Table 55. Quintiles of income before taxes: Shares of annual aggregate expenditures and sources of income,

Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2004

(Aggregates in millions of dollars, unless otherwise indicated)

Item Aggregate

Lowest

20

percent

Second

20

percent

Third

20

percent

Fourth

20

percent

Highest

20

percent

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ........................ 116,282 23,223 23,266 23,252 23,263 23,277 

Percent distribution of consumer units .............................. 100.0 20.0 20.0 20.0 20.0 20.0 

Consumer unit characteristics (mean values): 

Income before taxes ...................................................... $54,453 $9,168 $24,102 $41,614 $65,100 $132,158 

Income after taxes ......................................................... 52,287 9,220 23,751 40,802 62,847 124,698 

Age of reference person ................................................. 48.5 51.1 50.9 47.2 45.7 47.4 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ......................................................................... 2.5 1.7 2.2 2.6 2.9 3.2 

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

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

Earners ......................................................................... 1.3 .5 .9 1.4 1.7 2.1 

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

Percent distribution:

Sex of reference person:

Male .............................................................................. 48 35 45 50 55 56 

Female .......................................................................... 52 65 55 50 45 44 

Housing tenure:

Homeowner ................................................................... 68 41 57 68 80 91 

With mortgage ............................................................. 42 12 23 42 61 73 

Without mortgage ........................................................ 25 30 35 25 20 18 

Renter ........................................................................... 32 59 43 32 20 9 

Race of reference person:

Black or African-American ............................................ 12 18 15 11 9 6 

White, Asian, and All Other Races ................................ 88 82 85 89 91 94 

Hispanic or Latino origin of reference person:

Hispanic or Latino (new UCC Q20032) ......................... 11 11 14 12 9 6 

Not Hispanic or Latino (new UCC Q20032) .................. 89 89 86 88 91 94 

Education of reference person:

Elementary (1-8) ........................................................... 5 13 8 4 2 1 

High school (9-12) ......................................................... 35 45 46 40 29 16 

College .......................................................................... 59 41 45 56 69 83 

Never attended and other ............................................. 1 ( ) 1 1 ( ) 1 ( ) 1 ( ) 1 ( )

At least one vehicle owned or leased ............................. 88 65 87 94 97 98 

Annual aggregate expenditures ........................................ $5,043,501 8.2 12.6 17.0 23.5 38.6 

Food ................................................................................ 670,766 10.3 14.3 18.6 23.4 33.4 

Food at home ................................................................ 388,283 12.2 15.9 19.2 22.9 29.8 

Cereals and bakery products ...................................... 53,470 12.8 16.1 19.6 22.6 28.8 

Cereals and cereal products ..................................... 17,843 14.5 15.9 19.9 22.7 27.1 

Bakery products ........................................................ 35,627 12.0 16.2 19.4 22.6 29.7 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..................................... 102,057 12.5 16.6 19.6 22.8 28.5 

Beef ........................................................................... 30,783 11.8 17.0 19.4 23.3 28.4 

Pork ........................................................................... 21,015 13.4 17.9 20.6 21.7 26.4 

Other meats .............................................................. 12,527 12.0 15.7 18.7 23.2 30.4 

Poultry ....................................................................... 18,052 13.0 15.5 19.5 23.2 28.8 

Fish and seafood ...................................................... 14,826 11.2 15.3 19.6 23.5 30.4 

Eggs .......................................................................... 4,854 15.3 19.4 19.6 20.4 25.3 

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 55. Quintiles of income before taxes: Shares of annual aggregate expenditures and sources of income,

Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2004 — Continued

(Aggregates in millions of dollars, unless otherwise indicated)

Item Aggregate

Lowest

20

percent

Second

20

percent

Third

20

percent

Fourth

20

percent

Highest

20

percent

Dairy products ............................................................. $42,991 12.0 16.1 19.5 22.5 30.0 

Fresh milk and cream ............................................... 16,744 14.0 17.1 20.4 21.5 26.9 

Other dairy products ................................................. 26,247 10.7 15.5 18.9 23.1 31.9 

Fruits and vegetables .................................................. 65,077 12.6 15.6 19.5 21.9 30.4 

Fresh fruits ................................................................ 21,664 12.1 15.6 19.9 20.8 31.6 

Fresh vegetables ...................................................... 21,223 12.8 15.2 18.7 22.5 30.8 

Processed fruits ........................................................ 12,719 12.4 15.8 19.9 22.2 29.7 

Processed vegetables ............................................... 9,471 13.5 16.2 19.7 22.5 28.1 

Other food at home ..................................................... 124,688 11.6 15.3 18.4 23.8 30.9 

Sugar and other sweets ............................................ 14,864 12.3 15.1 17.5 22.2 32.9 

