U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

FEBRUARY 2015 REPOR T 1053

BLS Reports │ February 2015 • www.bls.gov 1

Consumer Expenditures in 2013

Consumer spending in 2013 decreased 0.7 percent 

from 2012, based on annual data from the 

Consumer Expenditure Survey (CE). This decrease 

follows 2 years of increasing expenditures. Consumer 

units’ (CUs) average annual expenditures decreased from 

$51,442 in 2012 to $51,100 in 2013. Along with the 

decrease in expenditures in 2013, there was also a decline 

in income from 2012 to 2013. Average annual income 

before taxes decreased 2.8 percent from $65,596 in 2012 to 

$63,784 in 2013. In contrast, average pretax income rose 

3.0 percent from 2011 to 2012. Prices, as measured by the 

average annual change in the Consumer Price Index for 

All Urban Consumers (CPI-U, U.S. city average, all items) 

rose 1.5 percent in 2013, compared with the 0.7-percent 

decrease in spending. In 2012, prices increased 2.1 percent, 

which was below the 3.5-percent increase in spending that 

year. This report highlights consumer spending patterns for 

2013 from the CE.

Developments in 2013

During 2013, changes in consumer spending varied among 

the seven largest categories of expenditures tracked by 

CE: food, housing, apparel and services, transportation, 

healthcare, entertainment, and personal insurance and 

pensions. (See table A.) Spending increased in three 

categories, decreased in three, and was unchanged in 

one. In 2012, all but one of the major categories showed 

increased spending from the prior year. In 2013, the 

increases ranged from just 0.1 percent for transportation 

to 2.1 percent for healthcare. Expenditures decreased by a 

CONTENTS

Developments in 2013. 

Expenditure shares. 

Expenditures by income quintle. 

Housing. 

Gasoline. 

Food. 

Statistical Tables. 

Technical Notes. .

Brief description of the Consumer Expenditure

Survey. .

Interpreting the data. .

Tables and data. .

Other available data. .
2 BLS Reports │ February 2015 • www.bls.gov

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2013

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

Expenditure Survey, 2010–2013

Item 2010 2011 2012 2013 Percent change

2010–2011 2011–2012 2012–2013

Number of consumer units (in thousands) 121,107 122,287 124,416 125,670 ... ... ...

Consumer unit characteristics: ... ... ...

Income before taxes $62,481 $63,685 $65,596 $63,784 1.9 3.0 -2.8 

Age of reference person 49.4 49.7 50.0 50.1 ... ... ...

Average number in consumer unit: ... ... ...

 People 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 ... ... ...

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

 Adults 65 and older .3 .3 .3 .3 ... ... ...

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

 Vehicles 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.9 ... ... ...

Percent homeowner 66 65 64 64 ... ... ...

Average annual expenditures $48,109 $49,705 $51,442 $51,100 3.3 3.5 -.7 

Food 6,129 6,458 6,599 6,602 5.4 2.2 0.0 

 Food at home 3,624 3,838 3,921 3,977 5.9 2.2 1.4 

 Cereals and bakery products 502 531 538 544 5.8 1.3 1.1 

 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs 784 832 852 856 6.1 2.4 .5 

 Dairy products 380 407 419 414 7.1 2.9 -1.2 

 Fruits and vegetables 679 715 731 751 5.3 2.2 2.7 

 Other food at home 1,278 1,353 1,380 1,412 5.9 2.0 2.3 

 Food away from home 2,505 2,620 2,678 2,625 4.6 2.2 -2.0 

Alcoholic beverages 412 456 451 445 10.7 -1.1 -1.3 

Housing 16,557 16,803 16,887 17,148 1.5 .5 1.5 

 Shelter 9,812 9,825 9,891 10,080 .1 .7 1.9 

 Owned dwellings 6,277 6,148 6,056 6,108 -2.1 -1.5 .9 

 Rented dwellings 2,900 3,029 3,186 3,324 4.4 5.2 4.3 

 Other lodging 635 648 649 649 2.0 .2 0.0 

 Utilities, fuels, and public services 3,660 3,727 3,648 3,737 1.8 -2.1 2.4 

 Household operations 1,007 1,122 1,159 1,144 11.4 3.3 -1.3 

 Housekeeping supplies 612 615 610 645 .5 -.8 5.7 

 Household furnishings and equipment 1,467 1,514 1,580 1,542 3.2 4.4 -2.4 

Apparel and services 1,700 1,740 1,736 1,604 2.4 -.2 -7.6 

Transportation 7,677 8,293 8,998 9,004 8.0 8.5 .1 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) 2,588 2,669 3,210 3,271 3.1 20.3 1.9 

Gasoline and motor oil 2,132 2,655 2,756 2,611 24.5 3.8 -5.3 

Other vehicle expenses 2,464 2,454 2,490 2,584 -.4 1.5 3.8 

Public and other transportation 493 516 542 537 4.7 5.0 -.9 

Healthcare 3,157 3,313 3,556 3,631 4.9 7.3 2.1 

Entertainment 2,504 2,572 2,605 2,482 2.7 1.3 -4.7 

Personal care products and services 582 634 628 608 8.9 -.9 -3.2 

Reading 100 115 109 102 15.0 -5.2 -6.4 

Education 1,074 1,051 1,207 1,138 -2.1 14.8 -5.7 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies 362 351 332 330 -3.0 -5.4 -.6 

Miscellaneous 849 775 829 645 -8.7 7.0 -22.2 

Cash contributions 1,633 1,721 1,913 1,834 5.4 11.2 -4.1 

Personal insurance and pensions 5,373 5,424 5,591 5,528 .9 3.1 -1.1 

Life and other personal insurance 318 317 353 319 -.3 11.4 -9.6 

Pensions and Social Security 5,054 5,106 5,238 5,209 1.0 2.6 -.6 

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Table A
BLS Reports │ February 2015 • www.bls.gov 3

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2013

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

Expenditure Survey, 2010–2013

Spending category 2010 2011 2012 2013

Average annual expenditures 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 

Food 12.7 13.0 12.8 12.9 

 Food at home 7.5 7.7 7.6 7.8 

 Food away from home 5.2 5.3 5.2 5.1 

Alcoholic beverages .9 .9 .9 .9 

Housing 34.4 33.8 32.8 33.6 

 Shelter 20.4 19.8 19.2 19.7 

 Utilities, fuels, and public services 7.6 7.5 7.1 7.3 

 Household operations 2.1 2.3 2.3 2.2 

 Housekeeping supplies 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.3 

 Household furnishings and equipment 3.0 3.0 3.1 3.0 

Apparel and services 3.5 3.5 3.4 3.1 

Transportation 16.0 16.7 17.5 17.6 

 Vehicle purchases (net outlay) 5.4 5.4 6.2 6.4 

 Gasoline and motor oil 4.4 5.3 5.4 5.1 

 Other vehicle expenses 5.1 4.9 4.8 5.1 

 Public and other transportation 1.0 1.0 1.1 1.1 

Healthcare 6.6 6.7 6.9 7.1 

Entertainment 5.2 5.2 5.1 4.9 

Personal care products and services 1.2 1.3 1.2 1.2 

Reading .2 .2 .2 .2 

Education 2.2 2.1 2.3 2.2 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies .8 .7 .6 .6 

Miscellaneous 1.8 1.6 1.6 1.3 

Cash contributions 3.4 3.5 3.7 3.6 

Personal insurance and pensions 11.2 10.9 10.9 10.8 

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

 Pensions and Social Security 10.5 10.3 10.2 10.2 

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

range of 1.1 percent for personal insurance and pensions 

to 7.6 percent for apparel and services. Food expenditures, 

in nominal dollars, did not change in 2013. Even with 

the decrease in average annual expenditures (0.7 percent) 

and average income before taxes in 2013 (2.8 percent), 

there was an increase in consumer confidence. Consumer

confidence levels increased slightly in 2013, as reflected by

the Consumer Confidence Index of the Conference Board,

which registered an average level of 73 in 2013, up from 67 

in 2012.1

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

100 or more reflect higher consumer optimism compared

with the base year.) The improvement in consumer 

confidence may be in part attributed to the gradual decline

in the unemployment rate in 2013. The annual average 

monthly unemployment rate, although improved, still 

remained above prerecession levels but fell throughout the 

year. According to the Current Population Survey (CPS), 

the annual average monthly unemployment rate was 7.4 

percent in 2013, lower than the average rate of 8.1 percent 

for 2012. The monthly rate fell from 7.9 percent in January 

2013 to 6.7 percent in December 2013.2

 The number 

of long-term (over 26 weeks) unemployed individuals 

declined from 5.1 million in 2012 to just over 4.3 million 

in 2013 but was also higher than prerecession levels. In 

addition, consumer confidence may also reflect the gradual

economic recovery, as evidenced by the 1.9-percent 

increase in real GDP in 2013.3

Expenditure shares

Table B provides expenditure shares, which are the 

percent distribution of total annual expenditures by major 

expenditure categories for all CUs from 2010 to 2013. 

Table B
4 BLS Reports │ February 2015 • www.bls.gov

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2013

Expenditure shares usually do not fluctuate much in

the short term and thus are more useful for identifying 

spending trends over time. As in previous years, housing 

was the largest component of overall expenditures, 

accounting for 33.6 percent of total expenditures in 2013. 

This was followed by transportation (17.6 percent) and 

food expenditures (12.9 percent). The most notable changes 

in expenditure shares were in housing, which increased 

to 33.6 percent in 2013, from 32.8 percent in 2012. 

Expenditure shares for the subcategory shelter increased 

to 19.7 percent of total expenditures in 2013, from 19.2 

percent in 2012. In contrast, expenditure shares on gasoline 

and motor oil decreased to 5.1 percent in 2013, from 5.4 

percent in 2012. Also, expenditure shares on apparel and 

services continued the long-term trend, declining to 3.1 

percent in 2013, from 3.4 percent in 2012, and 3.8 percent 

in 2007, the year before the recession of December 2007–

June 2009.

Expenditures by income quintile

From 2012 to 2013, the decline in spending was 

widespread, with CUs in 4 of the 5 income quintiles 

decreasing expenditures. This differed from 2011 to 2012 

when expenditures increased across all five quintiles. The

first (lowest) income quintile was the only quintile to show

increased expenditures, climbing 1.1 percent from 2012 

to 2013. Expenditures among the fifth (highest) income

quintile decreased slightly by 0.1 percent from 2012 to 

2013, following a 5.1-percent rise from 2011 to 2012 The 

fourth income quintile had the largest percentage decrease 

in expenditures with a 1.9-percent drop from 2012 to 2013. 

(See chart 1.)

0.7

1.7

1.4

4.4

5.1

1.1

-0.2

-1.2

-1.9

-0.1

-3.0

-2.0

-1.0

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

Lowest quintile Second quintile Third quintile Fourth quintile Highest quintile

2011–2012 2012–2013

Percent change in average annual expenditures by income quintile, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2011–2013

Percent change

Chart 1

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
BLS Reports │ February 2015 • www.bls.gov 5

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2013

Housing

Expenditures on mortgage interest and charges for 

homeowners increased for the first time since 2007.

