types), as measured by the CPI-U, fell 1.1 percent 

between 2011 (annual average index) and January 2013 

(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 Survey 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 CU, composition of 

the CU, 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 on the CE page of the 

BLS website (http://www.bls.gov/cex). Also available are 

tables showing average annual data over a 2-year period for 

a) income before taxes, cross-tabulated by age, CU size, or 

region; b) single consumers by gender, cross-tabulated by 

either income or age; and c) selected metropolitan statistical 

areas (MSAs). Annual data are available for 1984–2011. 

In March 2013, the CE published tables that cover average 

annual expenditures made in July 2011 through June 2012. 

These tables are the first midyear release of CE data. These

tables can be found at http://www.bls.gov/cex/midyear.

htm. Other survey information available on the website 

includes 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 are also available.

Other available data

The 2011 and the 2010 Diary and Interview Survey 

microdata—that is, data on individual consumer units—are

available to be downloaded online at: http://www.bls.gov/

cex/pumdhome.htm. Data back to 1996 will be posted 

online on an incremental basis. 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
BLS Reports │ April 2013 • www.bls.gov 23

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2011

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. For years prior to 1996, the microdata

are available in ASCII text format (column parametered). 

Beginning in 1996, the microdata are available in either 

ASCII text format (column parametered) or SAS datasets. 

Beginning in 2007 the microdata are available in SAS, 

SPSS, STATA, and ASCII comma-delimited datasets. 

Information regarding the public use microdata can be 

found here: http://www.bls.gov/cex/pumdhome.htm.

The CE Survey also publishes articles in Beyond the 

Numbers. These articles 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 

articles—“Expenditures of urban and rural households

in 2011.” Additional data also are presented in articles in 

the Monthly Labor Review. These articles can be found at 

http://www.bls.gov/cex/home.htm#publications. For 

further information, contact the Division of Consumer 

Expenditure Survey, Office of Prices and Living Conditions

at (202) 691-6900 or by email at cexinfo@bls.gov. Online 

at 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.