Table 3640. Consumer units of four persons by age of reference person: Average annual expenditures

and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2007-2008

Item

Total

four

persons

Under

25

years

25-34

years

35-44

years

45-54

years

55-64

years

65 years

and older

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ....... 16,505 618 3,944 6,190 4,221 1,085 448 

Consumer unit characteristics: 

Income before taxes ..................................... $87,146 $47,672 $66,117 $89,918 $108,225 $91,216 $79,976 

Income after taxes ........................................ 85,047 47,375 65,674 87,362 104,625 89,650 79,956 

Age of reference person ................................ 41.1 21.7 30.3 39.5 48.6 58.2 72.2 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ........................................................ 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 

Children under 18 ........................................ 1.6 1.4 2.0 1.9 1.3 .7 .6 

Persons 65 and older ................................... .1 1 ( ) 1 ( ) 1 ( ) .1 .1 1.5 

Earners ........................................................ 2.0 2.0 1.7 1.9 2.3 2.5 1.6 

Vehicles ....................................................... 2.5 1.9 2.1 2.5 2.9 2.7 2.5 

Percent distribution:

Sex of reference person:

Male ............................................................. 45 44 38 43 50 57 51 

Female ......................................................... 55 56 62 57 50 43 49 

Housing tenure:

Homeowner .................................................. 76 35 62 80 85 86 84 

With mortgage ............................................ 64 25 55 72 71 58 45 

Without mortgage ....................................... 12 10 7 8 14 28 39 

Renter .......................................................... 24 65 38 20 15 14 16 

Race of reference person:

Black or African-American ........................... 12 18 11 11 11 17 10 

White, Asian, and all other races ................. 88 82 89 89 89 83 90 

Hispanic or Latino origin of reference person:

Hispanic or Latino ........................................ 17 32 24 15 13 17 11 

Not Hispanic or Latino .................................. 83 68 76 85 87 83 89 

Education of reference person:

Elementary (1-8) .......................................... 4 3 4 3 4 5 18 

High school (9-12) ........................................ 32 56 33 30 29 33 52 

College ......................................................... 64 41 63 67 66 61 31 

Never attended and other ............................ 2 ( ) 3 ( ) 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 1 3 ( )

At least one vehicle owned or leased ............ 95 84 94 96 97 94 92 

Average annual expenditures .......................... $66,212 $41,526 $55,641 $67,979 $77,872 $68,148 $57,348 

Food ............................................................... 8,918 5,790 7,354 8,973 10,506 10,418 9,150 

Food at home ............................................... 5,121 3,771 4,348 5,001 6,028 5,743 6,230 

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 703 462 559 717 828 791 835 

Cereals and cereal products .................... 230 159 192 232 271 244 230 

Bakery products ....................................... 474 303 368 485 557 547 605 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 1,149 925 938 1,083 1,386 1,356 1,710 

Beef .......................................................... 321 316 265 301 382 342 512 

Pork .......................................................... 225 152 197 216 248 295 402 

Other meats ............................................. 159 145 110 152 203 199 200 

Poultry ...................................................... 221 157 195 199 272 256 335 

Fish and seafood ..................................... 160 99 114 155 209 194 194 

Eggs ......................................................... 63 56 58 60 72 70 68 

Dairy products ............................................ 591 361 523 597 686 627 563 

Fresh milk and cream .............................. 244 178 236 247 265 233 206 

Other dairy products ................................ 348 184 288 350 421 394 357 

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 857 595 749 841 983 1,013 1,002 

Fresh fruits ............................................... 283 186 242 286 325 338 261 

Fresh vegetables ..................................... 265 177 219 269 304 304 316 

Processed fruits ....................................... 168 102 158 159 194 198 209 

Processed vegetables .............................. 141 129 130 127 159 172 217 

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 3640. Consumer units of four persons by age of reference person: Average annual expenditures

and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2007-2008 — Continued

Item

Total

four

persons

Under

25

years

25-34

years

35-44

years

45-54

years

55-64

years

65 years

and older

Other food at home .................................... $1,820 $1,428 $1,578 $1,763 $2,146 $1,956 $2,120 

Sugar and other sweets ........................... 173 113 130 170 224 180 207 

Fats and oils ............................................. 129 89 104 127 150 170 182 