However, homeowners spent 17.1 percent less on this 

component of housing in 2013 ($4,808) than they did in 

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

trend of lower interest rates, which has been in place since 

the recession began.

In addition, although the recession led to an overall trend 

of fewer CUs owning homes, the CE reported a reversal 

of this trend in 2013, as the number of homeowners 

increased from 79.9 million in 2012, to 80.1 million in 

2013. This was still below the prerecession level of 80.2 

million homeowners in 2007 (66.8 percent of all CUs). 

In percentage terms, however, homeownership dropped 

from 64.3 percent in 2012 to 63.7 percent in 2013. There 

has been an increase in renters since 2007. In 2013, there 

were 45.6 million renters, compared with 39.9 million in 

2007. According to the CPI-U, rents for primary residences 

have increased 14.1 percent since 2007. During that same 

time span, the average annual rental payments reported in 

the CE increased 17 percent ($9,050 in 2013, compared 

with $7,732 in 2007), reflecting the increase in demand for

rental units.

Gasoline

Expenditures on gasoline decreased in 2013, the first

decrease since 2009. CUs spent 5.1 percent less in 2013 

($2,418) than they did in 2012 ($2,549). Despite this 

decrease, expenditures on gasoline are above the prerecession level of $2,202 in 2007. Chart 2 shows the 

correlation between the percentage change in expenditures 

on gasoline and the price of gasoline between 2007 and 

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Chart 2

7.4

14.1

-27.1

7.4

24.7

4.0

-5.1

8.4

16.1

-26.9

18.3

26.1

3.3

-2.9

-30

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Gasoline (CE) CPI-U Gasoline

Spending and price index percent changes on gasoline, Consumer Expenditure Survey (CE), Consumer Price Index 

(CPI), 2007–2013 

Percent change

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
6 BLS Reports │ February 2015 • www.bls.gov

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2013

Dollar change and percent change in average annual expenditures on major categories, by income quintile, 

Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2012–2013

Item

Lowest Second Third Fourth Highest

Dollar Percent Dollar Percent Dollar Percent Dollar Percent Dollar Percent

Average annual expenditure change:

Total $239 1.1 -$73 -0.2 -$509 -1.2 -$1,138 -1.9 -$131 -0.1

Food 153 4.4 257 5.7 -70 -1.2 -176 -2.2 -150 -1.3

 At home 98 4.1 230 7.7 -27 -0.7 -111 -2.4 90 1.5

 Away from home 56 5.2 28 1.8 -42 -1.9 -66 -2.0 -241 -4.5

Housing 127 1.4 -264 -2.2 53 0.4 221 1.2 1196 4.0

Apparel and services -35 -4.6 -92 -8.1 19 1.4 -254 -12.0 -296 -8.8

Transportation -120 -3.5 394 7.2 -110 -1.3 -641 -5.6 516 3.2

Healthcare 113 6.7 63 2.3 12 0.4 217 5.2 -30 -0.5

Entertainment 13 1.3 -187 -11.7 -59 -2.9 -64 -2.2 -311 -5.7

Cash contributions -121 -17.3 -55 -5.0 -6 -0.5 -94 -4.3 -109 -2.6

Personal insurance and pensions -26 -5.3 41 2.5 -127 -3.5 -84 -1.3 -91 -0.6

All other expenditures 137 7.8 -231 -10.8 -223 -8.6 -264 -7.2 -853 -11.2

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

2013. For the most part, the change in consumer spending 

is similar to the change in prices with the exception that 

the increase in prices was much higher than the increase in 

expenditures in 2010. In 2013, the percentage decrease in 

spending on gasoline was bigger (5.1 percent) than the 

drop in the CPI index for gasoline, (down 2.9 percent).

Gasoline expenditures decreased in every income quintile 

in 2013 with the exception of the first (lowest) quintile.

The second quintile had the highest percentage decrease in 

expenditures from 2012 to 2013, a decrease of 7.7 percent. 

By age of reference person,4

 all but one age group (65 

years and older) decreased spending in 2013. The biggest 

percentage decrease was in the under-25 age group (10.5 

percent), followed by the 45- to 54-years age group (10.1 

percent).

Table C shows that within spending categories, expenditures 

on apparel and services in all but the third income quintile 

decreased from 2012 to 2013. Spending on healthcare 

increased in all quintiles, with the exception of the fifth

quintile, while spending on housing increased in all but the 

second quintile in 2013. The highest income quintile exhibited 

the largest increase in spending on housing (4.0 percent), 

from $29,705 in 2012 to $30,901 in 2013. Spending on cash 

contributions decreased among all income quintiles. Food 

expenditures increased for the two lowest income quintiles, 

but decreased for the three upper quintiles. Also, expenditures 

on gasoline decreased for all but the first (lowest) quintile.

Food

As noted earlier, food expenditures increased for only the 

two lowest quintiles in 2013. This differs from 2012, during 

which food expenditures increased for the three highest 

income quintiles. In 2013, the second quintile registered 

the largest percentage increase in food expenditures, an 

increase of 5.7 percent from $4,524 in 2012, to $4,781 in 

2013. This reflected a 7.7-percent increase in food at home

Table C
BLS Reports │ February 2015 • www.bls.gov 7

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2013

spending and a 1.8-percent increase in food away from 

home expenditures. The upper three quintiles had decreases 

in overall food expenditures of 1.2 percent, 2.2 percent, 

and 1.3 percent, respectively. This contrasts with increases 

of 3.2 percent (third quintile), 4.9 percent (fourth quintile), 

and 3.1 percent (highest quintile) in 2012. The decrease 

in food spending for the highest quintile was due to a 

4.5-percent decrease in food away from home expenditures, 

compared with a 1.5-percent increase in food at home 

expenditures.

There was an increase in food expenditures in all but 

three age groups from 2012 to 2013. The under-25 age 

group had the highest percentage increase in overall food 

expenditures, with spending rising 6.5 percent in 2013. 

Spending on food for the two oldest age groups increased 

by 3.9 percent for the 65 to 74 years old group and by 0.1 

percent for the 75 years and older group. This differs from 

2012, where CUs in both of these age groups decreased 

spending on food.

Endnotes

1. For more information regarding the Conference Board’s 

Consumer Confidence Survey, see: http://future.aae.wisc.edu/

data/monthly_values/by_area/998?area=US 

2. For more information about the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 

Current Population Survey see http://www.bls.gov/cps/ and for 

the CPS monthly unemployment rate data, see: http://data.bls.

gov/timeseries/LNS14000000

3. For more information on the Bureau of Economic Analysis’ 

2013 real GDP release, see: http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/

national/gdp/2014/gdp4q13_3rd.htm

4. The reference person is 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 the other consumer unit 

members is determined.
8 BLS Reports │ February 2015 • www.bls.gov

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2013

Statistical Tables
BLS Reports │ February 2015 • www.bls.gov 9

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2013

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

Expenditure Survey, 2013

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) ....... 125,670 25,090 25,219 25,082 25,178 25,101

Lower limit ........................................................ n.a. n.a. $17,883 $34,958 $57,968 $95,336

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ....................................... $63,784 $9,658 $26,275 $45,826 $74,546 $162,720

Age of reference person ................................. 50.1 51.3 53.0 49.0 48.1 49.0

Average number in consumer unit:

People .......................................................... 2.5 1.7 2.2 2.5 2.8 3.2

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

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

Earners ......................................................... 1.3 .5 .9 1.3 1.7 2.1

Vehicles ........................................................ 1.9 .9 1.4 1.9 2.3 2.8

Percent homeowner ....................................... 64 39 54 61 75 89

Average annual expenditures ........................... $51,100 $22,393 $32,559 $42,495 $58,842 $99,237

Food ............................................................... 6,602 3,655 4,781 5,728 7,655 11,184

Food at home ............................................... 3,977 2,514 3,221 3,606 4,482 6,058

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 544 353 443 485 620 817

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 856 560 740 805 941 1,235

Dairy products ............................................ 414 267 335 371 469 627

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 751 463 599 684 838 1,167

Other food at home .................................... 1,412 870 1,105 1,260 1,614 2,212

Food away from home .................................. 2,625 1,142 1,561 2,122 3,173 5,125

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 445 168 275 357 505 917

Housing .......................................................... 17,148 8,963 11,994 14,808 19,084 30,901

Shelter .......................................................... 10,080 5,452 7,002 8,602 10,993 18,363

Owned dwellings ........................................ 6,108 1,728 3,021 4,371 7,237 14,191

Rented dwellings ........................................ 3,324 3,583 3,732 3,898 3,107 2,296

Other lodging .............................................. 649 140 248 333 648 1,876

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 3,737 2,197 3,012 3,641 4,321 5,515

Household operations .................................. 1,144 401 672 805 1,172 2,672

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 645 325 461 555 760 1,121

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,542 588 848 1,204 1,838 3,230

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,604 724 1,040 1,332 1,867 3,056

Transportation ................................................ 9,004 3,327 5,856 8,071 10,908 16,860

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 3,271 860 1,976 2,803 3,889 6,831

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 2,611 1,231 1,850 2,622 3,284 4,071

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,584 1,074 1,781 2,273 3,244 4,548

Public and other transportation .................... 537 163 249 374 491 1,409

Healthcare ...................................................... 3,631 1,790 2,850 3,375 4,386 5,755

Entertainment ................................................. 2,482 1,002 1,416 1,997 2,866 5,133

Personal care products and services ............. 608 275 412 503 706 1,147

Reading .......................................................... 102 37 68 84 117 207

Education ....................................................... 1,138 830 452 552 925 2,932

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 330 291 317 361 396 282

Miscellaneous ................................................. 645 292 389 527 737 1,279

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,834 577 1,054 1,304 2,095 4,143

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 5,528 463 1,653 3,496 6,594 15,443

Life and other personal insurance ................ 319 95 190 230 347 731

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 5,209 368 1,463 3,266 6,248 14,712

n.a. Not applicable.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 
10 BLS Reports │ February 2015 • www.bls.gov

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2013

Table 2. Income before taxes: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2013

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) ....... 125,670 5,675 5,686 8,751 8,261 14,750 13,031 11,179 17,887 40,451

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ....................................... $63,784 $380 $8,011 $12,808 $17,508 $24,881 $34,655 $44,576 $59,101 $131,945

Age of reference person ................................. 50.1 46.2 47.5 54.5 56.2 53.2 50.7 48.5 48.5 48.6

Average number in consumer unit:

People .......................................................... 2.5 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.8 2.2 2.3 2.5 2.7 3.0

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

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

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

Vehicles ........................................................ 1.9 .9 .8 1.0 1.1 1.4 1.6 1.9 2.1 2.6

Percent homeowner ....................................... 64 35 33 41 51 53 56 60 69 85

