1

Consumer Expenditures

in 2005

U.S. Department of Labor

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Report 998

February 2007

Consumer units1

 spent $46,409, on average, in 2005, a

6.9-percent increase over the previous year. This

was slightly higher than the 6.3-percent growth in

spending from 2003 to 2004. However, the introduction of

income imputation in 2004 accounted for approximately 30

percent of that annual change due to increases in the

pensions and Social Security component of expenditures.

The release of the 2005 data marks the availability of 2 years

of directly comparable data that include imputed incomes.

Consumer expenditures rose more than the 3.4-percent

increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all items in

2005. This report shows the latest results from the Bureau

of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey (CE).

Developments in 2005

The major components of spending–food, housing, apparel

and services, transportation, healthcare, entertainment, and

personal insurance and pensions–account for about 90

percent of total expenditures, and all of these showed

increases in 2005. (See table A.) Increases for food (2.6

percent), housing (9.0 percent), transportation (7.0 percent),

and personal insurance and pensions (7.9 percent) were

statistically significant. Spending also increased for the

remaining major categories–apparel and services (3.8

percent), healthcare (3.5 percent), and entertainment (7.7

percent)–but these changes were not statistically significant.

A 1.5-percent drop in spending on food at home was offset by an 8.2-percent increase in spending on food away

from home, resulting in the 2.6-percent increase in total food

expenditures in 2005. For comparison, overall spending on

food increased 8.3 percent in 2004 after a slight decrease (0.7

percent) in 2003. The introduction of a new, more user-friendly

diary questionnaire2

 in 2005 may have had an effect on the

amount of spending reported in 2005, as well as on how the

expenditures were distributed among the components. As a

result, expenditures on, for example, food, that were collected

in the Diary Survey in 2005 may not be strictly comparable to

earlier years. The drop in food at home expenditures in 2005

was driven by a significant decrease (13.1 percent) in spending on meats, poultry, fish and eggs. Other components of

food at home also decreased–cereals and bakery products

fell 1.5 percent, and fruits and vegetables declined 1.7 percent–but those changes were not statistically significant.

Expenditures for two components of food at home increased

in 2005: Dairy products were up 2.0 percent and other food at

home increased by a significant 7.7 percent.

Data classified by income quintile show that the greatest

increases in food spending were in the highest income

quintiles, 6.4 percent in the fourth income quintile and 4.1

percent in the fifth income quintile. Spending on food at

home increased for these two quintiles (3.0 percent in the

fourth quintile and 0.5 percent in the fifth quintile), while it

decreased among the lower three quintiles (3.1 percent in

the lowest quintile, 5.0 percent in the second quintile, and

6.0 percent in the third quintile.) Spending on food away

from home, which includes such items as restaurant meals

and carry-out, catered affairs, and food on out-of-town trips,

rose across all income quintiles.

The 9.0-percent increase in housing expenditures in 2005

was the largest in several years. Spending on housing rose

3.6 percent in 2004, 1.1 percent in 2003, and 2.1 percent in

2002. Housing accounted for 32.7 percent of total spending

in 2005, making it the largest among major expenditure

categories. Increases in spending for all components of

housing contributed to the overall growth, but only the

changes in shelter expenditures (10.1 percent) and spending

for utilities, fuels, and public services (8.8 percent) were

statistically significant. Data classified by the race of the

reference person3

 show that the percent increases in

spending on housing in 2005 were similar among the white

and all other races4 class (9.3 percent) and the Asian class

(9.2 percent). Consumer units with a black or AfricanAmerican reference person spent 5.5 percent more on 1

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

consumer unit. 2

 The addition of check boxes, changes to section headings, and

new cues for diary respondents were among the new features in

2005. See Figueroa, Eric, et al., “Is a user-friendly diary more

effective? Findings from a field test” and To, Nhien, et al., “The

efficacy of cues in an expenditure diary,” Consumer Expenditure

Survey Anthology, (Bureau of Labor Statistics,

Report 981, April 2005), pp. 2-17.

3

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

reference person. 4

 All other races includes Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander,

American Indian or Alaskan Native; approximately 1.3 percent

reported more than one race.
2

housing in 2005 than in the previous year. For the white and

all other races group, spending for all components of

housing increased with shelter expenditures rising most (11.0

percent). Shelter is the largest component of housing for all

consumer units, accounting for 58.1 percent of total housing

expenditures in 2005. Consumer units in the Asian group

also spent more for shelter (7.9 percent) in 2005, but the

greatest increase in spending for that group was the 25.9-

percent rise in expenditures for household furnishings and

equipment. Spending on housekeeping supplies decreased

7.0 percent and 5.9 percent, respectively, among the Asian

group and the black or African-American group. Spending

on utilities, fuels, and public services (12.8 percent) and

household operations (13.7 percent) increased more for

consumer units with a black or African-American reference

person than for other racial groups, while shelter spending

rose just 1.8 percent for that group.

Spending on apparel and services increased for the second consecutive year, up 3.9 percent in 2005 after a 10.7-

percent rise in 2004. Increases in expenditures for men’s and

boys’ apparel (8.4 percent), apparel for children under the

age of 2 years (3.8 percent), women’s and girls’ apparel (2.0

percent), and other apparel products and services, which

includes such items as jewelry, watches, laundry, and dry

cleaning (9.8 percent), contributed to the growth in overall

apparel spending. Expenditures for footwear declined 2.7

percent in 2005. Data classified by size of consumer unit

show that spending on apparel and services increased more

than the overall U.S. average for consumer units with at least

three persons–7.7 percent, 9.6 percent, and 12.2 percent for

three-, four-, and five-person consumer units, respectively.

Single consumers spent 3.3 percent more on apparel in 2005

than in 2004, and 2-person consumer units spent 5.7 percent

less over the same period.

After remaining essentially unchanged in 2003 and 2004,

transportation expenditures rose significantly in 2005, up

7.0 percent over the previous year. The significant increase

in spending on gasoline and motor oil (26.0 percent), largely

fueled this change. Over the same period, average prices

for gasoline and motor oil increased a comparable 22.0

percent as measured by the CPI. Spending on vehicle

purchases increased 4.3 percent following a 9.0-percent

decrease in 2004. Vehicle purchases are typically large and

infrequent so it is common to see wide fluctuations from

year to year because even small changes in the percentage

of consumer units buying vehicles can affect the overall

mean expenditure. Spending on public transportation, which

includes both intracity and intercity mass transit and taxi

fares, airline fares, and ship fares, rose 1.6 percent. Data

classified by region of residence show increases in

transportation spending in the South and West of 10.5

percent and 12.3 percent, respectively. Spending on

transportation was relatively stable in the Midwest region

(0.6 percent) and up slightly in the Northeast region (1.4

percent).

Healthcare spending rose 3.5 percent in 2005, continuing

a trend of increasing expenditures over the past several

years–6.5 percent in 2004, 2.8 percent in 2003, and 7.7 percent

in 2002. Among the components of healthcare, spending on

drugs, which includes prescription drugs, nonprescription

drugs, and vitamins, increased the most (8.5 percent). This

was the largest increase since 2002 in drug expenditures,

which increased 2.8 percent in 2004 and decreased 4.1 percent

in 2003. Spending on health insurance (2.2 percent) and

medical services (4.5 percent) also increased in 2005.

Expenditures for medical supplies declined 7.9 percent. Data

classified by age of the reference person show similar

increases in healthcare spending among those with reference

person under age 25 (7.6 percent) and those with reference

person age 65 and older (7.5 percent.) However, while

consumer units with reference person under age 25 spent

$704, on average, for healthcare in 2005 (2.5 percent of

their total annual expenditures), those with reference person

age 65 and older spent more than five times that amount–

$4,193, which accounted for 12.8 percent of their total

spending.

The 7.7-percent increase in spending on entertainment

in 2005 was not statistically significant. Spending on

entertainment items is subject to large changes from year to

year since, as is the case with vehicle purchases described

above, the component includes expensive items such as

recreational vehicles and boats that are purchased relatively

infrequently. One component of entertainment, other

entertainment supplies, equipment and services, which

includes recreational vehicles, has a large standard error

and is especially prone to fluctuation over time.

Spending on personal insurance and pensions increased

7.9 percent in 2005, following an 18.9-percent increase in

2004. However, as noted in the opening paragraph of this

report, the change from 2003 to 2004 was attributed to the

inclusion of consumer units with imputed incomes in 2004

resulting in an increase in the amount estimated for Social

Security deductions. The 2005 change was also driven by

an increase in the pensions and Social Security component

(8.8 percent). Expenditures for life and other personal

insurance decreased 2.3 percent. Data classified by region

of residence show that spending on personal insurance and

pensions increased most in the West (12.0 percent), followed

by the South (7.8 percent), Midwest (6.5 percent), and

Northeast (4.8 percent.) Spending on pensions and Social

Security also increased most in the West (13.6 percent) and

least in the Northeast (4.9 percent), and the percent changes

in the South and Midwest were similar (8.0 percent and 8.4

percent, respectively.)

