Table 21. Selected northeastern metropolitan statistical areas: Average annual

expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2009-2010

Item

All consumer

units in the

Northeast

New York Philadelphia Boston

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ....... 22,319 8,962 2,561 2,942 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ...................................... $70,077 $78,441 $69,603 $83,851 

Age of reference person ................................. 50.9 50.3 50.9 50.1 

Average number in consumer unit:

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

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

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

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

Vehicles ........................................................ 1.7 1.4 1.6 1.7 

Percent homeowner ....................................... 64 57 69 66 

Average annual expenditures ........................... $53,336 $58,942 $52,041 $63,063 

Food ............................................................... 6,866 7,412 6,217 8,066 

Food at home ............................................... 3,977 4,071 3,702 4,870 

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 561 565 523 712 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 890 959 847 1,017 

Dairy products ............................................ 434 446 419 502 

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 752 811 676 932 

Other food at home .................................... 1,341 1,290 1,237 1,708 

Food away from home .................................. 2,889 3,341 2,515 3,195 

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 498 555 431 644 

Housing .......................................................... 19,189 23,238 19,690 20,959 

Shelter .......................................................... 11,859 15,321 12,268 12,866 

Owned dwellings ........................................ 7,471 9,086 8,209 8,233 

Rented dwellings ........................................ 3,571 5,340 3,095 3,639 

Other lodging .............................................. 816 896 964 994 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 4,040 4,323 4,316 4,177 

Household operations .................................. 1,144 1,454 1,013 1,540 

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 629 623 642 631 

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,516 1,518 1,451 1,745 

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,931 2,476 1,817 1,854 

Transportation ................................................ 7,932 7,944 6,960 9,104 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 2,554 2,098 1,788 3,324 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 1,845 1,741 1,802 2,056 

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,835 3,029 2,746 3,061 

Public transportation ..................................... 698 1,076 624 663 

Healthcare ...................................................... 3,128 3,016 2,950 4,004 

Entertainment ................................................. 2,728 2,658 2,618 3,738 

Personal care products and services ............. 602 677 627 707 

Reading .......................................................... 133 114 121 193 

Education ....................................................... 1,664 1,940 1,801 2,550 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 410 251 388 534 

Miscellaneous ................................................. 865 749 1,293 1,063 

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,506 1,586 1,609 1,723 

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 5,885 6,325 5,519 7,925 

Life and other personal insurance ................ 350 381 300 410 

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 5,535 5,944 5,220 7,515 

Source: Consumer Expenditure Survey, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, September, 2011