Average annual expenditures ........................... $51,100 $22,830 $20,697 $21,452 $25,506 $32,491 $36,093 $41,750 $50,637 $85,264

Food ............................................................... 6,602 3,635 3,571 3,298 4,082 4,683 5,077 5,753 6,733 9,983

Food at home ............................................... 3,977 2,388 2,433 2,202 2,959 3,197 3,267 3,670 4,043 5,528

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 544 312 351 306 425 439 460 477 571 743

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 856 552 547 459 677 743 742 794 885 1,135

Dairy products ............................................ 414 263 259 247 308 345 322 375 419 574

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 751 428 391 434 557 591 617 709 748 1,056

Other food at home .................................... 1,412 834 885 757 992 1,079 1,127 1,315 1,420 2,019

Food away from home .................................. 2,625 1,247 1,138 1,096 1,123 1,485 1,810 2,083 2,690 4,454

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 445 203 141 136 195 273 301 359 435 771

Housing .......................................................... 17,148 9,507 8,145 8,772 10,009 11,805 12,996 14,827 16,972 26,745

Shelter .......................................................... 10,080 5,935 4,990 5,357 5,888 6,875 7,499 8,771 9,735 15,771

Owned dwellings ........................................ 6,108 2,131 1,189 1,694 2,281 2,929 3,310 4,422 5,616 11,839

Rented dwellings ........................................ 3,324 3,669 3,599 3,582 3,435 3,696 3,924 4,032 3,623 2,500

Other lodging .............................................. 649 134 201 81 172 250 265 316 496 1,432

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 3,737 2,139 1,939 2,252 2,604 2,977 3,243 3,613 4,037 5,105

Household operations .................................. 1,144 446 335 364 522 690 682 787 1,024 2,118

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 645 327 314 276 386 452 509 520 640 1,010

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,542 661 567 524 609 811 1,063 1,135 1,536 2,742

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,604 809 648 665 790 1,011 1,166 1,247 1,551 2,683

Transportation ................................................ 9,004 3,430 3,099 3,089 3,724 5,924 6,843 7,861 9,666 14,794

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 3,271 863 886 669 914 2,068 2,305 2,854 3,271 5,854

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 2,611 1,296 1,106 1,194 1,414 1,793 2,241 2,580 3,016 3,806

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,584 1,049 966 1,101 1,169 1,813 2,019 2,079 2,934 4,065

Public and other transportation .................... 537 221 141 124 226 249 279 347 444 1,070

Healthcare ...................................................... 3,631 1,656 1,241 1,936 2,469 2,864 3,041 3,310 3,994 5,243

Entertainment ................................................. 2,482 994 1,049 876 1,184 1,464 1,520 1,856 2,414 4,388

Personal care products and services ............. 608 272 266 259 317 413 447 500 590 998

Reading .......................................................... 102 32 33 34 60 64 73 77 106 174

Education ....................................................... 1,138 1,056 991 848 369 531 377 448 797 2,195

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 330 275 381 272 262 295 397 358 332 338

Miscellaneous ................................................. 645 204 357 205 407 413 398 529 614 1,099

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,834 527 407 506 850 1,164 1,140 1,326 1,590 3,422

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 5,528 230 368 558 788 1,587 2,315 3,299 4,842 12,430

Life and other personal insurance ................ 319 88 66 119 117 215 180 238 269 598

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 5,209 142 302 439 672 1,373 2,135 3,061 4,573 11,833

 Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

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

Expenditure Survey, 2013

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) ....... 125,670 25,090 25,219 25,082 25,178 25,101

Lower limit ........................................................ n.a. n.a. $17,883 $34,958 $57,968 $95,336

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ....................................... $63,784 $9,658 $26,275 $45,826 $74,546 $162,720

Age of reference person ................................. 50.1 51.3 53.0 49.0 48.1 49.0

Average number in consumer unit:

People .......................................................... 2.5 1.7 2.2 2.5 2.8 3.2

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

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

Earners ......................................................... 1.3 .5 .9 1.3 1.7 2.1

Vehicles ........................................................ 1.9 .9 1.4 1.9 2.3 2.8

Percent homeowner ....................................... 64 39 54 61 75 89

Average annual expenditures ........................... $51,100 $22,393 $32,559 $42,495 $58,842 $99,237

Food ............................................................... 6,602 3,655 4,781 5,728 7,655 11,184

Food at home ............................................... 3,977 2,514 3,221 3,606 4,482 6,058

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 544 353 443 485 620 817

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 856 560 740 805 941 1,235

Dairy products ............................................ 414 267 335 371 469 627

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 751 463 599 684 838 1,167

Other food at home .................................... 1,412 870 1,105 1,260 1,614 2,212

Food away from home .................................. 2,625 1,142 1,561 2,122 3,173 5,125

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 445 168 275 357 505 917

Housing .......................................................... 17,148 8,963 11,994 14,808 19,084 30,901

Shelter .......................................................... 10,080 5,452 7,002 8,602 10,993 18,363

Owned dwellings ........................................ 6,108 1,728 3,021 4,371 7,237 14,191

Rented dwellings ........................................ 3,324 3,583 3,732 3,898 3,107 2,296

Other lodging .............................................. 649 140 248 333 648 1,876

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 3,737 2,197 3,012 3,641 4,321 5,515

Household operations .................................. 1,144 401 672 805 1,172 2,672

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 645 325 461 555 760 1,121

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,542 588 848 1,204 1,838 3,230

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,604 724 1,040 1,332 1,867 3,056

Transportation ................................................ 9,004 3,327 5,856 8,071 10,908 16,860

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 3,271 860 1,976 2,803 3,889 6,831

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 2,611 1,231 1,850 2,622 3,284 4,071

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,584 1,074 1,781 2,273 3,244 4,548

Public and other transportation .................... 537 163 249 374 491 1,409

Healthcare ...................................................... 3,631 1,790 2,850 3,375 4,386 5,755

Entertainment ................................................. 2,482 1,002 1,416 1,997 2,866 5,133

Personal care products and services ............. 608 275 412 503 706 1,147

Reading .......................................................... 102 37 68 84 117 207

Education ....................................................... 1,138 830 452 552 925 2,932

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 330 291 317 361 396 282

Miscellaneous ................................................. 645 292 389 527 737 1,279

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,834 577 1,054 1,304 2,095 4,143

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 5,528 463 1,653 3,496 6,594 15,443

Life and other personal insurance ................ 319 95 190 230 347 731

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 5,209 368 1,463 3,266 6,248 14,712

n.a. Not applicable.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 
BLS Reports │ February 2015 • www.bls.gov 11

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2013

Table 3. Higher income before taxes: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2013

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) ....... 125,670 85,219 6,681 10,781 22,989 6,967 6,581 9,441

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ....................................... $63,784 $31,430 $74,535 $89,114 $168,715 $108,624 $132,587 $238,245

Age of reference person ................................. 50.1 50.8 47.8 48.3 48.9 48.3 48.8 49.5

Average number in consumer unit:

People .......................................................... 2.5 2.2 2.7 2.9 3.2 3.1 3.1 3.3

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

Adults 65 and older ...................................... .3 .4 .3 .2 .2 .2 .2 .2

Earners ......................................................... 1.3 1.0 1.7 1.8 2.1 1.9 2.1 2.2

Vehicles ........................................................ 1.9 1.5 2.3 2.5 2.8 2.8 2.9 2.8

Percent homeowner ....................................... 64 54 77 81 89 85 90 91

Average annual expenditures ........................... $51,100 $34,900 $58,978 $66,650 $101,686 $79,530 $90,450 $126,242

Food ............................................................... 6,602 5,005 7,762 8,347 11,422 9,775 10,848 13,198

Food at home ............................................... 3,977 3,245 4,558 4,831 6,151 5,508 5,959 6,837

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 544 449 596 667 824 793 797 872

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 856 725 943 1,004 1,255 1,115 1,226 1,396

Dairy products ............................................ 414 338 453 523 635 574 579 731

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 751 606 870 907 1,183 1,036 1,118 1,357

Other food at home .................................... 1,412 1,126 1,695 1,731 2,253 1,991 2,240 2,481

Food away from home .................................. 2,625 1,760 3,204 3,516 5,271 4,267 4,889 6,361

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 445 291 458 592 949 613 924 1,245

Housing .......................................................... 17,148 12,595 18,433 21,743 31,515 24,408 27,905 39,348

Shelter .......................................................... 10,080 7,379 10,520 12,650 18,761 14,463 16,502 23,507

Owned dwellings ........................................ 6,108 3,388 7,011 9,129 14,513 10,581 13,079 18,414

Rented dwellings ........................................ 3,324 3,715 2,870 2,737 2,281 2,681 1,889 2,260

Other lodging .............................................. 649 277 639 784 1,967 1,201 1,534 2,833

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 3,737 3,088 4,237 4,689 5,552 4,875 5,265 6,252

Household operations .................................. 1,144 682 1,102 1,378 2,761 1,837 2,124 3,891

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 645 472 691 971 1,126 902 1,026 1,393

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,542 973 1,883 2,056 3,316 2,333 2,989 4,305

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,604 1,094 2,073 2,190 3,098 2,662 2,674 3,757

Transportation ................................................ 9,004 6,256 10,845 11,881 17,310 15,217 15,843 19,901

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 3,271 2,045 3,981 4,510 7,028 6,223 6,506 7,986

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 2,611 2,044 3,234 3,498 4,117 3,968 4,099 4,239

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,584 1,883 3,127 3,314 4,691 4,153 4,116 5,512

Public and other transportation .................... 537 284 503 559 1,475 874 1,123 2,165

Healthcare ...................................................... 3,631 2,866 4,278 4,655 5,800 5,046 5,502 6,573

Entertainment ................................................. 2,482 1,579 3,238 3,178 5,292 4,057 4,403 6,842

Personal care products and services ............. 608 424 724 810 1,167 923 1,145 1,371

Reading .......................................................... 102 68 108 136 211 163 174 273

Education ....................................................... 1,138 636 803 1,212 3,061 1,862 2,075 4,642

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 330 325 413 434 272 315 294 225

Miscellaneous ................................................. 645 429 643 874 1,338 1,024 1,183 1,678

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,834 1,080 2,407 2,258 4,263 2,824 3,561 5,816

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 5,528 2,252 6,793 8,341 15,987 10,641 13,920 21,372

Life and other personal insurance ................ 319 186 393 377 761 498 681 1,011

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 5,209 2,065 6,400 7,964 15,226 10,143 13,240 20,361

 Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 
12 BLS Reports │ February 2015 • www.bls.gov

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2013

Table 4. Age of reference person: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2013

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) ....... 125,670 8,275 20,707 21,257 24,501 22,887 28,042 16,024 12,018

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ....................................... $63,784 $27,914 $59,002 $78,385 $78,879 $74,182 $45,157 $53,451 $34,097

Age of reference person ................................. 50.1 21.6 29.8 39.7 49.7 59.2 74.3 68.8 81.6