Among the remaining components of spending,

significant changes in 2005 were shown for personal care

products and services (-6.9 percent), tobacco products and

smoking supplies (10.8 percent), cash contributions (18.1

percent), and miscellaneous expenditures (13.9 percent),

which includes items such as legal and accounting fees,
3

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

2003–2005

Percent Change

Item 2003 2004 2005

2003–2004 2004–2005

Number of consumer units (in thousands) .......................... 115,356 116,282 117,356

Income before taxes 1

........................................................... $51,128 $54,453 $58,712

Averages:

Age of reference person ................................................... 48.4 48.5 48.6

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

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

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

Percent homeowner........................................................... 67 68 67

Average annual expenditures ............................................... $40,817 $43,395 $46,409 6.3 6.9

Food .................................................................................... 5,340 5,781 5,931 8.3 2.6

Food at home ................................................................. 3,129 3,347 3,297 7.0 -1.5

Cereals and bakery products ................................... 442 461 445 4.3 -3.5

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ................................... 825 880 764 6.7 -13.

Dairy products ............................................................ 328 371 378 13.1.

Fruits and vegetables ................................................ 535 561 552 4.9 -1.6

Other food at home .................................................... 999 1,075 1,158 7.6 7.7

Food away from home ................................................... 2,211 2,434 2,634 10.1 8.2

Alcoholic beverages .......................................................... 391 459 426 17.4 -7.2

Housing .............................................................................. 13,432 13,918 15,167 3.6 9.0

Shelter............................................................................. 7,887 7,998 8,805 1.4 10.1

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................................ 2,811 2,927 3,183 4.1 8.7

Household operations .................................................... 707 753 801 6.5 6.4

Housekeeping supplies ................................................. 529 594 611 12.3 2.9

Housefurnishings and equipment ................................. 1,497 1,646 1,767 10.0 7.4

Apparel and services ........................................................ 1,640 1,816 1,886 10.7 3.9

Transportation .................................................................... 7,781 7,801 8,344 .3 7.0

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................................... 3,732 3,397 3,544 -9.0 4.3

Gasoline and motor oil ................................................... 1,333 1,598 2,013 19.9 26.0

Other vehicle expenses ................................................ 2,331 2,365 2,339 1.5 -1.1

Public transportation ...................................................... 385 441 448 14.5 1.6

Healthcare .......................................................................... 2,416 2,574 2,664 6.5 3.5

Entertainment ..................................................................... 2,060 2,218 2,388 7.7 7.7

Personal care products and services .............................. 527 581 541 10.2 -6.9

Reading .............................................................................. 127 130 126 2.4 -3.1

Education ............................................................................ 783 905 940 15.6 3.9

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ........................ 290 288 319 -.7 10.8

Miscellaneous .................................................................... 606 690 808 13.9 17.1

Cash contributions ............................................................. 1,370 1,408 1,663 2.8 18.1

Personal insurance and pensions .................................... 4,055 4,823 5,204 18.9 7.9

Life and other personal insurance ................................ 397 390 381 -1.8 -2.3

Pensions and Social Security ........................................ 3,658 4,433 4,823 21.2 8.8

1 Income values are derived from “complete income reporters”

only in 2003 (see glossary). Starting in 2004, income imputation

was introduced and incomes are estimated for all consumer units.

funeral expenses, and finance charges excluding those on

mortgages and vehicles. Education expenditures increased

3.9 percent, but this change was not statistically significant.

This component includes spending on college tuition, which

can fluctuate substantially from year to year. Spending on

the remaining components, alcoholic beverages and reading,

decreased in 2005 by 7.1 percent and 2.7 percent,

respectively.

Brief description of the Consumer Expenditure

Survey

The current CE program was begun in 1980. Its principal

objective is to collect information on the buying habits of

American consumers. Consumer expenditure data are used

in a variety of research endeavors by government, business,

labor, and academic analysts. In addition, the data are

required for regular revision of the CPI.
4

Table B. Percent distribution of total annual expenditures by major category, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2002-2005

Item 2002 2003 2004 2005

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

Food ........................................................................................................... 13.2 13.1 13.3 12.8

Food at home ........................................................................................ 7.6 7.7 7.7 7.1

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

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

Housing ..................................................................................................... 32.7 32.9 32.1 32.7

Apparel and services ............................................................................... 4.3 4.0 4.2 4.1

Transportation ........................................................................................... 19.1 19.1 18.0 18.0

Vehicles .................................................................................................. 9.0 9.1 7.8 7.6

Gasoline and motor oil .......................................................................... 3.0 3.3 3.7 4.3

Other transportation ............................................................................. 7.0 6.7 6.5 6.0

Healthcare ................................................................................................. 5.8 5.9 5.9 5.7

Entertainment ............................................................................................ 5.1 5.0 5.1 5.1

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

Reading ..................................................................................................... .3 .3 .3 .3

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

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ............................................... .8 .7 .7 .7

Miscellaneous ........................................................................................... 1.9 1.5 1.6 1.7

Cash contributions .................................................................................... 3.1 3.4 3.2 3.6

Personal insurance and pensions ........................................................... 9.6 9.9 11.1 11.2

Life and other personal insurance ....................................................... 1.0 1.0 .9 .8

Pensions and Social Security ............................................................... 8.6 9.0 10.2 10.4

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

Bureau for the Bureau of Labor Statistics, consists of two

components: a diary, or recordkeeping survey completed

by participating consumer units for two consecutive 1-week

periods; and an interview survey, in which expenditures of

consumer units are obtained in five interviews conducted at

3-month intervals. Results in this report are based on

integrated data from both surveys.

Survey participants record dollar amounts for goods and

services purchased during the reporting period, whether

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

amounts include all sales and excise taxes for all items

purchased by the consumer unit for itself or for others.

Excluded from both surveys are all business-related

expenditures, as well as expenditures for which the consumer

unit is reimbursed.

Each component of the survey queries an independent

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

population. For the Diary Survey, about 7,500 consumer

units are sampled each year. Each consumer unit keeps a

diary for two 1-week periods, yielding approximately 15,000

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

panel basis, surveys about 7,500 consumer units each

quarter. Each consumer unit is interviewed once per quarter,

for 5 consecutive quarters. Data are collected on an ongoing

basis in 102 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 for real property, automobiles, and major

appliances, as well as those that occur on a regular basis, like

rent, utility payments, and insurance premiums. The Interview Survey also collects data on expenditures incurred on

leisure trips. Including global estimates of spending for food,

it is estimated that about 95 percent of expenditures are covered in the Interview Survey. Nonprescription drugs, household supplies, and personal care items are excluded.

The Diary Survey is designed to capture expenditures

on small, frequently purchased items that are normally

difficult for respondents to recall. Detailed records of

expenses are kept for food and beverages–both at home

and in eating places–and for tobacco, housekeeping

supplies, nonprescription drugs, and personal care products

and services. Expenditures incurred by members of the

consumer unit while away from home overnight or longer

are excluded from the Diary Survey. Although this survey

was designed to collect information on expenditures that

could not be recalled easily over an extended period,

respondents are asked to report all expenses (except those

for overnight travel) that the consumer unit incurs during

the survey week.

Integrated data from the BLS Diary and Interview Surveys provide a complete accounting of consumer expenditures and income that neither survey alone is designed to

do. Data on some expenditure items are collected in only one

of the surveys. For example, the Diary Survey does not

collect data on expenditures for overnight travel or 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

presents the problem of 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
5

result, some items are selected from the Interview Survey,

others from the Diary Survey.

Population coverage and definitions of components of

the CE differ from those of the CPI. Consumer expenditure

data cover the total population, whereas the CPI covers

only the population in urban and metropolitan areas. In

addition, homeownership is treated differently in the two

surveys. Actual expenditures of homeowners are reported

in the CE, whereas the CPI uses a rental equivalence

approach that estimates the change in the cost of obtaining,

in the rental marketplace, services equivalent to those

provided by owner-occupied homes.

Interpreting the data

Expenditures are averages for consumer units with specified

characteristics, regardless of whether a particular unit incurred an expense for a specific item during the recordkeeping

period. The average expenditure for an item may be considerably lower than the expenditure by the CUs that purchased

the item. The less frequently an item is purchased, the greater

is the difference between the average for all consumer units

and the average for those purchasing the item. Also, an

individual CU may spend more or less than the average,

depending on its particular characteristics. Factors such as

income, age of family members, geographic location, and

personal preference also influence expenditures. Furthermore, even within groups with similar characteristics, the

distribution of expenditures varies substantially. These

points should be considered in relating reported averages

to individual circumstances.

Users of these survey data should also keep in mind that

prices for many goods and services have risen since the

survey was conducted. For example, rent, as measured by

the CPI, rose 4.9 percent between 2005 (annual average

index) and October 2006 (not seasonally adjusted).

In addition, sample surveys are subject to two types of

error: sampling and nonsampling. Sampling errors occur

because the data are collected from a sample representing

the population, rather than from the entire population.