Fats and oils .............................................................. 10,312 13.7 17.6 19.9 21.9 26.9 

Miscellaneous foods ................................................. 61,173 11.0 14.6 18.4 24.4 31.6 

Nonalcoholic beverages ............................................ 33,587 12.5 16.4 18.8 24.0 28.3 

Food prepared by consumer unit on

out-of-town trips ...................................................... 4,752 6.3 10.7 14.8 24.8 43.4 

Food away from home .................................................. 282,483 7.6 12.2 17.8 24.0 38.4 

Alcoholic beverages ........................................................ 53,292 8.4 11.5 17.8 24.1 38.2 

Housing ........................................................................... 1,618,136 9.7 13.7 17.4 22.6 36.6 

Shelter ........................................................................... 930,071 9.8 13.7 17.3 22.6 36.6 

Owned dwellings ......................................................... 619,141 5.1 9.5 15.4 25.0 45.1 

Mortgage interest and charges ................................. 341,424 3.4 7.2 15.0 27.0 47.5 

Property taxes ........................................................... 161,768 7.0 10.9 15.1 23.4 43.6 

Maintenance, repairs, insurance, other

expenses ................................................................. 115,949 7.5 14.1 16.8 21.6 40.1 

Rented dwellings ......................................................... 255,946 22.2 25.5 23.2 17.3 11.8 

Other lodging .............................................................. 54,984 5.7 6.7 10.8 19.7 57.1 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................................ 340,315 11.7 16.2 19.6 23.0 29.4 

Natural gas .................................................................. 49,305 11.0 16.1 20.0 22.5 30.4 

Electricity ..................................................................... 123,772 12.8 16.8 19.6 22.3 28.4 

Fuel oil and other fuels ................................................ 14,016 12.9 16.6 18.7 22.2 29.6 

Telephone services ..................................................... 115,144 11.3 15.9 19.3 23.9 29.5 

Water and other public services .................................. 38,078 10.0 15.2 20.3 23.6 30.9 

Household operations ................................................... 87,540 7.4 10.8 13.1 20.5 48.2 

Personal services ........................................................ 34,851 7.8 10.3 11.6 21.7 48.6 

Other household expenses ......................................... 52,689 7.1 11.1 14.1 19.7 48.0 

Housekeeping supplies ................................................. 68,966 10.6 13.7 17.8 24.0 34.0 

Laundry and cleaning supplies ................................... 17,235 11.7 15.6 20.9 23.6 28.1 

Other household products ........................................... 33,691 10.0 13.2 16.5 24.6 35.6 

Postage and stationery ............................................... 18,040 10.5 12.6 17.3 23.2 36.4 

Household furnishings and equipment .......................... 191,244 6.2 10.2 16.4 22.6 44.6 

Household textiles ....................................................... 18,299 7.1 12.6 16.3 22.9 41.2 

Furniture ...................................................................... 48,486 6.0 8.9 14.1 23.0 48.0 

Floor coverings ........................................................... 6,045 3.4 6.2 14.5 25.5 50.5 

Major appliances ......................................................... 23,705 6.0 11.3 20.2 24.5 38.1 

Small appliances, miscellaneous

housewares ............................................................... 12,150 7.9 14.0 18.8 19.0 40.4 

Miscellaneous household equipment .......................... 82,560 6.1 10.0 16.5 22.0 45.5 

Apparel and services ...................................................... 210,799 9.2 11.7 16.3 22.6 40.3 

Men and boys ............................................................... 47,147 7.6 10.9 16.4 21.9 43.2 

Men, 16 and over ........................................................ 36,822 7.0 9.9 16.1 21.6 45.4 

Boys, 2 to 15 ............................................................... 10,325 9.6 14.7 17.2 22.9 35.6 

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 55. Quintiles of income before taxes: Shares of annual aggregate expenditures and sources of income,

Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2004 — Continued

(Aggregates in millions of dollars, unless otherwise indicated)

Item Aggregate

Lowest

20

percent

Second

20

percent

Third

20

percent

Fourth

20

percent

Highest

20

percent

Women and girls ........................................................... $85,713 9.1 11.0 16.0 24.1 39.7 

Women, 16 and over ................................................... 73,216 9.4 10.8 16.1 23.9 39.8 

Girls, 2 to 15 ................................................................ 12,497 7.4 12.2 15.6 25.5 39.3 

Children under 2 ........................................................... 9,116 11.8 15.0 16.5 23.3 33.3 

Footwear ....................................................................... 38,138 11.9 14.4 17.8 21.9 34.0 

Other apparel products and services ............................ 30,685 7.9 10.1 14.8 20.1 47.1 

Transportation ................................................................. 907,129 6.7 12.8 17.5 25.5 37.4 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ...................................... 395,018 5.6 12.5 16.5 26.8 38.6 