Average number in consumer unit:

People .......................................................... 2.5 2.0 2.8 3.4 2.7 2.1 1.8 1.9 1.6

Children under 18 ......................................... .6 .4 1.1 1.4 .6 .2 .1 .1 1 ( )

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

Earners ......................................................... 1.3 1.3 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.3 .5 .7 .2

Vehicles ........................................................ 1.9 1.1 1.6 2.0 2.2 2.2 1.6 1.9 1.3

Percent homeowner ....................................... 64 14 40 62 69 79 81 82 79

Average annual expenditures ........................... $51,100 $30,373 $48,087 $58,784 $60,524 $55,892 $41,403 $46,757 $34,382

Food ............................................................... 6,602 4,698 6,197 7,920 7,907 6,711 5,191 6,020 4,144

Food at home ............................................... 3,977 2,602 3,559 4,641 4,701 4,232 3,327 3,728 2,825

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 544 363 467 646 650 573 457 488 418

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 856 580 775 993 1,048 898 689 809 538

Dairy products ............................................ 414 274 383 495 475 426 351 380 314

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 751 448 689 866 857 797 663 730 580

Other food at home .................................... 1,412 936 1,245 1,641 1,672 1,538 1,168 1,320 975

Food away from home .................................. 2,625 2,096 2,639 3,280 3,206 2,479 1,864 2,292 1,319

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 445 379 489 443 545 465 326 400 232

Housing .......................................................... 17,148 10,379 17,207 20,619 19,001 17,937 14,204 15,639 12,314

Shelter .......................................................... 10,080 6,944 10,712 12,271 11,208 10,251 7,755 8,410 6,882

Owned dwellings ........................................ 6,108 1,003 4,560 7,981 7,378 7,265 5,284 6,072 4,234

Rented dwellings ........................................ 3,324 5,728 5,881 3,834 2,938 1,937 1,808 1,444 2,292

Other lodging .............................................. 649 213 271 455 892 1,049 663 894 356

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 3,737 1,842 3,186 4,299 4,277 4,135 3,480 3,824 3,022

Household operations .................................. 1,144 428 1,404 1,612 1,020 1,034 1,007 984 1,037

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 645 323 497 674 751 706 682 803 532

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,542 842 1,408 1,763 1,745 1,811 1,280 1,618 841

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,604 1,513 1,832 1,960 1,826 1,563 1,022 1,222 768

Transportation ................................................ 9,004 5,672 9,183 10,519 10,782 9,482 6,760 7,972 5,149

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 3,271 2,262 3,641 4,010 3,958 3,275 2,133 2,396 1,783

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 2,611 1,717 2,676 3,218 3,093 2,792 1,799 2,233 1,220

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,584 1,444 2,416 2,740 3,074 2,824 2,302 2,677 1,805

Public and other transportation .................... 537 249 450 552 657 591 527 665 341

Healthcare ...................................................... 3,631 943 2,189 3,188 3,801 4,378 5,069 5,188 4,910

Entertainment ................................................. 2,482 1,243 2,214 2,958 3,070 2,651 2,027 2,488 1,422

Personal care products and services ............. 608 342 538 672 723 638 563 619 491

Reading .......................................................... 102 46 60 105 88 132 138 146 127

Education ....................................................... 1,138 2,055 1,019 903 1,970 1,241 319 349 280

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 330 219 309 331 447 438 185 258 89

Miscellaneous ................................................. 645 207 577 643 686 841 628 672 571

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,834 473 970 1,440 2,007 2,382 2,574 2,391 2,817

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 5,528 2,203 5,304 7,081 7,672 7,033 2,396 3,392 1,068

Life and other personal insurance ................ 319 50 125 290 367 440 421 559 237

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 5,209 2,153 5,178 6,791 7,305 6,593 1,975 2,833 832

1 Value is too small to display.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
BLS Reports │ February 2015 • www.bls.gov 13

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2013

Table 5. Size of consumer unit: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2013

Item

All

consumer

units

One

person

Two or more people

Total Two

people

Three

people

Four

people

Five or

more

people

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ....... 125,670 37,770 87,900 40,073 19,390 16,226 12,210

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ....................................... $63,784 $32,292 $77,316 $71,292 $75,921 $88,828 $84,001

Age of reference person ................................. 50.1 53.9 48.4 54.4 45.6 42.2 41.8

Average number in consumer unit:

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

Children under 18 ......................................... .6 n.a. .8 .1 .7 1.5 2.8

Adults 65 and older ...................................... .3 .3 .3 .6 .2 .1 .1

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

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

Percent homeowner ....................................... 64 50 70 73 67 69 66

Average annual expenditures ........................... $51,100 $31,248 $59,510 $54,568 $59,029 $68,299 $65,129

Food ............................................................... 6,602 3,654 7,800 6,586 7,679 9,588 9,825

Food at home ............................................... 3,977 2,126 4,726 3,862 4,730 5,794 6,309

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 544 289 647 506 643 822 910

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 856 412 1,036 834 1,025 1,237 1,495

Dairy products ............................................ 414 233 487 402 476 615 630

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 751 419 885 746 865 1,066 1,159

Other food at home .................................... 1,412 773 1,672 1,375 1,721 2,054 2,116

Food away from home .................................. 2,625 1,528 3,074 2,725 2,949 3,794 3,516

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 445 339 488 573 428 464 316

Housing .......................................................... 17,148 11,751 19,454 17,757 19,039 22,511 21,617

Shelter .......................................................... 10,080 7,530 11,176 10,316 10,859 12,871 12,253

Owned dwellings ........................................ 6,108 3,384 7,279 6,588 6,902 8,989 7,869

Rented dwellings ........................................ 3,324 3,837 3,103 2,803 3,233 3,171 3,791

Other lodging .............................................. 649 308 795 925 724 711 593

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 3,737 2,341 4,337 3,822 4,368 4,735 5,451

Household operations .................................. 1,144 610 1,373 1,033 1,486 2,044 1,419

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 645 368 757 726 666 906 803

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,542 903 1,810 1,859 1,660 1,954 1,690

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,604 861 1,908 1,522 1,974 2,486 2,362

Transportation ................................................ 9,004 4,952 10,737 9,491 11,160 12,529 11,789

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 3,271 1,592 3,993 3,370 4,381 5,023 4,053

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 2,611 1,373 3,143 2,686 3,144 3,670 3,942

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,584 1,676 2,967 2,741 3,083 3,216 3,208

Public and other transportation .................... 537 311 634 693 553 621 586

Healthcare ...................................................... 3,631 2,375 4,169 4,532 3,919 3,971 3,632

Entertainment ................................................. 2,482 1,547 2,878 2,676 2,604 3,452 3,238

Personal care products and services ............. 608 360 711 695 650 815 728

Reading .......................................................... 102 74 115 136 83 101 113

Education ....................................................... 1,138 643 1,349 944 1,733 1,663 1,658

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 330 244 366 353 391 377 359

Miscellaneous ................................................. 645 509 703 697 758 685 659

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,834 1,382 2,028 2,503 1,572 1,754 1,561

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 5,528 2,558 6,804 6,103 7,038 7,904 7,274

Life and other personal insurance ................ 319 158 388 426 352 366 348

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 5,209 2,400 6,416 5,676 6,686 7,538 6,926

n.a. Not applicable.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

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

Expenditure Survey, 2013

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) ....... 125,670 25,090 25,219 25,082 25,178 25,101

Lower limit ........................................................ n.a. n.a. $17,883 $34,958 $57,968 $95,336

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ....................................... $63,784 $9,658 $26,275 $45,826 $74,546 $162,720

Age of reference person ................................. 50.1 51.3 53.0 49.0 48.1 49.0

Average number in consumer unit:

People .......................................................... 2.5 1.7 2.2 2.5 2.8 3.2

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

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

Earners ......................................................... 1.3 .5 .9 1.3 1.7 2.1

Vehicles ........................................................ 1.9 .9 1.4 1.9 2.3 2.8

Percent homeowner ....................................... 64 39 54 61 75 89

Average annual expenditures ........................... $51,100 $22,393 $32,559 $42,495 $58,842 $99,237

Food ............................................................... 6,602 3,655 4,781 5,728 7,655 11,184

Food at home ............................................... 3,977 2,514 3,221 3,606 4,482 6,058

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 544 353 443 485 620 817

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 856 560 740 805 941 1,235

Dairy products ............................................ 414 267 335 371 469 627

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 751 463 599 684 838 1,167

Other food at home .................................... 1,412 870 1,105 1,260 1,614 2,212

Food away from home .................................. 2,625 1,142 1,561 2,122 3,173 5,125

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 445 168 275 357 505 917

Housing .......................................................... 17,148 8,963 11,994 14,808 19,084 30,901

Shelter .......................................................... 10,080 5,452 7,002 8,602 10,993 18,363

Owned dwellings ........................................ 6,108 1,728 3,021 4,371 7,237 14,191

Rented dwellings ........................................ 3,324 3,583 3,732 3,898 3,107 2,296

Other lodging .............................................. 649 140 248 333 648 1,876

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 3,737 2,197 3,012 3,641 4,321 5,515

Household operations .................................. 1,144 401 672 805 1,172 2,672

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 645 325 461 555 760 1,121

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,542 588 848 1,204 1,838 3,230

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,604 724 1,040 1,332 1,867 3,056

Transportation ................................................ 9,004 3,327 5,856 8,071 10,908 16,860

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 3,271 860 1,976 2,803 3,889 6,831

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 2,611 1,231 1,850 2,622 3,284 4,071

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,584 1,074 1,781 2,273 3,244 4,548

Public and other transportation .................... 537 163 249 374 491 1,409

Healthcare ...................................................... 3,631 1,790 2,850 3,375 4,386 5,755

Entertainment ................................................. 2,482 1,002 1,416 1,997 2,866 5,133

Personal care products and services ............. 608 275 412 503 706 1,147

Reading .......................................................... 102 37 68 84 117 207

Education ....................................................... 1,138 830 452 552 925 2,932

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 330 291 317 361 396 282

Miscellaneous ................................................. 645 292 389 527 737 1,279

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,834 577 1,054 1,304 2,095 4,143

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 5,528 463 1,653 3,496 6,594 15,443

Life and other personal insurance ................ 319 95 190 230 347 731

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 5,209 368 1,463 3,266 6,248 14,712

n.a. Not applicable.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 
14 BLS Reports │ February 2015 • www.bls.gov

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2013

Table 6. Composition of consumer unit: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2013

Item

Husband and wife consumer units

One

parent,

at least

one child

under 18

Single

person

and other

consumer

units

Total

Husband

and wife

only

Husband and wife with children Other

husband

and wife

consumer

units

Total

Oldest

child

under 6

Oldest

child

6 to 17

Oldest

child 18

or older

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ....... 60,304 26,456 28,668 5,559 14,066 9,042 5,180 6,777 58,589