Nonsampling errors result from the inability or unwillingness

of respondents to provide correct information, differences

in interviewers’ abilities, mistakes in recording or coding,

and other processing errors.

Tables and data

Tables in this report include integrated data from both the

diary and interview components of the CE, enabling data

users to associate the full range of expenditures with

consumers’ demographic characteristics. Tables show data

classified by income quintile, income class, age of the

reference person, size of the consumer unit, composition of

the consumer unit, number of earners, housing tenure, type

of area (urban-rural), race, Hispanic origin, region of

residence, occupation, and education. These are the same

classifications published in previous reports and bulletins.

Tables for the aforementioned classifications, but with

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

the BLS Web site (http://www.bls.gov/cex). Also available

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

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

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

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

Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs). Data are available

for 1984–2005. Other survey information available on the

Web site 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. Many of the tables that are shown on the BLS

Web site are published in biennial reports. The most recent

is Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2002–2003, Report 990,

March 2006.

Other available data

The 2005 Diary and Interview Survey microdata–that is,

data on individual consumer units–are available on CDROM. The Interview Survey files contain expenditure data

in two different formats: MTAB files, which present monthly

values in an item coding framework based on the CPI pricing

scheme; and EXPN files, which organize expenditures by

the section of the interview questionnaire in which they are

collected. Expenditure values on EXPN files cover different

periods, depending on the specific question asked; the files

also contain relevant nonexpenditure information not found

on the MTAB files. Currently available on CD-ROM are

microdata files back to 1990 and for selected earlier years.

The Consumer Expenditure Survey has also begun

publishing CE anthologies. These reports include analyses

of expenditure data as they apply to various topics of

interest, as well as methodological and research articles

pertaining to a number of survey topics. The most recently

published of these reports, is Consumer Expenditure Survey

Anthology, 2005, Report 981, (Bureau of Labor Statistics,

April 2005).

CE data also are available via the BLS fax-on-demand

service, which provides information and data that may be

accessed from a touch-tone phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a

week, by dialing (202) 691-6325. Voice prompts explain how

to obtain the information. Data available from the fax-ondemand service are for the most recent published year.

Additional data also are presented in articles in the Monthly

Labor Review.

For more detailed information on the availability of

current and earlier data, contact the Division of Consumer

Expenditure Surveys, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room 3985,

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

Telephone: (202) 691-6900. E-mail: (cexinfo@bls.gov).

Internet: (http://www.bls.gov/cex).

Material in this publication is in the public domain

and, with appropriate credit, may be reproduced without

permission. Information in this report is available

upon request to sensory-impaired individuals:

Voice phone: (202) 691-5200, Federal Relay Service: 1-800-

877-8339.
6

Glossary

Consumer unit. Members of a household consisting of (a)

occupants related by blood, marriage, adoption, or some

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

sharing a household with others, but who is financially

independent; or (c) two or more persons living together

who share responsibility for at least 2 out of 3 major types of

expenses—food, housing, and other expenses. Students

living in university-sponsored housing are also included in

the sample as separate consumer units.

Reference person. The first member mentioned by the

respondent when asked to “Start with the name of the person

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

with respect to this person that the relationship of other

consumer unit members is determined.

Total expenditures. The transaction costs, including excise

and sales taxes, of goods and services acquired during the

interview period. Estimates include expenditures for gifts

and contributions and payments for pensions and personal

insurance.

Income. The combined income earned by all consumer unit

members 14 years old or over during the 12 months preceding

the interview. The components of income are wages and

salaries; self-employment income; Social Security and

private and government retirement income; interest,

dividends, and rental and other property income;

unemployment and workers’ compensation and veterans’

benefits; public assistance, Supplemental Security Income,

and Food Stamps; rent or meals or both as pay; and regular

contributions for support, such as alimony and child-support

payments.

Complete income reporters. In general, a consumer unit

that provides values for at least one of the major sources of

its income, such as wages and salaries, self-employment

income, and Social Security income. Even complete income

reporters may not provide a full accounting of all income

from all sources. Beginning with the introduction of income

imputation with the publication of the 2004 tables, income

data are available for all consumer units and data are no

longer shown for complete income reporters.

Quintiles of income before taxes. Categories of income

reporters, ranked in ascending order of income, and divided

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

of income before taxes indicates the amount of income

before taxes of the lowest-ranked consumer unit in each

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

Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2005

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) ....... 117,356 23,441 23,477 23,448 23,497 23,494 

Lower limit ........................................................ n.a. n.a. $17,579 $33,381 $53,358 $85,147

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ...................................... $58,712 $9,676 $25,546 $42,622 $67,813 $147,737 

Age of reference person ................................. 48.6 52.2 51.1 46.9 45.7 47.2 

Average number in consumer unit:

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

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

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

Earners ......................................................... 1.3 .5 .9 1.4 1.8 2.1 

Vehicles ........................................................ 2.0 .9 1.5 2.0 2.5 2.9 

Percent homeowner ....................................... 67 42 57 67 80 92 

Average annual expenditures ........................... $46,409 $19,120 $28,921 $39,098 $54,354 $90,469 

Food ............................................................... 5,931 3,047 4,064 5,295 7,194 10,051 

Food at home ............................................... 3,297 1,980 2,527 3,017 3,952 5,007 

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 445 280 336 414 532 663 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 764 471 602 688 930 1,130 

Dairy products ............................................ 378 228 294 351 458 561 

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 552 333 425 493 629 878 

Other food at home .................................... 1,158 668 871 1,071 1,403 1,774 

Food away from home .................................. 2,634 1,067 1,538 2,277 3,242 5,044 

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 426 174 258 364 528 807 

Housing .......................................................... 15,167 7,529 10,192 13,234 16,850 28,006 

Shelter .......................................................... 8,805 4,479 5,756 7,632 9,721 16,423 

Owned dwellings ........................................ 5,958 1,628 2,600 4,573 7,203 13,771 

Rented dwellings ........................................ 2,345 2,718 2,985 2,809 2,033 1,181 

Other lodging .............................................. 502 133 170 250 484 1,470 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 3,183 1,908 2,656 3,081 3,588 4,679 

Household operations .................................. 801 258 425 579 887 1,852 

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 611 301 404 548 751 1,052 

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,767 584 951 1,394 1,904 4,000 

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,886 857 1,198 1,509 2,159 3,704 

Transportation ................................................ 8,344 2,742 5,330 7,437 10,504 15,691 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 3,544 878 2,115 3,000 4,611 7,107 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 2,013 882 1,485 1,997 2,518 3,182 

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,339 845 1,514 2,146 2,929 4,257 

Public transportation ..................................... 448 137 215 294 446 1,145 

Healthcare ...................................................... 2,664 1,448 2,329 2,567 3,012 3,962 

Entertainment ................................................. 2,388 891 1,336 1,813 2,885 5,009 

Personal care products and services ............. 541 253 353 472 621 1,005 

Reading .......................................................... 126 52 85 105 143 247 

Education ....................................................... 940 530 314 439 911 2,504 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 319 260 339 377 342 278 

Miscellaneous ................................................. 808 312 485 707 1,060 1,475 

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,663 545 1,004 1,222 1,672 3,869 

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 5,204 481 1,632 3,555 6,473 13,862 

Life and other personal insurance ................ 381 112 170 261 404 957 

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 4,823 369 1,463 3,295 6,069 12,904 

n.a. Not applicable.

7
Table 2. Income before taxes: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2005

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) ...... 117,356 4,482 6,421 8,473 7,514 14,712 13,925 11,451 16,956 33,422 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes .................................... $58,712 $796 $7,818 $12,574 $17,423 $24,920 $34,625 $44,659 $59,110 $126,761 

Age of reference person ............................... 48.6 43.6 51.3 56.1 55.2 51.0 47.9 46.8 46.1 46.5 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ...................................................... 2.5 1.6 1.6 1.7 2.0 2.1 2.4 2.6 2.8 3.1 

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

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

Earners ....................................................... 1.3 .5 .4 .5 .7 .9 1.2 1.4 1.7 2.0 

Vehicles ...................................................... 2.0 .8 .8 1.0 1.3 1.5 1.8 2.1 2.4 2.8 

Percent homeowner ..................................... 67 36 33 48 53 56 61 68 76 89 

Average annual expenditures ......................... $46,409 $19,684 $16,111 $19,335 $22,988 $28,361 $34,223 $40,265 $49,029 $81,115 

Food ............................................................. 5,931 3,078 2,753 3,206 3,228 3,949 4,540 5,238 6,563 9,251 

Food at home ............................................. 3,297 1,822 1,840 2,135 2,122 2,531 2,630 2,964 3,652 4,706 

Cereals and bakery products .................... 445 248 253 311 290 332 361 399 489 632 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ................... 764 437 475 497 489 611 604 669 882 1,060 

Dairy products .......................................... 378 208 198 248 254 290 306 348 421 534 