Cars and trucks, new .................................................. 203,305 4.3 9.6 16.1 26.1 43.9 

Cars and trucks, used ................................................. 183,986 7.2 16.2 17.0 26.7 33.0 

Other vehicles ............................................................. 7,727 21.4 23.7 13.0 47.8 34.1 

Gasoline and motor oil .................................................. 185,767 9.1 14.5 19.8 25.3 31.3 

Other vehicle expenses ................................................ 275,032 6.9 12.7 18.4 25.0 37.0 

Vehicle finance charges .............................................. 37,607 3.8 10.3 19.6 30.2 36.1 

Maintenance and repairs ............................................ 75,759 8.6 13.5 18.2 23.7 36.0 

Vehicle insurance ........................................................ 112,139 7.6 14.6 20.0 24.8 33.1 

Vehicle rental, leases, licenses, other

charges ..................................................................... 49,527 5.2 9.0 14.4 23.4 48.0 

Public transportation ..................................................... 51,312 5.7 9.9 12.3 19.8 52.3 

Health care ...................................................................... 299,289 11.0 16.6 19.6 23.1 29.6 

Health insurance ........................................................... 154,854 11.2 17.2 20.2 23.4 28.0 

Medical services ........................................................... 75,393 8.2 13.5 17.8 24.0 36.5 

Drugs ............................................................................ 55,814 14.9 19.9 20.5 20.8 23.9 

Medical supplies ........................................................... 13,228 9.3 13.5 19.8 23.9 33.5 

Entertainment .................................................................. 257,887 6.9 12.4 15.6 24.7 40.5 

Fees and admissions .................................................... 61,390 5.0 7.6 13.1 22.9 51.4 

Television, radios, sound equipment ............................ 91,582 9.8 14.4 18.6 24.4 32.8 

Pets, toys, hobbies, and playground

equipment ................................................................... 44,216 7.5 12.9 17.0 25.2 37.4 

Other entertainment supplies, equipment,

and services ................................................................ 60,700 3.9 14.0 12.5 26.3 43.2 

Personal care products and services .............................. 67,485 9.3 13.8 17.4 22.1 37.4 

Reading ........................................................................... 15,165 8.5 12.6 17.2 22.3 39.4 

Education ........................................................................ 105,264 14.2 6.9 8.8 17.9 52.2 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ........................ 33,504 14.8 19.9 23.6 22.7 18.9 

Miscellaneous ................................................................. 80,207 9.0 14.0 18.7 22.2 36.1 

Cash contributions .......................................................... 163,729 4.9 11.2 15.7 20.2 48.0 

Personal insurance and pensions ................................... 560,849 1.8 6.5 14.0 25.3 52.4 

Life and other personal insurance ................................. 45,390 5.7 9.3 15.9 21.9 47.3 

Pensions and Social Security ....................................... 515,460 1.4 6.3 13.8 25.6 52.9 

Sources of income and personal taxes: 

Money income before taxes ............................................ 6,331,893 3.4 8.9 15.3 23.9 48.6 

Wages and salaries ...................................................... 5,022,494 1.6 6.8 14.8 25.5 51.4 

Self-employment income .............................................. 349,759 -2.2 5.0 8.5 18.6 70.0 

Social Security, private and government

retirement .................................................................... 680,028 14.9 24.3 22.7 18.3 19.9 

Interest, dividends, rental income, other

property income .......................................................... 146,596 2.1 7.9 13.2 16.2 60.6 

Unemployment and workers’ compensation,

veterans’ benefits ........................................................ 27,503 9.6 21.6 23.9 26.0 18.9 

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 55. Quintiles of income before taxes: Shares of annual aggregate expenditures and sources of income,

Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2004 — Continued

(Aggregates in millions of dollars, unless otherwise indicated)

Item Aggregate

Lowest

20

percent

Second

20

percent

Third

20

percent

Fourth

20

percent

Highest

20

percent

Public assistance, supplemental security

income, food stamps ................................................... $35,819 52.3 23.2 13.3 6.2 4.9 

Regular contributions for support .................................. 47,980 17.1 17.3 18.6 17.8 29.2 

Other income ................................................................ 21,715 29.1 15.6 13.8 16.2 25.4 

Personal taxes ................................................................ 251,848 -.5 3.2 7.5 20.8 68.9 

Federal income taxes .................................................... 176,626 -1.3 2.0 5.5 20.5 73.3 

State and local income taxes ........................................ 54,899 .2 3.9 10.1 21.2 64.7 

Other taxes ................................................................... 20,323 4.4 12.5 17.5 22.7 42.9 

Income after taxes .......................................................... 6,080,045 3.5 9.1 15.6 24.0 47.7 

1 Value less than 0.5. 2 Data are likely to have large sampling errors.