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ....................................... $89,992 $82,773 $97,441 $89,637 $98,275 $100,944 $85,630 $35,012 $40,137

Age of reference person ................................. 50.6 58.6 43.2 32.4 40.8 53.5 50.6 38.4 50.9

Average number in consumer unit:

People .......................................................... 3.2 2.0 4.0 3.5 4.2 4.0 4.9 3.0 1.7

Children under 18 ......................................... .9 n.a. 1.6 1.5 2.2 .6 1.3 1.8 .2

Adults 65 and older ...................................... .4 .7 .1 1 ( ) 1 ( ) .3 .6 1 ( ) .3

Earners ......................................................... 1.6 1.2 2.0 1.7 1.7 2.5 2.2 1.0 .9

Vehicles ........................................................ 2.5 2.3 2.6 2.0 2.4 3.2 2.7 1.1 1.3

Percent homeowner ....................................... 79 84 76 62 74 87 74 37 51

Average annual expenditures ........................... $66,855 $61,246 $72,518 $66,247 $72,639 $76,085 $64,841 $37,752 $36,263

Food ............................................................... 8,506 7,150 9,572 8,001 9,825 10,026 10,010 5,550 4,674

Food at home ............................................... 5,065 4,168 5,674 4,921 5,715 6,015 6,622 3,697 2,830

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 692 540 814 679 833 854 843 545 383

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 1,092 901 1,201 962 1,203 1,327 1,544 823 604

Dairy products ............................................ 534 441 606 566 630 585 638 381 288

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 971 828 1,065 932 1,096 1,082 1,243 624 526

Other food at home .................................... 1,776 1,458 1,989 1,783 1,952 2,167 2,354 1,325 1,028

Food away from home .................................. 3,441 2,982 3,898 3,080 4,111 4,011 3,388 1,853 1,845

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 514 601 452 516 399 511 381 179 403

Housing .......................................................... 21,374 19,184 23,678 25,385 23,840 22,412 19,804 14,703 13,061

Shelter .......................................................... 12,187 10,956 13,597 13,904 14,216 12,447 10,671 8,803 8,060

Owned dwellings ........................................ 8,783 7,887 9,937 9,194 10,346 9,757 6,981 3,758 3,626

Rented dwellings ........................................ 2,396 1,871 2,745 4,245 2,897 1,587 3,138 4,789 4,109

Other lodging .............................................. 1,008 1,198 916 465 973 1,103 552 256 324

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 4,656 4,127 5,009 3,811 5,008 5,747 5,400 3,351 2,836

Household operations .................................. 1,585 1,131 2,084 4,523 1,789 1,042 1,142 1,096 696

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 850 814 869 887 854 887 939 451 446

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 2,096 2,156 2,119 2,260 1,973 2,289 1,651 1,002 1,023

Apparel and services ...................................... 2,076 1,672 2,461 2,519 2,540 2,310 2,124 1,595 1,097

Transportation ................................................ 12,153 10,896 13,057 11,696 12,715 14,464 13,602 6,781 6,005

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 4,620 4,056 4,971 4,822 4,793 5,339 5,565 2,537 1,967

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 3,453 2,928 3,840 3,068 3,879 4,252 3,990 2,045 1,811

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 3,322 3,089 3,510 3,210 3,266 4,110 3,501 1,905 1,889

Public and other transportation .................... 757 822 737 597 777 763 545 294 338

Healthcare ...................................................... 4,917 5,477 4,436 3,503 4,344 5,153 4,715 1,752 2,523

Entertainment ................................................. 3,240 2,976 3,630 2,629 4,154 3,356 2,484 1,724 1,781

Personal care products and services ............. 776 772 791 708 772 872 730 548 438

Reading .......................................................... 136 164 112 77 115 130 118 58 74

Education ....................................................... 1,532 880 2,223 743 2,150 3,235 1,051 765 773

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 320 313 299 184 280 399 481 241 349

Miscellaneous ................................................. 786 773 798 629 727 1,019 793 391 528

Cash contributions .......................................... 2,466 3,226 1,955 1,482 1,880 2,363 1,416 751 1,308

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 8,059 7,163 9,053 8,174 8,897 9,834 7,133 2,715 3,249

Life and other personal insurance ................ 489 566 441 267 435 558 359 125 166

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 7,570 6,597 8,611 7,907 8,462 9,276 6,774 2,590 3,083

1 Value is too small to display. n.a. Not applicable.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

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

Expenditure Survey, 2013

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) ....... 125,670 25,090 25,219 25,082 25,178 25,101

Lower limit ........................................................ n.a. n.a. $17,883 $34,958 $57,968 $95,336

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ....................................... $63,784 $9,658 $26,275 $45,826 $74,546 $162,720

Age of reference person ................................. 50.1 51.3 53.0 49.0 48.1 49.0

Average number in consumer unit:

People .......................................................... 2.5 1.7 2.2 2.5 2.8 3.2

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

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

Earners ......................................................... 1.3 .5 .9 1.3 1.7 2.1

Vehicles ........................................................ 1.9 .9 1.4 1.9 2.3 2.8

Percent homeowner ....................................... 64 39 54 61 75 89

Average annual expenditures ........................... $51,100 $22,393 $32,559 $42,495 $58,842 $99,237

Food ............................................................... 6,602 3,655 4,781 5,728 7,655 11,184

Food at home ............................................... 3,977 2,514 3,221 3,606 4,482 6,058

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 544 353 443 485 620 817

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 856 560 740 805 941 1,235

Dairy products ............................................ 414 267 335 371 469 627

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 751 463 599 684 838 1,167

Other food at home .................................... 1,412 870 1,105 1,260 1,614 2,212

Food away from home .................................. 2,625 1,142 1,561 2,122 3,173 5,125

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 445 168 275 357 505 917

Housing .......................................................... 17,148 8,963 11,994 14,808 19,084 30,901

Shelter .......................................................... 10,080 5,452 7,002 8,602 10,993 18,363

Owned dwellings ........................................ 6,108 1,728 3,021 4,371 7,237 14,191

Rented dwellings ........................................ 3,324 3,583 3,732 3,898 3,107 2,296

Other lodging .............................................. 649 140 248 333 648 1,876

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 3,737 2,197 3,012 3,641 4,321 5,515

Household operations .................................. 1,144 401 672 805 1,172 2,672

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 645 325 461 555 760 1,121

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,542 588 848 1,204 1,838 3,230

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,604 724 1,040 1,332 1,867 3,056

Transportation ................................................ 9,004 3,327 5,856 8,071 10,908 16,860

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 3,271 860 1,976 2,803 3,889 6,831

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 2,611 1,231 1,850 2,622 3,284 4,071

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,584 1,074 1,781 2,273 3,244 4,548

Public and other transportation .................... 537 163 249 374 491 1,409

Healthcare ...................................................... 3,631 1,790 2,850 3,375 4,386 5,755

Entertainment ................................................. 2,482 1,002 1,416 1,997 2,866 5,133

Personal care products and services ............. 608 275 412 503 706 1,147

Reading .......................................................... 102 37 68 84 117 207

Education ....................................................... 1,138 830 452 552 925 2,932

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 330 291 317 361 396 282

Miscellaneous ................................................. 645 292 389 527 737 1,279

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,834 577 1,054 1,304 2,095 4,143

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 5,528 463 1,653 3,496 6,594 15,443

Life and other personal insurance ................ 319 95 190 230 347 731

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 5,209 368 1,463 3,266 6,248 14,712

n.a. Not applicable.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 
BLS Reports │ February 2015 • www.bls.gov 15

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2013

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

Survey, 2013

Item

All

consumer

units

Single consumers Consumer units of two or more people

No earner One earner No earner One earner Two earners

Three or

more

earners

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ....... 125,670 16,287 21,482 12,730 25,960 39,074 10,137

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ....................................... $63,784 $18,467 $42,775 $33,241 $60,151 $94,313 $111,100

Age of reference person ................................. 50.1 67.2 43.8 64.1 47.5 44.0 48.3

Average number in consumer unit:

People .......................................................... 2.5 1.0 1.0 2.4 3.0 3.0 4.4

Children under 18 ......................................... .6 n.a. n.a. .4 1.0 .8 .9

Adults 65 and older ...................................... .3 .7 .1 1.2 .3 .1 .2

Earners ......................................................... 1.3 n.a. 1.0 n.a. 1.0 2.0 3.4

Vehicles ........................................................ 1.9 .9 1.2 1.7 1.9 2.3 3.2

Percent homeowner ....................................... 64 58 44 75 62 71 78

Average annual expenditures ........................... $51,100 $24,570 $36,336 $39,950 $52,594 $65,910 $77,828

Food ............................................................... 6,602 3,087 4,096 5,697 7,229 8,278 10,516

Food at home ............................................... 3,977 2,135 2,119 3,787 4,631 4,711 6,485

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 544 297 282 523 645 634 893

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 856 417 407 856 1,035 994 1,500

Dairy products ............................................ 414 244 225 388 480 494 623

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 751 408 427 725 868 888 1,159

Other food at home .................................... 1,412 768 777 1,295 1,603 1,701 2,310

Food away from home .................................. 2,625 953 1,977 1,910 2,599 3,567 4,031

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 445 178 464 376 341 581 706

Housing .......................................................... 17,148 9,992 13,089 13,904 18,232 21,334 22,356

Shelter .......................................................... 10,080 6,034 8,664 7,128 10,785 12,376 12,643

Owned dwellings ........................................ 6,108 2,938 3,723 4,497 6,404 8,380 8,767

Rented dwellings ........................................ 3,324 2,889 4,556 1,873 3,684 3,150 2,977

Other lodging .............................................. 649 207 385 758 696 846 898

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 3,737 2,321 2,355 3,558 4,061 4,421 5,700

Household operations .................................. 1,144 676 560 912 1,128 1,744 1,153

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 645 368 367 663 716 786 893

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,542 592 1,142 1,643 1,543 2,007 1,967

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,604 586 1,074 1,041 1,984 2,112 1,976

Transportation ................................................ 9,004 3,501 6,050 6,911 9,000 11,785 16,070

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 3,271 920 2,101 2,476 3,090 4,393 6,665

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 2,611 915 1,721 1,898 2,740 3,473 4,470

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,584 1,481 1,821 2,039 2,639 3,204 4,179

Public and other transportation .................... 537 185 408 497 531 714 756

Healthcare ...................................................... 3,631 2,944 1,944 4,986 3,825 4,005 4,656

Entertainment ................................................. 2,482 1,234 1,789 1,760 2,551 3,296 3,546

Personal care products and services ............. 608 314 395 539 657 776 825

Reading .......................................................... 102 72 75 127 107 115 120

Education ....................................................... 1,138 502 749 706 1,121 1,393 2,573

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 330 229 256 308 336 373 490

Miscellaneous ................................................. 645 416 580 501 590 779 961

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,834 1,307 1,438 2,419 1,762 2,061 2,097

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 5,528 210 4,338 676 4,859 9,022 10,935