Fruits and vegetables ............................... 552 299 293 362 375 434 419 495 573 808 

Other food at home ................................... 1,158 630 621 718 714 863 940 1,052 1,286 1,672 

Food away from home ................................ 2,634 1,256 913 1,071 1,106 1,418 1,910 2,274 2,912 4,544 

Alcoholic beverages ..................................... 426 198 161 144 204 229 333 366 454 733 

Housing ........................................................ 15,167 7,776 6,442 7,554 8,923 9,966 11,922 13,532 15,443 25,138

Shelter ........................................................ 8,805 4,844 3,878 4,415 5,062 5,698 6,787 7,771 8,956 14,723 

Owned dwellings ...................................... 5,958 2,126 1,020 1,638 2,060 2,533 3,607 4,702 6,320 12,126 

Rented dwellings ...................................... 2,345 2,453 2,761 2,677 2,893 2,984 2,971 2,800 2,272 1,382 

Other lodging ............................................ 502 264 97 100 109 180 209 269 363 1,215 

Utilities, fuels, and public services .............. 3,183 1,707 1,694 2,024 2,357 2,633 2,874 3,163 3,423 4,404 

Household operations ................................. 801 252 193 265 350 420 502 605 751 1,611 

Housekeeping supplies .............................. 611 266 251 309 389 393 460 546 667 963 

Household furnishings and equipment ....... 1,767 707 427 542 765 822 1,300 1,447 1,646 3,436 

Apparel and services .................................... 1,886 1,006 766 918 819 1,112 1,473 1,440 1,978 3,233 

Transportation .............................................. 8,344 2,801 2,274 2,488 3,657 5,644 6,185 7,820 9,840 14,296 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ................... 3,544 988 781 580 1,192 2,460 2,289 3,221 4,423 6,362 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................ 2,013 872 701 925 1,122 1,454 1,793 2,059 2,390 3,026 

Other vehicle expenses .............................. 2,339 767 649 878 1,178 1,517 1,863 2,228 2,646 3,943 

Public transportation ................................... 448 174 143 105 165 213 240 311 381 964 

Healthcare .................................................... 2,664 1,121 1,089 1,678 2,101 2,251 2,354 2,784 2,738 3,775 

Entertainment ............................................... 2,388 857 801 855 1,085 1,203 1,676 1,950 2,399 4,515 

Personal care products and services ........... 541 234 213 270 295 346 402 497 562 898 

Reading ........................................................ 126 48 37 59 78 79 94 111 127 221 

Education ...................................................... 940 1,189 465 381 215 301 366 494 644 2,123 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ..... 319 239 260 258 299 326 391 364 372 286 

Miscellaneous ............................................... 808 310 183 373 412 412 693 688 985 1,357 

Cash contributions ........................................ 1,663 482 373 626 795 1,002 1,124 1,235 1,502 3,272 

Personal insurance and pensions ................ 5,204 346 295 523 876 1,542 2,671 3,745 5,420 12,016 

Life and other personal insurance .............. 381 96 73 129 152 168 208 274 340 817 

Pensions and Social Security ..................... 4,823 250 222 394 723 1,374 2,463 3,471 5,080 11,199 

8
Table 3. Higher income before taxes: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey,

2005

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) ....... 117,356 83,934 6,725 9,448 17,248 6,065 4,719 6,464 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ...................................... $58,712 $31,616 $74,523 $88,931 $167,851 $108,670 $132,190 $249,411 

Age of reference person ................................. 48.6 49.4 44.8 46.2 47.4 47.2 47.2 47.7 

Average number in consumer unit:

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

Children under 18 ......................................... .6 .6 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 .9 

Persons 65 and over .................................... .3 .4 .2 .2 .2 .2 .2 .1 

Earners ......................................................... 1.3 1.1 1.8 2.0 2.1 2.1 2.2 2.0 

Vehicles ........................................................ 2.0 1.6 2.5 2.8 2.9 2.8 2.9 3.0 

Percent homeowner ....................................... 67 59 82 88 93 91 93 95 

Average annual expenditures ........................... $46,409 $32,444 $57,697 $65,280 $99,128 $78,351 $88,974 $125,934 

Food ............................................................... 5,931 4,535 7,421 8,060 10,702 9,349 10,171 12,324 

Food at home ............................................... 3,297 2,698 4,043 4,244 5,261 4,940 5,152 5,630 

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 445 366 548 578 700 686 699 712 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 764 639 894 998 1,168 1,131 1,153 1,213 

Dairy products ............................................ 378 312 472 484 590 553 572 636 

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 552 443 661 704 932 785 941 1,058 

Other food at home .................................... 1,158 940 1,467 1,481 1,871 1,785 1,787 2,011 

Food away from home .................................. 2,634 1,836 3,378 3,816 5,442 4,409 5,020 6,693 

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 426 297 514 610 896 665 718 1,235 

Housing .......................................................... 15,167 11,172 17,849 20,505 30,563 23,641 27,393 39,358 

Shelter .......................................................... 8,805 6,448 10,394 11,750 18,040 13,462 16,192 23,685 

Owned dwellings ........................................ 5,958 3,502 7,919 9,507 15,202 11,027 13,969 20,019 

Rented dwellings ........................................ 2,345 2,728 1,896 1,489 1,123 1,300 1,086 985 

Other lodging .............................................. 502 218 579 754 1,715 1,135 1,137 2,681 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 3,183 2,697 3,682 4,094 4,856 4,400 4,636 5,443 

Household operations .................................. 801 478 975 1,289 2,036 1,434 1,593 2,924 

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 611 461 718 811 1,158 1,105 1,144 1,216 

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,767 1,088 2,081 2,561 4,473 3,240 3,828 6,090 

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,886 1,327 2,147 2,503 4,097 2,998 3,573 5,490 

Transportation ................................................ 8,344 5,973 10,761 12,137 16,859 15,108 15,685 19,357 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 3,544 2,422 4,517 5,093 7,777 7,388 6,940 8,753 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 2,013 1,610 2,603 2,935 3,242 3,168 3,214 3,332 

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,339 1,699 3,126 3,456 4,529 3,756 4,443 5,316 

Public transportation ..................................... 448 242 515 654 1,311 796 1,087 1,956 

Healthcare ...................................................... 2,664 2,220 3,278 3,533 4,104 3,782 3,908 4,549 

Entertainment ................................................. 2,388 1,534 3,438 3,225 5,656 3,853 5,613 7,369 

Personal care products and services ............. 541 395 652 721 1,098 868 1,077 1,326 

Reading .......................................................... 126 89 150 177 274 224 232 351 

Education ....................................................... 940 468 1,247 1,247 2,947 2,040 2,100 4,414 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 319 332 274 341 260 324 238 216 

Miscellaneous ................................................. 808 589 1,013 1,107 1,627 1,334 1,379 2,081 

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,663 1,023 1,689 2,211 4,471 2,781 3,473 6,785 

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 5,204 2,492 7,265 8,904 15,573 11,384 13,414 21,079 

Life and other personal insurance ................ 381 208 422 582 1,100 628 740 1,805 

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 4,823 2,284 6,843 8,322 14,473 10,756 12,675 19,274 

9
Table 4. Age of reference person: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2005

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) ....... 117,356 8,543 19,635 23,835 24,393 18,104 22,847 11,505 11,342 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ...................................... $58,712 $27,494 $55,066 $72,699 $75,266 $64,156 $36,936 $45,202 $28,552 

Age of reference person ................................. 48.6 21.5 29.5 39.7 49.3 59.3 75.2 69.1 81.4 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ........................................................ 2.5 2.1 2.8 3.2 2.7 2.1 1.7 1.9 1.5 

Children under 18 ......................................... .6 .5 1.1 1.3 .6 .2 .1 .1 1 ( )

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

Earners ......................................................... 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.7 1.7 1.3 .5 .7 .2 

Vehicles ........................................................ 2.0 1.3 1.8 2.1 2.4 2.2 1.6 1.9 1.2 

Percent homeowner ....................................... 67 19 48 69 75 82 80 83 78 

Average annual expenditures ........................... $46,409 $27,776 $45,068 $55,190 $55,854 $49,592 $32,866 $38,573 $27,018 

Food ............................................................... 5,931 3,933 5,639 7,359 6,980 6,202 4,163 4,899 3,388 

Food at home ............................................... 3,297 1,917 2,945 4,121 3,807 3,487 2,605 2,967 2,222 

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 445 273 387 564 499 465 366 405 326 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 764 449 654 963 918 827 569 691 440 

Dairy products ............................................ 378 214 348 479 433 377 308 344 269 

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 552 298 461 663 614 626 490 553 424 

Other food at home .................................... 1,158 684 1,094 1,452 1,342 1,192 871 974 762 

Food away from home .................................. 2,634 2,015 2,694 3,238 3,173 2,715 1,558 1,933 1,166 

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 426 401 478 511 458 454 248 325 167 

Housing .......................................................... 15,167 8,940 15,516 18,482 17,258 15,769 11,058 12,474 9,612 

Shelter .......................................................... 8,805 5,538 9,491 10,835 10,281 8,686 5,836 6,423 5,240 

Owned dwellings ........................................ 5,958 1,263 5,206 7,936 7,686 6,650 3,903 4,664 3,132 

Rented dwellings ........................................ 2,345 4,085 4,043 2,473 1,826 1,290 1,492 1,140 1,850 

Other lodging .............................................. 502 190 241 427 770 747 440 619 258 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 3,183 1,755 2,909 3,569 3,693 3,427 2,813 3,091 2,531 

Household operations .................................. 801 387 1,004 1,145 668 689 650 677 623 

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 611 242 504 716 717 736 534 644 418 

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,767 1,018 1,608 2,216 1,899 2,231 1,225 1,640 800 

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,886 1,577 2,082 2,365 2,318 1,784 957 1,313 584 

Transportation ................................................ 8,344 5,987 8,798 9,945 9,795 8,908 5,171 6,568 3,754 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 3,544 2,721 3,949 4,407 3,945 3,756 2,007 2,608 1,398 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 2,013 1,538 2,123 2,379 2,424 2,101 1,208 1,567 843 

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,339 1,536 2,361 2,669 2,850 2,513 1,594 1,926 1,257 

Public transportation ..................................... 448 191 366 490 576 537 362 467 256 

Healthcare ...................................................... 2,664 704 1,522 2,272 2,672 3,410 4,193 4,176 4,210 

Entertainment ................................................. 2,388 1,393 2,455 2,765 3,034 2,429 1,593 2,143 1,032 

Personal care products and services ............. 541 337 504 627 627 550 462 495 427 

Reading .......................................................... 126 49 89 121 143 167 143 154 132 

Education ....................................................... 940 1,359 779 931 1,769 733 211 256 165 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 319 308 307 357 427 336 165 228 102 

Miscellaneous ................................................. 808 263 697 791 949 981 839 1,037 635 

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,663 393 1,080 1,735 2,076 1,960 1,889 1,925 1,852 

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 5,204 2,133 5,123 6,929 7,348 5,909 1,775 2,580 959 

Life and other personal insurance ................ 381 45 219 397 474 541 403 449 357 

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 4,823 2,088 4,903 6,532 6,874 5,368 1,372 2,132 601 

1 Value less than 0.05.

10
Table 5. Size of consumer unit: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey,

2005

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) ................. 117,356 34,339 83,017 37,489 18,451 15,807 11,270 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ............................................... $58,712 $30,290 $70,468 $62,195 $74,069 $78,183 $81,275 

Age of reference person .......................................... 48.6 52.8 46.9 52.8 43.6 40.9 40.9 

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 .8 1.6 2.8 

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

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

Vehicles ................................................................. 2.0 1.1 2.3 2.2 2.4 2.5 2.5 

Percent homeowner ................................................ 67 53 73 75 70 74 73 

Average annual expenditures .................................... $46,409 $26,773 $54,483 $48,492 $55,096 $62,215 $62,618 

Food ........................................................................ 5,931 3,073 7,085 5,851 7,088 8,622 9,078 

Food at home ........................................................ 3,297 1,638 3,965 3,142 3,925 4,846 5,583 

Cereals and bakery products ............................... 445 227 533 411 513 666 793 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .............................. 764 332 938 738 941 1,140 1,332 

Dairy products ..................................................... 378 193 453 350 448 556 668 

Fruits and vegetables .......................................... 552 290 657 543 645 780 889 

Other food at home .............................................. 1,158 597 1,384 1,100 1,378 1,704 1,901 

Food away from home ........................................... 2,634 1,435 3,120 2,709 3,163 3,776 3,495 

Alcoholic beverages ................................................ 426 327 466 507 485 412 377 

Housing ................................................................... 15,167 9,835 17,366 15,273 17,466 20,076 20,342 

Shelter ................................................................... 8,805 6,179 9,891 8,704 10,006 11,333 11,626 

Owned dwellings ................................................. 5,958 3,055 7,159 6,052 7,086 8,702 8,795 

Rented dwellings ................................................. 2,345 2,889 2,120 1,966 2,341 2,066 2,344 

Other lodging ....................................................... 502 235 612 686 579 566 487 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ......................... 3,183 2,024 3,663 3,270 3,725 4,059 4,313 

Household operations ............................................ 801 383 973 675 1,064 1,434 1,169 

Housekeeping supplies ......................................... 611 321 728 673 682 843 824 

Household furnishings and equipment .................. 1,767 928 2,111 1,951 1,988 2,406 2,410 

Apparel and services ............................................... 1,886 980 2,253 1,657 2,441 2,850 3,123 

Transportation ......................................................... 8,344 4,030 10,128 9,124 10,438 11,553 10,963 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) .............................. 3,544 1,395 4,433 4,043 4,639 5,044 4,536 

Gasoline and motor oil ........................................... 2,013 1,032 2,419 2,043 2,524 2,802 2,964 

Other vehicle expenses ......................................... 2,339 1,336 2,753 2,489 2,796 3,160 2,992 

Public transportation .............................................. 448 267 523 549 479 548 471 

Healthcare ............................................................... 2,664 1,750 3,042 3,359 2,815 2,786 2,718 

Entertainment .......................................................... 2,388 1,335 2,822 2,622 2,615 3,152 3,364 

Personal care products and services ...................... 541 328 628 583 626 732 631 

Reading ................................................................... 126 103 136 149 123 136 117 

Education ................................................................. 940 500 1,122 766 1,265 1,491 1,559 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ................ 319 227 357 338 391 361 361 

Miscellaneous .......................................................... 808 563 909 947 852 887 908 

Cash contributions ................................................... 1,663 1,313 1,808 1,900 1,683 1,648 1,932 

Personal insurance and pensions ........................... 5,204 2,409 6,360 5,418 6,809 7,510 7,145 

Life and other personal insurance ......................... 381 162 472 407 452 515 657 

Pensions and Social Security ................................ 4,823 2,247 5,888 5,010 6,358 6,995 6,488 

n.a. Not applicable.

11
Table 6. Composition of consumer unit: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2005

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) ............. 59,337 25,293 29,528 5,659 15,477 8,393 4,516 6,902 51,117 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ........................................... $79,679 $69,453 $87,527 $76,205 $89,981 $90,635 $85,635 $33,286 $37,806 

Age of reference person ...................................... 48.6 56.7 41.8 31.6 40.4 51.3 47.6 37.8 50.0 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons .............................................................. 3.2 2.0 3.9 3.5 4.1 3.9 5.0 2.8 1.6 

Children under 18 .............................................. .9 n.a. 1.6 1.5 2.1 .6 1.5 1.7 .2 

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

Earners .............................................................. 1.7 1.2 2.0 1.7 1.8 2.5 2.3 1.0 1.0 

Vehicles ............................................................. 2.6 2.4 2.7 2.2 2.6 3.2 2.7 1.2 1.4 

Percent homeowner ............................................. 83 86 81 70 82 87 76 41 53 

Average annual expenditures ................................ $60,401 $53,486 $66,441 $58,538 $68,421 $68,211 $60,012 $35,365 $31,546 

Food ..................................................................... 7,698 6,351 8,764 6,943 9,156 9,308 8,508 5,283 3,901 

Food at home ..................................................... 4,269 3,413 4,878 4,070 5,031 5,161 5,280 3,099 2,154 

Cereals and bakery products ........................... 578 452 673 547 705 701 684 423 288 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .......................... 997 806 1,108 761 1,162 1,252 1,407 769 484 

Dairy products .................................................. 493 376 582 509 613 573 583 347 245 

Fruits and vegetables ....................................... 718 604 794 723 796 842 894 461 363 

Other food at home .......................................... 1,483 1,175 1,721 1,529 1,755 1,794 1,713 1,099 774 

Food away from home ....................................... 3,429 2,938 3,886 2,873 4,125 4,147 3,228 2,185 1,748 

Alcoholic beverages ............................................. 488 505 476 496 446 521 464 221 381 

Housing ................................................................ 18,902 16,359 21,057 21,734 21,887 19,084 19,080 12,905 11,119 

Shelter ................................................................ 10,732 9,239 12,043 12,285 12,760 10,558 10,525 7,521 6,741 

Owned dwellings .............................................. 8,453 7,094 9,691 9,418 10,461 8,456 7,968 3,548 3,387 

Rented dwellings .............................................. 1,523 1,264 1,643 2,528 1,567 1,185 2,195 3,802 3,102 

Other lodging ................................................... 756 881 709 338 732 917 362 170 251 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ..................... 3,866 3,481 4,114 3,364 4,190 4,480 4,400 2,994 2,417 

Household operations ........................................ 1,094 713 1,422 2,863 1,343 597 1,087 857 452 

Housekeeping supplies ...................................... 815 754 871 879 876 857 801 445 388 

Household furnishings and equipment ............... 2,394 2,172 2,607 2,343 2,719 2,593 2,267 1,089 1,123 