Life and other personal insurance ................ 319 174 145 299 300 442 516

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 5,209 36 4,193 377 4,559 8,580 10,419

n.a. Not applicable.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

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

Expenditure Survey, 2013

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) ....... 125,670 25,090 25,219 25,082 25,178 25,101

Lower limit ........................................................ n.a. n.a. $17,883 $34,958 $57,968 $95,336

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ....................................... $63,784 $9,658 $26,275 $45,826 $74,546 $162,720

Age of reference person ................................. 50.1 51.3 53.0 49.0 48.1 49.0

Average number in consumer unit:

People .......................................................... 2.5 1.7 2.2 2.5 2.8 3.2

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

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

Earners ......................................................... 1.3 .5 .9 1.3 1.7 2.1

Vehicles ........................................................ 1.9 .9 1.4 1.9 2.3 2.8

Percent homeowner ....................................... 64 39 54 61 75 89

Average annual expenditures ........................... $51,100 $22,393 $32,559 $42,495 $58,842 $99,237

Food ............................................................... 6,602 3,655 4,781 5,728 7,655 11,184

Food at home ............................................... 3,977 2,514 3,221 3,606 4,482 6,058

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 544 353 443 485 620 817

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 856 560 740 805 941 1,235

Dairy products ............................................ 414 267 335 371 469 627

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 751 463 599 684 838 1,167

Other food at home .................................... 1,412 870 1,105 1,260 1,614 2,212

Food away from home .................................. 2,625 1,142 1,561 2,122 3,173 5,125

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 445 168 275 357 505 917

Housing .......................................................... 17,148 8,963 11,994 14,808 19,084 30,901

Shelter .......................................................... 10,080 5,452 7,002 8,602 10,993 18,363

Owned dwellings ........................................ 6,108 1,728 3,021 4,371 7,237 14,191

Rented dwellings ........................................ 3,324 3,583 3,732 3,898 3,107 2,296

Other lodging .............................................. 649 140 248 333 648 1,876

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 3,737 2,197 3,012 3,641 4,321 5,515

Household operations .................................. 1,144 401 672 805 1,172 2,672

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 645 325 461 555 760 1,121

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,542 588 848 1,204 1,838 3,230

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,604 724 1,040 1,332 1,867 3,056

Transportation ................................................ 9,004 3,327 5,856 8,071 10,908 16,860

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 3,271 860 1,976 2,803 3,889 6,831

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 2,611 1,231 1,850 2,622 3,284 4,071

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,584 1,074 1,781 2,273 3,244 4,548

Public and other transportation .................... 537 163 249 374 491 1,409

Healthcare ...................................................... 3,631 1,790 2,850 3,375 4,386 5,755

Entertainment ................................................. 2,482 1,002 1,416 1,997 2,866 5,133

Personal care products and services ............. 608 275 412 503 706 1,147

Reading .......................................................... 102 37 68 84 117 207

Education ....................................................... 1,138 830 452 552 925 2,932

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 330 291 317 361 396 282

Miscellaneous ................................................. 645 292 389 527 737 1,279

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,834 577 1,054 1,304 2,095 4,143

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 5,528 463 1,653 3,496 6,594 15,443

Life and other personal insurance ................ 319 95 190 230 347 731

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 5,209 368 1,463 3,266 6,248 14,712

n.a. Not applicable.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 
16 BLS Reports │ February 2015 • www.bls.gov

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2013

Table 8. Housing tenure and type of area: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2013

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) ....... 125,670 80,077 46,886 33,191 45,593 114,948 38,145 76,803 10,722

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ....................................... $63,784 $78,465 $92,163 $59,116 $37,998 $65,204 $55,386 $70,079 $48,565

Age of reference person ................................. 50.1 54.7 49.1 62.7 41.9 49.8 47.3 51.1 52.9

Average number in consumer unit:

People .......................................................... 2.5 2.6 2.9 2.2 2.3 2.5 2.3 2.6 2.4

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

Adults 65 and older ...................................... .3 .5 .2 .7 .2 .3 .3 .4 .4

Earners ......................................................... 1.3 1.3 1.6 1.0 1.1 1.3 1.2 1.3 1.2

Vehicles ........................................................ 1.9 2.3 2.4 2.1 1.1 1.8 1.4 2.0 2.4

Percent homeowner ....................................... 64 100 100 100 n.a. 62 47 70 79

Average annual expenditures ........................... $51,100 $59,672 $68,416 $46,899 $36,008 $51,872 $45,323 $55,079 $42,784

Food ............................................................... 6,602 7,386 7,933 6,368 5,211 6,686 6,181 6,919 5,667

Food at home ............................................... 3,977 4,439 4,683 3,968 3,155 4,000 3,675 4,149 3,717

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 544 606 644 534 432 545 505 564 522

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 856 935 970 865 718 863 795 893 788

Dairy products ............................................ 414 464 489 416 324 412 372 430 437

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 751 838 896 727 595 763 747 770 611

Other food at home .................................... 1,412 1,596 1,684 1,425 1,087 1,417 1,255 1,492 1,357

Food away from home .................................. 2,625 2,947 3,250 2,401 2,055 2,686 2,507 2,770 1,950

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 445 497 554 390 352 455 470 448 334

Housing .......................................................... 17,148 19,072 23,299 13,087 13,762 17,646 16,281 18,317 11,801

Shelter .......................................................... 10,080 10,489 14,066 5,437 9,363 10,515 10,099 10,722 5,419

Owned dwellings ........................................ 6,108 9,525 13,093 4,485 107 6,315 4,687 7,123 3,895

Rented dwellings ........................................ 3,324 63 72 51 9,050 3,532 4,892 2,856 1,094

Other lodging .............................................. 649 901 901 901 206 669 521 743 430

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 3,737 4,462 4,775 4,020 2,463 3,733 3,243 3,976 3,786

Household operations .................................. 1,144 1,432 1,646 1,127 639 1,183 1,042 1,254 724

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 645 777 772 786 409 640 576 669 693

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,542 1,911 2,040 1,716 889 1,575 1,321 1,696 1,179

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,604 1,730 1,907 1,418 1,381 1,641 1,599 1,659 1,200

Transportation ................................................ 9,004 10,709 12,283 8,493 6,004 8,960 7,225 9,816 9,476

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 3,271 3,945 4,791 2,750 2,087 3,229 2,411 3,635 3,725

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 2,611 3,029 3,418 2,479 1,878 2,578 2,000 2,866 2,964

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,584 3,088 3,393 2,664 1,694 2,586 2,199 2,771 2,576

Public and other transportation .................... 537 647 680 600 344 567 615 544 211

Healthcare ...................................................... 3,631 4,651 4,518 4,844 1,839 3,603 2,824 3,989 3,929

Entertainment ................................................. 2,482 3,031 3,414 2,433 1,515 2,509 1,989 2,758 2,195

Personal care products and services ............. 608 713 780 601 423 624 599 635 441

Reading .......................................................... 102 128 122 137 57 104 89 111 89

Education ....................................................... 1,138 1,305 1,585 902 843 1,194 1,044 1,268 537

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 330 321 335 301 345 313 260 339 508

Miscellaneous ................................................. 645 808 853 736 358 653 556 701 551

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,834 2,375 2,184 2,645 883 1,838 1,489 2,011 1,797

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 5,528 6,947 8,648 4,543 3,036 5,646 4,716 6,108 4,259

Life and other personal insurance ................ 319 446 480 398 95 317 286 332 342

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 5,209 6,501 8,168 4,145 2,941 5,330 4,430 5,777 3,917

n.a. Not applicable.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 
BLS Reports │ February 2015 • www.bls.gov 17

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2013

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

Expenditure Survey, 2013

Item

All

consumer

units

White and all other races, and Asian

Black or

African

Total American

White and

all other

races1

Asian

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ....... 125,670 109,939 104,561 5,377 15,732

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ....................................... $63,784 $66,717 $66,090 $78,912 $43,288

Age of reference person ................................. 50.1 50.4 50.7 44.0 48.0

Average number in consumer unit:

People .......................................................... 2.5 2.5 2.4 2.8 2.5

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

Adults 65 and older ...................................... .3 .4 .4 .2 .2

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

Vehicles ........................................................ 1.9 2.0 2.0 1.6 1.2

Percent homeowner ....................................... 64 67 67 54 43

Average annual expenditures ........................... $51,100 $53,101 $52,740 $60,167 $37,080

Food ............................................................... 6,602 6,805 6,743 8,073 5,168

Food at home ............................................... 3,977 4,074 4,057 4,413 3,290

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 544 556 553 627 453

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 856 850 844 981 899

Dairy products ............................................ 414 435 439 367 263

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 751 775 764 1,020 574

Other food at home .................................... 1,412 1,456 1,458 1,418 1,101

Food away from home .................................. 2,625 2,731 2,686 3,660 1,878

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 445 479 486 326 201

Housing .......................................................... 17,148 17,634 17,463 20,918 13,748

Shelter .......................................................... 10,080 10,379 10,186 14,143 7,992

Owned dwellings ........................................ 6,108 6,495 6,403 8,291 3,406

Rented dwellings ........................................ 3,324 3,180 3,084 5,049 4,325

Other lodging .............................................. 649 704 699 803 261

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 3,737 3,756 3,770 3,481 3,605

Household operations .................................. 1,144 1,190 1,180 1,377 826

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 645 673 682 490 441

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,542 1,635 1,645 1,427 884

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,604 1,605 1,583 2,073 1,595

Transportation ................................................ 9,004 9,371 9,381 9,165 6,437

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 3,271 3,437 3,470 2,797 2,114

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 2,611 2,682 2,689 2,557 2,117

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,584 2,676 2,689 2,419 1,940

Public and other transportation .................... 537 576 534 1,393 266

Healthcare ...................................................... 3,631 3,862 3,894 3,255 2,013

Entertainment ................................................. 2,482 2,644 2,661 2,321 1,344

Personal care products and services ............. 608 623 621 666 506

Reading .......................................................... 102 110 111 89 50

Education ....................................................... 1,138 1,202 1,098 3,233 687

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 330 346 357 122 217

Miscellaneous ................................................. 645 679 690 462 407

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,834 1,912 1,900 2,148 1,289

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 5,528 5,830 5,754 7,315 3,417

Life and other personal insurance ................ 319 328 330 286 255

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 5,209 5,502 5,424 7,029 3,162

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

approximately 1 percent reporting more than one race.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 
18 BLS Reports │ February 2015 • www.bls.gov

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2013

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

characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2013

Item

All

consumer

units

Hispanic

or Latino

Not Hispanic or Latino

Total

White and

all other

races

Black

or

African

American

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ....... 125,670 15,979 109,691 94,226 15,465

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ....................................... $63,784 $47,438 $66,165 $69,911 $43,342

Age of reference person ................................. 50.1 43.2 51.1 51.6 48.0

Average number in consumer unit:

People .......................................................... 2.5 3.2 2.4 2.3 2.5