Apparel and services ........................................... 2,377 1,694 2,953 2,574 2,978 3,191 2,503 2,167 1,263 

Transportation ...................................................... 11,333 10,192 12,319 10,647 12,267 13,543 11,270 5,910 5,203 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ........................... 5,045 4,642 5,415 4,913 5,495 5,605 4,890 2,622 1,925 

Gasoline and motor oil ....................................... 2,649 2,215 2,973 2,527 2,902 3,405 2,960 1,444 1,353 

Other vehicle expenses ..................................... 3,035 2,683 3,357 2,807 3,289 3,854 2,900 1,634 1,626 

Public transportation .......................................... 604 652 574 400 582 679 520 211 299 

Healthcare ............................................................ 3,525 4,043 3,081 2,381 3,004 3,695 3,530 1,376 1,837 

Entertainment ....................................................... 3,190 2,946 3,486 2,685 4,069 2,958 2,640 1,823 1,529 

Personal care products and services ................... 683 632 735 586 763 788 627 463 384 

Reading ................................................................ 158 174 152 106 170 149 113 57 99 

Education ............................................................. 1,294 810 1,760 529 1,702 2,696 966 713 559 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ............. 322 294 328 246 308 418 439 274 322 

Miscellaneous ...................................................... 999 1,069 922 797 902 1,044 1,130 541 621 

Cash contributions ............................................... 2,152 2,315 2,094 1,549 2,226 2,220 1,617 677 1,229 

Personal insurance and pensions ........................ 7,280 6,102 8,313 7,267 8,543 8,595 7,125 2,955 3,097 

Life and other personal insurance ...................... 557 516 575 390 611 632 672 158 207 

Pensions and Social Security ............................ 6,723 5,586 7,738 6,877 7,932 7,962 6,453 2,796 2,890 

1 Value less than 0.05.

n.a. Not applicable.

12
Table 7. Number of earners in consumer unit: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer

Expenditure Survey, 2005

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) ....... 117,356 13,087 21,252 10,051 23,925 39,014 10,027 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ...................................... $58,712 $16,261 $38,929 $27,954 $56,331 $82,521 $99,921 

Age of reference person ................................. 48.6 69.0 42.9 65.4 46.5 42.5 46.1 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ........................................................ 2.5 1.0 1.0 2.3 3.0 3.0 4.4 

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

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

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

Vehicles ........................................................ 2.0 .9 1.2 1.8 1.9 2.5 3.2 

Percent homeowner ....................................... 67 59 49 76 67 75 80 

Average annual expenditures ........................... $46,409 $19,865 $31,017 $33,796 $47,594 $60,197 $69,805 

Food ............................................................... 5,931 2,304 3,543 5,180 6,296 7,471 9,577 

Food at home ............................................... 3,297 1,542 1,697 3,328 3,714 3,956 5,361 

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 445 230 225 471 494 534 699 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 764 321 339 808 869 912 1,380 

Dairy products ............................................ 378 192 193 385 416 461 592 

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 552 283 294 588 640 637 863 

Other food at home .................................... 1,158 516 646 1,077 1,296 1,412 1,828 

Food away from home .................................. 2,634 762 1,845 1,852 2,581 3,516 4,216 

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 426 125 450 318 342 541 638 

Housing .......................................................... 15,167 8,156 10,868 11,342 16,037 19,076 19,945 

Shelter .......................................................... 8,805 4,872 6,985 5,724 9,093 11,073 11,370 

Owned dwellings ........................................ 5,958 2,271 3,538 3,679 6,133 8,270 8,772 

Rented dwellings ........................................ 2,345 2,427 3,173 1,564 2,434 2,120 1,926 

Other lodging .............................................. 502 173 273 482 526 683 672 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 3,183 1,952 2,068 3,038 3,462 3,743 4,459 

Household operations .................................. 801 423 358 609 826 1,204 791 

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 611 295 336 615 662 782 793 

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,767 614 1,121 1,357 1,992 2,274 2,533 

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,886 566 1,233 1,318 2,012 2,421 3,191 

Transportation ................................................ 8,344 2,639 4,886 6,001 8,662 11,228 13,491 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 3,544 925 1,684 2,603 3,945 4,891 5,650 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 2,013 633 1,277 1,373 2,050 2,660 3,413 

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,339 881 1,617 1,640 2,269 3,069 3,801 

Public transportation ..................................... 448 200 308 385 398 608 627 

Healthcare ...................................................... 2,664 2,397 1,351 4,087 2,911 2,810 3,212 

Entertainment ................................................. 2,388 883 1,612 1,722 2,423 3,234 3,289 

Personal care products and services ............. 541 285 355 447 543 673 851 

Reading .......................................................... 126 94 108 122 115 150 146 

Education ....................................................... 940 332 602 214 887 1,266 2,035 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 319 180 255 256 318 380 464 

Miscellaneous ................................................. 808 399 664 942 799 883 1,256 

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,663 1,289 1,328 1,467 1,659 1,896 2,164 

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 5,204 214 3,762 378 4,591 8,167 9,544 

Life and other personal insurance ................ 381 136 178 275 477 498 552 

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 4,823 177 3,584 103 4,114 7,669 8,993 

1 Data are likely to have large sampling errors.

n.a. Not applicable.

13
Table 8. Housing tenure and type of area: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2005

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) ....... 117,356 79,072 50,172 28,900 38,284 107,087 34,382 72,705 10,269 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ...................................... $58,712 $70,791 $82,432 $50,580 $33,765 $59,878 $51,666 $63,761 $46,554 

Age of reference person ................................. 48.6 52.3 46.5 62.5 40.9 48.4 46.6 49.2 51.0 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ........................................................ 2.5 2.6 2.9 2.1 2.2 2.5 2.4 2.5 2.5 

Children under 18 ......................................... .6 .6 .9 .3 .6 .6 .6 .7 .6 

Persons 65 and over .................................... .3 .4 .2 .7 .2 .3 .3 .3 .3 

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

Vehicles ........................................................ 2.0 2.3 2.5 2.0 1.2 1.9 1.5 2.1 2.6 

Percent homeowner ....................................... 67 100 100 100 n.a. 66 52 73 82 

Average annual expenditures ........................... $46,409 $54,126 $62,259 $39,675 $30,462 $47,177 $41,688 $49,748 $38,486 

Food ............................................................... 5,931 6,712 7,235 5,629 4,314 6,016 5,494 6,248 5,100 

Food at home ............................................... 3,297 3,693 3,872 3,316 2,475 3,327 3,091 3,430 3,007 

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 445 500 518 464 330 448 404 467 417 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 764 845 887 755 597 771 735 786 704 

Dairy products ............................................ 378 428 446 392 274 379 339 397 367 

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 552 617 636 578 416 563 543 572 441 

Other food at home .................................... 1,158 1,302 1,385 1,128 858 1,166 1,070 1,208 1,079 

Food away from home .................................. 2,634 3,019 3,364 2,313 1,839 2,689 2,403 2,818 2,093 

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 426 463 530 323 351 444 447 442 258 

Housing .......................................................... 15,167 17,262 20,956 10,815 10,838 15,586 14,202 16,233 10,799

Shelter .......................................................... 8,805 9,535 12,495 4,397 7,296 9,155 8,555 9,440 5,147 

Owned dwellings ........................................ 5,958 8,800 11,741 3,692 89 6,143 4,608 6,869 4,026 

Rented dwellings ........................................ 2,345 60 55 67 7,065 2,490 3,546 1,990 836 

Other lodging .............................................. 502 676 699 637 142 523 401 580 285 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 3,183 3,751 4,026 3,273 2,011 3,183 2,843 3,343 3,191 

Household operations .................................. 801 996 1,162 708 397 829 782 852 498 

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 611 746 782 670 331 603 516 642 686 

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,767 2,234 2,491 1,766 803 1,815 1,506 1,956 1,277 

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,886 2,065 2,347 1,510 1,516 1,936 1,957 1,927 1,387 

Transportation ................................................ 8,344 9,778 11,158 7,380 5,382 8,363 6,935 9,038 8,150 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 3,544 4,188 4,795 3,135 2,213 3,555 2,861 3,884 3,427 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 2,013 2,316 2,624 1,782 1,388 1,979 1,606 2,155 2,372 

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,339 2,748 3,159 2,032 1,493 2,359 1,964 2,545 2,131 

Public transportation ..................................... 448 525 580 430 288 470 504 454 220 

Healthcare ...................................................... 2,664 3,318 3,060 3,773 1,314 2,660 2,230 2,863 2,702 

Entertainment ................................................. 2,388 2,921 3,381 2,101 1,286 2,383 1,873 2,620 2,437 

Personal care products and services ............. 541 625 685 512 367 555 526 569 396 

Reading .......................................................... 126 152 157 144 73 129 111 138 101 

Education ....................................................... 940 1,078 1,304 686 654 990 914 1,026 418 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 319 292 317 249 375 306 280 319 453 

Miscellaneous ................................................. 808 957 1,026 834 501 814 778 833 742 

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,663 2,061 2,090 2,011 841 1,694 1,489 1,790 1,347 

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 5,204 6,441 8,014 3,710 2,649 5,301 4,454 5,701 4,194 

Life and other personal insurance ................ 381 511 598 361 112 386 275 439 330 

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 4,823 5,930 7,416 3,349 2,537 4,915 4,179 5,263 3,865 

n.a. Not applicable.

14
Table 9. Race of reference person: Average annual expenditures and characteristics,

Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2005

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) ....... 117,356 103,314 99,031 4,283 14,042 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ...................................... $58,712 $61,339 $60,791 $73,995 $39,385 

Age of reference person ................................. 48.6 48.9 49.2 43.4 46.3 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ........................................................ 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.9 2.6 

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

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

Earners ......................................................... 1.3 1.4 1.3 1.6 1.2 

Vehicles ........................................................ 2.0 2.1 2.1 1.7 1.3 

Percent homeowner ....................................... 67 70 70 62 49 

Average annual expenditures ........................... $46,409 $48,241 $48,077 $52,054 $32,849 

Food ............................................................... 5,931 6,145 6,127 6,632 4,319 

Food at home ............................................... 3,297 3,380 3,373 3,580 2,663 

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 445 456 455 492 363 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 764 762 757 892 787 

Dairy products ............................................ 378 396 399 303 245 

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 552 568 559 814 428 

Other food at home .................................... 1,158 1,199 1,204 1,078 840 

Food away from home .................................. 2,634 2,764 2,754 3,052 1,657 

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 426 460 465 319 173 

Housing .......................................................... 15,167 15,643 15,496 19,017 11,650 

Shelter .......................................................... 8,805 9,115 8,961 12,659 6,524 

Owned dwellings ........................................ 5,958 6,335 6,236 8,623 3,188 

Rented dwellings ........................................ 2,345 2,236 2,182 3,479 3,148 

Other lodging .............................................. 502 544 544 556 189 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 3,183 3,174 3,181 3,018 3,253 

Household operations .................................. 801 837 833 948 530 

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 611 645 653 439 352 

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,767 1,871 1,868 1,954 991 

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,886 1,874 1,868 2,035 1,981 

Transportation ................................................ 8,344 8,683 8,674 8,899 5,850 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 3,544 3,706 3,715 3,516 2,350 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 2,013 2,077 2,080 2,011 1,546 

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,339 2,424 2,426 2,395 1,710 

Public transportation ..................................... 448 476 454 978 245 

Healthcare ...................................................... 2,664 2,829 2,853 2,262 1,448 

Entertainment ................................................. 2,388 2,543 2,573 1,804 1,242 

Personal care products and services ............. 541 550 551 519 472 

Reading .......................................................... 126 137 137 117 52 

Education ....................................................... 940 1,000 967 1,759 500 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 319 333 342 124 216 

Miscellaneous ................................................. 808 861 864 794 416 

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,663 1,726 1,749 1,188 1,204 

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 5,204 5,459 5,411 6,584 3,325 

Life and other personal insurance ................ 381 393 390 465 292 

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 4,823 5,066 5,021 6,119 3,033 

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

approximately 1.3 percent reporting more than one race.

15
Table 10. Hispanic or Latino origin of reference person: Average annual expenditures and

characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2005

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) ....... 117,356 12,462 104,894 90,995 13,899 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ...................................... $58,712 $47,509 $60,043 $63,203 $39,352 

Age of reference person ................................. 48.6 41.7 49.4 49.9 46.3 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ........................................................ 2.5 3.4 2.4 2.3 2.6 

Children under 18 ......................................... .6 1.2 .6 .5 .8 

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

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

Vehicles ........................................................ 2.0 1.7 2.0 2.1 1.3 

Percent homeowner ....................................... 67 50 69 73 49 

Average annual expenditures ........................... $46,409 $40,123 $47,154 $49,331 $32,814 

Food ............................................................... 5,931 5,551 5,976 6,223 4,313 

Food at home ............................................... 3,297 3,344 3,291 3,384 2,662 

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 445 400 450 463 362 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 764 876 752 746 786 

Dairy products ............................................ 378 364 380 400 246 

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 552 640 541 558 428 

Other food at home .................................... 1,158 1,064 1,168 1,217 839 

Food away from home .................................. 2,634 2,207 2,685 2,838 1,651 

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 426 286 443 483 170 

Housing .......................................................... 15,167 14,338 15,265 15,813 11,650 

Shelter .......................................................... 8,805 8,937 8,789 9,134 6,530 

Owned dwellings ........................................ 5,958 4,886 6,085 6,527 3,197 

Rented dwellings ........................................ 2,345 3,876 2,163 2,013 3,143 

Other lodging .............................................. 502 175 541 594 190 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 3,183 2,986 3,207 3,201 3,246 

Household operations .................................. 801 605 824 868 531 

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 611 508 623 663 353 

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,767 1,303 1,822 1,947 989 

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,886 2,195 1,850 1,830 1,982 

Transportation ................................................ 8,344 7,900 8,397 8,791 5,819 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 3,544 3,280 3,575 3,765 2,336 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 2,013 2,171 1,995 2,063 1,546 

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,339 2,068 2,371 2,474 1,698 

Public transportation ..................................... 448 380 456 489 239 

Healthcare ...................................................... 2,664 1,520 2,800 3,005 1,455 

Entertainment ................................................. 2,388 1,494 2,494 2,683 1,242 

Personal care products and services ............. 541 501 546 557 470 

Reading .......................................................... 126 55 135 148 52 

Education ....................................................... 940 558 986 1,061 491 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 319 158 338 357 216 

Miscellaneous ................................................. 808 665 825 887 419 

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,663 927 1,751 1,834 1,207 

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 5,204 3,974 5,350 5,659 3,325 

Life and other personal insurance ................ 381 140 410 428 292 

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 4,823 3,834 4,940 5,232 3,033 

16
Table 11. Region of residence: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2005

Item

All

consumer

units

Northeast Midwest South West

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ........................ 117,356 22,356 27,005 42,120 25,875 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ...................................................... $58,712 $63,068 $56,606 $53,311 $65,938 

Age of reference person ................................................. 48.6 50.1 48.5 48.7 47.3 

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 over ..................................................... .3 .3 .3 .3 .3 

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

Vehicles ........................................................................ 2.0 1.7 2.1 1.9 2.1 

Percent homeowner ........................................................ 67 65 71 69 62 

Average annual expenditures ........................................... $46,409 $47,921 $45,027 $42,504 $52,891 

Food ................................................................................ 5,931 6,495 5,754 5,491 6,339 

Food at home ................................................................ 3,297 3,645 3,232 3,011 3,527 

Cereals and bakery products ...................................... 445 508 454 400 456 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..................................... 764 885 712 732 767 

Dairy products ............................................................. 378 424 391 332 401 

Fruits and vegetables .................................................. 552 652 517 475 624 

Other food at home ..................................................... 1,158 1,176 1,158 1,072 1,279 

Food away from home .................................................. 2,634 2,850 2,522 2,480 2,813 

Alcoholic beverages ........................................................ 426 441 460 350 503 

Housing ........................................................................... 15,167 16,421 14,151 13,402 18,016 

Shelter ........................................................................... 8,805 10,071 7,886 7,167 11,337 

Owned dwellings ......................................................... 5,958 6,681 5,688 4,900 7,337 

Rented dwellings ......................................................... 2,345 2,765 1,664 1,911 3,398 

Other lodging .............................................................. 502 624 534 355 601 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................................ 3,183 3,409 3,158 3,240 2,923 

Household operations ................................................... 801 765 759 777 913 

Housekeeping supplies ................................................. 611 654 618 573 629 

Household furnishings and equipment .......................... 1,767 1,522 1,730 1,646 2,214 

Apparel and services ...................................................... 1,886 2,036 1,750 1,836 1,975 

Transportation ................................................................. 8,344 7,732 7,753 7,990 10,068 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ...................................... 3,544 2,911 3,085 3,543 4,572 

Gasoline and motor oil .................................................. 2,013 1,761 1,975 2,069 2,180 

Other vehicle expenses ................................................ 2,339 2,424 2,313 2,085 2,708 

Public transportation ..................................................... 448 637 380 293 608 

Healthcare ....................................................................... 2,664 2,581 2,841 2,606 2,647 

Entertainment .................................................................. 2,388 2,263 2,384 2,112 2,950 

Personal care products and services .............................. 541 540 514 508 623 

Reading ........................................................................... 126 148 132 94 155 

Education ........................................................................ 940 1,387 998 674 926 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ........................ 319 330 374 318 254 

Miscellaneous ................................................................. 808 822 837 654 1,016 

Cash contributions .......................................................... 1,663 1,370 1,868 1,710 1,627 

Personal insurance and pensions ................................... 5,204 5,353 5,212 4,760 5,789 

Life and other personal insurance ................................. 381 374 380 419 326 