Children under 18 ......................................... .6 1.0 .5 .5 .7

Adults 65 and older ...................................... .3 .2 .4 .4 .2

Earners ......................................................... 1.3 1.5 1.2 1.3 1.1

Vehicles ........................................................ 1.9 1.5 1.9 2.0 1.2

Percent homeowner ....................................... 64 45 66 70 44

Average annual expenditures ........................... $51,100 $41,958 $52,432 $54,953 $37,027

Food ............................................................... 6,602 6,771 6,573 6,807 5,126

Food at home ............................................... 3,977 4,042 3,966 4,071 3,315

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 544 519 547 562 457

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 856 1,009 832 820 907

Dairy products ............................................ 414 419 413 437 263

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 751 828 738 764 579

Other food at home .................................... 1,412 1,267 1,435 1,488 1,109

Food away from home .................................. 2,625 2,729 2,606 2,736 1,811

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 445 365 457 498 201

Housing .......................................................... 17,148 15,316 17,418 18,021 13,732

Shelter .......................................................... 10,080 9,314 10,192 10,554 7,986

Owned dwellings ........................................ 6,108 3,886 6,432 6,927 3,418

Rented dwellings ........................................ 3,324 5,195 3,051 2,845 4,303

Other lodging .............................................. 649 232 709 782 265

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 3,737 3,351 3,793 3,822 3,620

Household operations .................................. 1,144 878 1,183 1,242 826

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 645 567 657 691 443

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,542 1,206 1,593 1,712 856

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,604 1,924 1,554 1,554 1,554

Transportation ................................................ 9,004 7,622 9,206 9,656 6,463

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 3,271 2,484 3,386 3,589 2,151

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 2,611 2,578 2,616 2,698 2,120

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,584 2,210 2,640 2,756 1,926

Public and other transportation .................... 537 350 564 613 267

Healthcare ...................................................... 3,631 1,931 3,879 4,187 2,003

Entertainment ................................................. 2,482 1,635 2,609 2,816 1,339

Personal care products and services ............. 608 524 621 638 512

Reading .......................................................... 102 38 112 122 51

Education ....................................................... 1,138 497 1,231 1,319 694

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 330 154 355 377 220

Miscellaneous ................................................. 645 421 677 722 407

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,834 884 1,972 2,083 1,300

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 5,528 3,876 5,769 6,153 3,426

Life and other personal insurance ................ 319 127 347 361 258

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 5,209 3,748 5,422 5,792 3,168

 Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 
BLS Reports │ February 2015 • www.bls.gov 19

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2013

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

Expenditure Survey, 2013

Item

All

consumer

units

Northeast Midwest South West

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ....... 125,670 22,769 27,905 46,913 28,084

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ....................................... $63,784 $71,606 $63,184 $58,624 $66,658

Age of reference person ................................. 50.1 51.9 49.7 50.3 48.6

Average number in consumer unit:

People .......................................................... 2.5 2.4 2.4 2.5 2.6

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

Adults 65 and older ...................................... .3 .4 .3 .3 .3

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

Vehicles ........................................................ 1.9 1.6 2.1 1.8 1.9

Percent homeowner ....................................... 64 63 67 66 57

Average annual expenditures ........................... $51,100 $57,027 $50,527 $45,956 $55,460

Food ............................................................... 6,602 7,033 6,592 6,056 7,180

Food at home ............................................... 3,977 4,222 4,119 3,607 4,267

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 544 604 584 492 544

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 856 943 821 835 856

Dairy products ............................................ 414 462 436 352 458

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 751 819 781 634 862

Other food at home .................................... 1,412 1,394 1,497 1,293 1,548

Food away from home .................................. 2,625 2,811 2,473 2,449 2,913

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 445 527 436 360 528

Housing .......................................................... 17,148 20,341 15,914 15,000 19,376

Shelter .......................................................... 10,080 12,517 9,055 8,327 12,053

Owned dwellings ........................................ 6,108 7,742 5,917 5,141 6,590

Rented dwellings ........................................ 3,324 4,012 2,437 2,670 4,739

Other lodging .............................................. 649 763 701 517 724

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 3,737 4,126 3,564 3,772 3,535

Household operations .................................. 1,144 1,387 1,068 1,000 1,264

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 645 648 665 586 721

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,542 1,665 1,563 1,315 1,802

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,604 1,816 1,485 1,453 1,801

Transportation ................................................ 9,004 9,354 9,102 8,673 9,168

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 3,271 3,279 3,494 3,222 3,124

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 2,611 2,389 2,616 2,726 2,594

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,584 2,889 2,463 2,395 2,768

Public and other transportation .................... 537 797 528 330 682

Healthcare ...................................................... 3,631 3,784 4,095 3,295 3,609

Entertainment ................................................. 2,482 2,615 2,460 2,165 2,928

Personal care products and services ............. 608 626 575 556 714

Reading .......................................................... 102 117 113 79 119

Education ....................................................... 1,138 1,870 1,207 728 1,159

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 330 343 358 344 267

Miscellaneous ................................................. 645 654 656 587 720

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,834 1,527 2,081 1,683 2,089

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 5,528 6,422 5,453 4,975 5,801

Life and other personal insurance ................ 319 376 310 310 295

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 5,209 6,045 5,143 4,665 5,506

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 
20 BLS Reports │ February 2015 • www.bls.gov

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2013

Table 12. Occupation of reference person: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2013

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) ....... 7,964 75,318 28,804 20,328 14,904 3,746 7,536 24,041 18,346

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ....................................... $94,004 $74,959 $103,730 $62,798 $50,976 $59,083 $53,115 $37,802 $38,837

Age of reference person ................................. 50.2 43.8 44.6 42.8 43.4 41.5 45.6 73.2 45.5

Average number in consumer unit:

People .......................................................... 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.5 2.7 2.8 2.8 1.7 2.8

Children under 18 ......................................... .6 .7 .7 .6 .7 .8 .7 .1 .9

Adults 65 and older ...................................... .2 .1 .1 .1 .2 .1 .1 1.2 .2

Earners ......................................................... 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.8 1.7 .2 .6

Vehicles ........................................................ 2.1 2.0 2.1 1.9 1.7 2.2 2.1 1.7 1.5

Percent homeowner ....................................... 74 61 70 58 50 56 57 81 47

Average annual expenditures ........................... $67,558 $55,870 $71,881 $50,351 $41,513 $48,140 $43,119 $40,237 $38,852

Food ............................................................... 8,092 7,130 8,744 6,725 5,553 6,315 6,094 5,151 5,803

Food at home ............................................... 4,626 4,126 4,748 3,893 3,512 3,776 3,943 3,332 3,974

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 609 564 644 534 488 530 535 455 551

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 922 888 973 857 798 874 857 702 905

Dairy products ............................................ 495 423 501 389 354 429 376 349 431

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 929 770 908 712 665 623 716 668 716

Other food at home .................................... 1,671 1,481 1,722 1,401 1,207 1,319 1,458 1,158 1,372

Food away from home .................................. 3,466 3,004 3,995 2,831 2,041 2,539 2,151 1,820 1,829

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 693 505 678 488 308 478 350 339 247

Housing .......................................................... 20,981 18,560 23,498 16,815 14,618 15,574 13,852 13,906 13,975

Shelter .......................................................... 12,166 11,102 14,218 10,039 8,712 8,969 7,845 7,569 8,273

Owned dwellings ........................................ 8,384 6,675 9,478 5,791 4,166 4,966 4,160 5,084 4,135

Rented dwellings ........................................ 2,631 3,776 3,675 3,798 4,138 3,706 3,426 1,764 3,810

Other lodging .............................................. 1,151 650 1,065 451 407 297 259 721 328

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 4,331 3,883 4,277 3,687 3,554 3,733 3,635 3,388 3,335

Household operations .................................. 1,530 1,258 1,889 1,044 755 749 679 981 723

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 885 647 871 584 442 541 501 626 570

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 2,069 1,670 2,243 1,461 1,155 1,581 1,192 1,341 1,074

Apparel and services ...................................... 2,016 1,767 2,373 1,678 1,313 1,158 1,106 1,072 1,483

Transportation ................................................ 10,421 10,136 11,983 9,460 7,975 10,428 9,155 6,994 6,378

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 3,493 3,796 4,283 3,608 2,965 4,498 3,732 2,476 2,062

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 2,976 2,976 3,252 2,803 2,579 3,387 2,972 1,747 2,087

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 3,163 2,770 3,470 2,641 2,057 2,258 2,228 2,304 1,942

Public and other transportation .................... 789 594 978 408 373 286 223 467 286

Healthcare ...................................................... 4,877 3,290 4,128 3,048 2,329 2,562 3,020 5,077 2,599

Entertainment ................................................. 3,188 2,711 3,707 2,464 1,823 2,047 1,815 1,996 1,889

Personal care products and services ............. 747 650 863 634 460 442 407 565 441

Reading .......................................................... 128 99 141 84 68 39 72 134 64

Education ....................................................... 1,669 1,241 1,883 898 835 1,088 595 326 1,553

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 334 332 231 382 343 534 464 212 472

Miscellaneous ................................................. 928 683 879 583 524 981 378 619 400

Cash contributions .......................................... 2,787 1,745 2,623 1,319 1,016 1,406 1,146 2,446 986

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 10,697 7,021 10,152 5,773 4,348 5,088 4,667 1,401 2,563

Life and other personal insurance ................ 537 326 478 253 196 219 251 335 174

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 10,160 6,695 9,674 5,520 4,152 4,869 4,415 1,066 2,390

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 
BLS Reports │ February 2015 • www.bls.gov 21

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2013

Table 13. Highest education level of any member: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey,

2013

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) ....... 125,670 77,102 9,974 26,151 26,646 14,331 48,568 28,552 20,016

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ....................................... $63,784 $43,135 $24,078 $38,064 $45,440 $61,369 $96,564 $80,844 $118,987

Age of reference person ................................. 50.1 50.7 54.4 53.0 47.9 48.8 49.2 47.9 51.0

Average number in consumer unit:

People .......................................................... 2.5 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.4 2.7 2.6 2.6 2.6

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

Adults 65 and older ...................................... .3 .4 .4 .4 .3 .3 .3 .3 .4

Earners ......................................................... 1.3 1.1 .7 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.5

Vehicles ........................................................ 1.9 1.7 1.1 1.6 1.7 2.2 2.1 2.1 2.2

Percent homeowner ....................................... 64 57 45 59 55 66 74 70 79

Average annual expenditures ........................... $51,100 $38,630 $25,971 $34,385 $41,203 $50,842 $70,774 $63,165 $81,645

Food ............................................................... 6,602 5,458 4,331 4,908 5,831 6,745 8,361 7,829 9,130

Food at home ............................................... 3,977 3,492 3,072 3,279 3,557 4,159 4,719 4,543 4,975

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 544 479 412 451 491 569 642 635 653

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 856 803 719 762 812 941 939 932 948