Pensions and Social Security ....................................... 4,823 4,980 4,832 4,341 5,462 

17
Table 12. Occupation of reference person: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2005

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) .......................................... 5,759 76,718 27,894 22,305 12,424 4,392 9,703 20,514 14,364 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes .............................. $80,272 $67,478 $94,060 $59,200 $43,165 $56,697 $46,104 $31,353 $42,318 

Age of reference person ......................... 48.4 42.6 44.0 41.6 41.8 40.4 42.9 73.5 45.3 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ................................................. 2.7 2.6 2.6 2.5 2.7 2.7 2.7 1.7 2.9 

Children under 18 ................................. .7 .7 .7 .7 .8 .7 .8 .1 1.0 

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

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

Vehicles ................................................ 2.2 2.1 2.3 2.1 1.8 2.4 2.1 1.6 1.6 

Percent homeowner ................................ 76 66 76 64 51 63 60 81 55 

Average annual expenditures ................... $56,215 $50,759 $64,559 $48,103 $36,932 $44,952 $37,221 $32,903 $38,558 

Food ........................................................ 6,796 6,393 7,581 6,037 5,117 6,573 5,196 4,335 5,401 

Food at home ........................................ 3,816 3,406 3,817 3,219 3,073 3,327 3,041 2,689 3,363 

Cereals and bakery products .............. 502 456 528 421 409 417 391 379 458 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ............. 864 793 825 763 774 812 779 606 792 

Dairy products ..................................... 443 388 443 367 331 367 346 311 397 

Fruits and vegetables .......................... 667 560 648 505 511 515 499 495 541 

Other food at home ............................. 1,339 1,209 1,373 1,163 1,048 1,214 1,026 898 1,174 

Food away from home .......................... 2,981 2,987 3,764 2,818 2,044 3,246 2,155 1,646 2,038 

Alcoholic beverages ................................ 553 495 622 429 323 568 439 257 258 

Housing ................................................... 17,341 16,398 20,790 15,413 12,865 13,853 11,668 11,334 13,212 

Shelter ................................................... 10,156 9,686 12,538 8,946 7,536 8,346 6,547 5,857 7,767 

Owned dwellings ................................. 7,333 6,639 9,437 5,967 4,131 5,491 3,874 3,915 4,685 

Rented dwellings ................................. 2,043 2,533 2,197 2,586 3,206 2,578 2,497 1,478 2,699 

Other lodging ...................................... 779 513 904 393 199 277 176 464 383 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ........ 3,494 3,292 3,678 3,211 2,897 3,108 2,956 2,812 3,009 

Household operations ........................... 829 893 1,313 843 538 476 439 639 528 

Housekeeping supplies ......................... 629 642 781 609 509 516 518 548 535 

Household furnishings and equipment .. 2,235 1,886 2,479 1,804 1,386 1,407 1,207 1,477 1,374 

Apparel and services .............................. 2,001 2,143 2,703 2,003 1,768 1,608 1,536 1,047 1,663 

Transportation ......................................... 8,449 9,294 10,963 9,572 6,758 9,105 7,184 5,527 7,255 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) .............. 3,010 3,958 4,584 4,495 2,643 3,777 2,695 2,255 3,386 

Gasoline and motor oil .......................... 2,286 2,247 2,452 2,195 1,900 2,493 2,109 1,269 1,720 

Other vehicle expenses ........................ 2,676 2,607 3,142 2,536 1,950 2,444 2,145 1,642 1,769 

Public transportation ............................. 477 482 786 347 265 391 234 361 380 

Healthcare ............................................... 3,209 2,347 2,880 2,341 1,672 1,900 1,893 4,057 2,151 

Entertainment .......................................... 2,989 2,621 3,402 2,515 1,626 2,401 1,952 1,637 1,973 

Personal care products and services ...... 614 586 753 562 453 433 391 451 402 

Reading ................................................... 149 129 198 113 69 76 73 141 81 

Education ................................................ 1,035 1,095 1,724 944 563 625 525 236 1,083 

Tobacco products and smoking

supplies ............................................. 384 339 233 358 371 526 471 187 377 

Miscellaneous ......................................... 1,123 845 1,076 816 576 802 623 796 503 

Cash contributions .................................. 2,263 1,664 2,475 1,425 923 1,271 1,007 1,801 1,223 

Personal insurance and pensions ........... 9,309 6,412 9,159 5,575 3,848 5,212 4,263 1,094 2,976 

Life and other personal insurance ......... 504 403 580 384 239 201 237 344 269 

Pensions and Social Security ............... 8,805 6,009 8,580 5,191 3,608 5,010 4,027 750 2,707 

18
Table 13. Education of reference person: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2005

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) ......... 117,356 85,294 18,028 30,389 25,285 11,592 32,062 20,231 11,831 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ........................................ $58,712 $46,462 $30,643 $45,721 $52,233 $60,417 $91,300 $82,276 $106,732 

Age of reference person ................................... 48.6 49.1 53.5 50.0 45.6 47.2 47.4 45.3 51.0 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons .......................................................... 2.5 2.5 2.7 2.5 2.4 2.5 2.4 2.5 2.4 

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

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

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

Vehicles .......................................................... 2.0 1.9 1.4 2.0 2.0 2.3 2.1 2.1 2.1 

Percent homeowner ......................................... 67 64 54 67 63 73 77 75 81 

Average annual expenditures ............................ $46,409 $39,146 $27,435 $38,162 $43,861 $49,709 $65,542 $61,379 $72,827 

Food ................................................................. 5,931 5,268 4,374 5,150 5,483 6,550 7,610 7,262 8,258 

Food at home ................................................. 3,297 3,060 2,912 3,040 2,992 3,529 3,891 3,776 4,117 

Cereals and bakery products ....................... 445 414 391 418 394 491 522 509 547 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ...................... 764 743 750 735 724 801 819 815 828 

Dairy products .............................................. 378 346 330 343 334 412 459 449 477 

Fruits and vegetables ................................... 552 488 488 472 474 574 710 661 807 

Other food at home ...................................... 1,158 1,069 953 1,072 1,066 1,251 1,382 1,341 1,459 

Food away from home ................................... 2,634 2,208 1,462 2,110 2,491 3,021 3,719 3,487 4,141 

Alcoholic beverages ......................................... 426 336 192 326 394 461 653 639 681 

Housing ............................................................ 15,167 12,705 9,437 12,380 14,037 15,719 21,676 20,293 24,097 

Shelter ............................................................ 8,805 7,205 5,361 6,958 8,020 8,940 13,062 12,328 14,316 

Owned dwellings .......................................... 5,958 4,524 2,547 4,416 5,211 6,382 9,774 9,156 10,830 

Rented dwellings .......................................... 2,345 2,393 2,728 2,304 2,394 2,105 2,216 2,314 2,048 

Other lodging ................................................ 502 288 86 238 414 454 1,071 858 1,437 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................. 3,183 3,015 2,613 3,066 3,098 3,324 3,633 3,542 3,787 

Household operations .................................... 801 579 287 520 741 830 1,391 1,208 1,704 

Housekeeping supplies .................................. 611 527 386 533 557 657 822 788 890 

Household furnishings and equipment ........... 1,767 1,381 790 1,303 1,622 1,968 2,768 2,426 3,401 

Apparel and services ........................................ 1,886 1,579 1,237 1,464 1,764 2,028 2,670 2,456 3,073 

Transportation .................................................. 8,344 7,471 5,106 7,364 8,342 9,534 10,664 10,376 11,163 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ....................... 3,544 3,222 2,131 3,112 3,661 4,245 4,402 4,354 4,482 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................... 2,013 1,919 1,471 1,941 2,061 2,246 2,265 2,253 2,285 

Other vehicle expenses .................................. 2,339 2,049 1,316 2,078 2,255 2,666 3,109 3,009 3,287 

Public transportation ...................................... 448 282 188 232 365 377 889 760 1,109 

Healthcare ........................................................ 2,664 2,356 1,835 2,457 2,426 2,752 3,480 3,289 3,809 

Entertainment ................................................... 2,388 2,005 1,152 1,877 2,450 2,709 3,402 3,174 3,797 

Personal care products and services ............... 541 439 301 432 488 564 805 775 858 

Reading ............................................................ 126 90 42 87 113 119 225 184 295 

Education ......................................................... 940 605 131 457 980 910 1,831 1,590 2,245 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ......... 319 383 379 425 359 335 148 164 121 

Miscellaneous .................................................. 808 711 459 741 836 746 1,068 939 1,287 

Cash contributions ........................................... 1,663 1,241 659 1,148 1,553 1,707 2,787 2,258 3,693 

Personal insurance and pensions .................... 5,204 3,956 2,133 3,854 4,637 5,574 8,523 7,982 9,449 

Life and other personal insurance .................. 381 284 164 251 370 370 639 546 799 

Pensions and Social Security ......................... 4,823 3,672 1,969 3,604 4,267 5,205 7,884 7,436 8,650 

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