Dairy products ............................................ 414 358 336 336 363 411 500 470 544

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 751 628 590 580 640 737 938 870 1,038

Other food at home .................................... 1,412 1,225 1,015 1,150 1,251 1,501 1,700 1,636 1,793

Food away from home .................................. 2,625 1,967 1,258 1,629 2,273 2,585 3,642 3,286 4,155

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 445 305 151 237 365 445 659 577 777

Housing .......................................................... 17,148 13,178 9,866 12,002 13,896 16,373 23,435 20,903 27,050

Shelter .......................................................... 10,080 7,479 5,820 6,722 8,007 9,032 14,211 12,653 16,433

Owned dwellings ........................................ 6,108 3,848 2,157 3,417 4,035 5,463 9,696 8,373 11,585

Rented dwellings ........................................ 3,324 3,348 3,589 3,120 3,590 3,145 3,285 3,373 3,161

Other lodging .............................................. 649 283 74 184 383 424 1,229 908 1,688

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 3,737 3,372 2,576 3,341 3,361 4,005 4,316 4,090 4,638

Household operations .................................. 1,144 689 376 562 760 1,008 1,866 1,424 2,498

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 645 527 430 453 556 709 824 776 893

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,542 1,111 665 924 1,211 1,620 2,218 1,960 2,588

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,604 1,229 1,074 1,042 1,319 1,561 2,182 2,108 2,290

Transportation ................................................ 9,004 7,157 4,239 6,456 7,508 9,862 11,925 11,209 12,946

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 3,271 2,538 1,359 2,396 2,482 3,719 4,436 4,211 4,755

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 2,611 2,328 1,483 2,183 2,432 2,987 3,061 3,003 3,144

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,584 2,053 1,260 1,699 2,306 2,827 3,419 3,248 3,660

Public and other transportation .................... 537 239 138 178 288 330 1,010 746 1,386

Healthcare ...................................................... 3,631 2,958 2,009 2,811 3,122 3,580 4,698 4,251 5,336

Entertainment ................................................. 2,482 1,817 1,065 1,530 1,965 2,636 3,528 3,089 4,158

Personal care products and services ............. 608 445 299 396 488 566 862 790 966

Reading .......................................................... 102 63 30 54 72 84 166 129 219

Education ....................................................... 1,138 537 151 270 815 778 2,090 1,703 2,644

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 330 416 317 472 377 460 192 231 136

Miscellaneous ................................................. 645 468 325 332 535 690 926 794 1,114

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,834 1,138 620 1,004 1,193 1,639 2,939 2,100 4,136

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 5,528 3,461 1,493 2,874 3,718 5,424 8,810 7,454 10,743

Life and other personal insurance ................ 319 209 103 222 191 292 493 375 661

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 5,209 3,252 1,390 2,651 3,527 5,132 8,317 7,078 10,083

 Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 
Technical Notes

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2013

22 BLS Reports │ February 2015 • www.bls.gov

Brief description of the Consumer 

Expenditure Survey

The annual CE began in 1980. Its principal objective is 

to collect information on the buying habits of Americans. 

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 the 

regular revision of the CPI market basket. The CE survey, 

which is conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau for BLS, 

consists of two components: A diary (or recordkeeping) 

survey completed by participating consumer units for two 

consecutive 1-week periods and an interview survey by 

which expenditures of consumer units is obtained in four 

interviews conducted at 3-month intervals. Results in this 

report are based on integrated data from both surveys. 

Survey participants record dollar amounts for goods and 

services purchased during the reporting period, regardless 

of whether payment is made at the time of purchase. 

Expenditure amounts include all sales and excise taxes 

for items purchased by the consumer unit. All businessrelated expenditures are excluded from both surveys, as are 

expenditures for which the consumer unit is reimbursed.

Each component of the survey queries an independent 

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

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

units are sampled each year. Each consumer unit keeps 

a diary for two 1-week periods, yielding approximately 

14,000 diaries a year. The Interview sample, selected on a 

rotating panel basis, surveys about 7,000 consumer units 

each quarter. With the rotating panel, some consumer units 

drop out of the survey each quarter, while others come in. 

Each consumer unit is interviewed once per quarter, for 

four consecutive quarters. Data are collected on an ongoing 

basis in 91 areas of the United States. The Interview Survey 

is designed to capture expenditure data that respondents 

can reasonably recall for a period of 3 months or longer. 

In general, these expenditures are relatively large, such 

as expenditures for real property, automobiles, and major 

appliances, or they occur on a regular basis, such as rent, 

utility payments, and insurance premiums. The Interview 

Survey also collects data on expenditures incurred on 

leisure trips. Including global estimates of spending for 

food, it is estimated that about 95 percent of expenditures 

are covered in the Interview Survey. Nonprescription 

drugs, household supplies, and personal care items 

are excluded. The Diary Survey is designed to capture 

expenditures on small, frequently purchased items that are 

normally difficult for respondents to recall buying. Detailed

records of expenses are kept for food and beverages—

consumed either at home or in eating places—and for 

tobacco, housekeeping supplies, nonprescription drugs, and 

personal care products and services. Expenditures incurred 

by members of the 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 spent while traveling overnight 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 is designed to do on its 

own. Data on some expenditure items are collected in 

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

does not collect information on reimbursements, whereas 

the Interview Survey does. Examples of expenditures for 

which reimbursements are excluded from the Diary Survey 

are medical care; automobile repairs; and construction, 

repairs, alterations, and maintenance of property. For 

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

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

However, there is considerable overlap in coverage 

between the surveys. Consequently, integrating the data 

involves determining the appropriate survey component 

from which to select expenditure items. When data are 

available from both surveys, the more reliable of the two 

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

result, some items are selected from the Interview Survey, 

others from the Diary Survey. Because of the overlap in the 
BLS Reports │ February 2015 • www.bls.gov 23

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2013

item coverage between the two surveys, the survey source 

is reviewed every 2 years and statistical methods are used 

to select the best source. See “CE Source Selection for 

Publication Tables” in the Consumer Expenditure Survey 

Anthology, 2011 (BLS Report, no. 1030) for source 

selection details.

The population and spending coverage of the CE 

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

population including rural areas, whereas the CPI covers 

only the population in urban and metropolitan areas. 

Definitions of components also differ between the CE and

CPI. For example, homeownership is treated differently 

in the two surveys: actual expenditures of homeownership 

are reported in the CE, whereas the CPI uses a rentalequivalence approach that estimates the change in the cost 

of obtaining, in the rental marketplace, services equivalent 

to those provided by owner-occupied homes.

Interpreting the data

Expenditures are averages for 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 

consumer units that purchased the item. The less frequently 

an item is purchased, the greater the difference between the 

average for all consumer units and the average for those 

purchasing the item. Similarly, an individual consumer 

unit may spend more or less than the average, depending 

on its particular characteristics. Factors such as income, 

age of family members, geographic location, and personal 

preference also influence expenditures. Furthermore,

even within groups with similar characteristics, the 

distribution of expenditures varies substantially. These 

points should be considered in relating reported averages 

to individual circumstances. Users of these survey data 

should also keep in mind that prices for many goods and 

services have risen since the survey was conducted. For 

example, all prices, as measured by the CPI-U, increased 

1.6 percent from 2013 (annual average index) to 2014 

(not seasonally adjusted). In addition, sample surveys are 

subject to two types of error: sampling and nonsampling. 

Sampling errors occur because the data are collected from 

a sample representing the population, rather than from 

the entire population. Nonsampling errors result from the 

inability or unwillingness of respondents to provide correct 

information, differences in interviewers’ abilities, mistakes 

in recording or coding, and other processing errors.

Tables and data

Tables in this report include integrated data from both 

the Diary and Interview components of the CE, enabling 

data users to associate the full range of expenditures with 

consumers’ demographic characteristics. Tables show data 

classified by income quintile, income class, age of the

reference person, size of the consumer unit, composition 

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

type of area (urban or rural), race, Hispanic origin, region 

of residence, occupation, and highest education level of 

any consumer-unit member. Tables for the aforementioned 

classifications, but with more detail than is given in this

report, can be accessed on the CE page of the BLS website 

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

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

1. Income before taxes, cross-tabulated by age, 

consumer unit size, or region 

2. Single consumers by gender, cross-tabulated by 

either income or age 

3. Selected metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs). 

Data are available for 1984–2013. Other survey 

information available on the website includes answers 

to frequently asked questions, a glossary of terms, and 

order forms for survey products. Beginning with the 2000 

data, estimates of standard errors for integrated Diary and 

Interview Survey data are also available.

Prepublication tables containing additional detailed 

subcategories of spending are available upon request to 

CEXInfo@bls.gov. These detailed level tables have higher 

variances.
24 BLS Reports │ February 2015 • www.bls.gov

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES IN 2013

Other available data

The 2013 CE public-use microdata, including Interview 

Survey data, Diary Survey data, and paradata (information 

about the survey process), are available on the CE website 

for free electronic download. The Interview files contain

expenditure data in two different formats: MTBI files that

present monthly values in an item-coding framework based 

on the CPI pricing scheme, and EXPN files that organize

expenditures by the section of the Interview questionnaire 

in which they are collected. Expenditure values on 

EXPN files cover different time periods depending on the

specific questions asked, and the files also contain relevant

nonexpenditure information not found on the MTBI files.

The public-use microdata for 2013 also includes the new 

estimates of local, state, and federal tax liabilities. The CE 

introduced these estimates to improve the quality of the 

surveyed tax liabilities, which suffered from low response 

rates. The surveyed tax data will still be available for 

2013, after which they will no longer be collected. For 

more information on the improvements, see Estimating 

Taxes in the Consumer Expenditure Survey, and for new 

applications of the tax estimates see New and Improved 

Estimates of Personal Income Taxes have Tripled the Tax 

Data, both soon to be published by BLS. Past releases 

of CE public-use microdata that were previously only 

available on USB flash drives for purchase will become

available on the CE website for free download. The 1999 

to 2012 releases are already available online. Previously 

published releases will be posted incrementally online in 

reverse chronological order through the 1996 release. For 

releases published before 1996 and those not yet available 

online, users can continue to purchase USB flash drives

using the public-use microdata order form (see www.bls.

gov/cex/pumdhome.htm). Future releases of public-use 

microdata will be available online for free download.

The Consumer Expenditure program also publishes 

BEYOND THE NUMBERS articles. 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. 

As of December 2014, the most recent of these reports is 

Income and spending patterns among Black households. 

Additional data also are presented in articles in the Monthly 

Labor Review. These reports can be found at http://www.

bls.gov/cex/home.htm#publications. For more detailed 

information on the availability of current and earlier data, 

contact the Division of Consumer Expenditure Survey, 

Office of Prices and Living Conditions, Bureau of Labor

Statistics, 2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE., Washington, DC 

20212-0001 or call (202) 691-6900; Email: cexinfo@bls.

gov. Online at http://www.bls.gov/cex. Information 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.