Miscellaneous foods ................................ 974 849 902 947 1,096 971 1,084 

Nonalcoholic beverages ........................... 489 360 406 451 608 610 629 

Food prepared by consumer unit on

out-of-town trips ..................................... 54 417 36 68 68 26 419 

Food away from home ................................. 3,797 2,020 3,005 3,971 4,478 4,676 2,920 

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 429 208 287 444 542 631 264 

Housing .......................................................... 22,451 14,316 20,426 24,038 24,045 20,771 19,021 

Shelter .......................................................... 13,130 8,578 11,865 14,105 14,176 11,875 10,259 

Owned dwellings ........................................ 10,085 2,790 8,203 11,357 11,391 9,703 7,743 

Mortgage interest and charges ................ 6,591 1,863 6,010 7,695 6,774 5,589 3,675 

Property taxes .......................................... 2,312 637 1,399 2,501 2,962 2,952 2,371 

Maintenance, repairs, insurance, other

expenses ................................................ 1,181 290 794 1,160 1,656 1,162 1,697 

Rented dwellings ........................................ 2,328 5,425 3,428 2,043 1,573 1,370 1,754 

Other lodging ............................................. 717 4362 234 705 1,212 802 762 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ............... 4,558 3,412 3,775 4,603 5,195 5,156 4,982 

Natural gas ................................................. 644 374 480 662 779 743 710 

Electricity .................................................... 1,702 1,413 1,427 1,723 1,873 2,013 1,853 

Fuel oil and other fuels ............................... 168 439 99 161 237 206 4306 

Telephone services .................................... 1,462 1,219 1,281 1,456 1,655 1,549 1,458 

Water and other public services ................. 582 368 488 601 651 646 655 

Household operations .................................. 1,734 954 2,214 1,941 1,366 915 1,163 

Personal services ....................................... 1,027 684 1,732 1,233 418 4161 4287 

Other household expenses ........................ 706 270 482 707 948 754 876 

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 842 499 709 809 1,049 934 933 

Laundry and cleaning supplies .................. 197 116 179 192 227 237 222 

Other household products .......................... 466 240 353 456 614 505 528 

Postage and stationery .............................. 178 143 178 161 208 191 184 

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 2,187 873 1,862 2,581 2,259 1,891 1,684 

Household textiles ...................................... 189 45 124 235 214 167 206 

Furniture ..................................................... 554 207 544 669 494 421 468 

Floor coverings .......................................... 63 411 35 63 106 436 457 

Major appliances ........................................ 290 174 224 279 396 256 264 

Small appliances, miscellaneous

housewares .............................................. 124 63 125 125 117 200 101 

Miscellaneous household equipment ......... 966 373 811 1,211 932 811 588 

Apparel and services ..................................... 2,678 1,998 2,491 2,827 2,901 2,469 1,736 

Men and boys .............................................. 619 436 531 638 764 448 462 

Men, 16 and over ....................................... 404 358 260 386 583 349 416 

Boys, 2 to 15 .............................................. 215 78 271 253 182 98 46 

Women and girls .......................................... 1,012 551 825 1,120 1,098 1,193 667 

Women, 16 and over .................................. 726 499 563 730 849 1,024 611 

Girls, 2 to 15 ............................................... 287 52 262 390 249 169 456 

Children under 2 .......................................... 177 493 328 145 62 85 437 

Footwear ...................................................... 515 4246 518 509 590 487 4427 

Other apparel products and services ........... 355 273 290 415 387 256 143 

Transportation ................................................ 11,583 9,073 10,167 11,115 13,949 12,712 9,478 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 3,938 4,469 4,005 3,403 4,762 3,630 42,978 

Cars and trucks, new ................................. 1,757 41,715 1,464 1,549 2,551 41,353 4753 

Cars and trucks, used ................................ 2,018 2,336 2,284 1,750 2,111 2,039 42,024 

Other vehicles ............................................ 163 4418 257 4104 4100 4238 4201 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 3,584 2,832 3,134 3,687 3,928 3,928 3,093 

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 3640. Consumer units of four persons by age of reference person: Average annual expenditures

and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2007-2008 — Continued

Item

Total

four

persons

Under

25

years

25-34

years

35-44

years

45-54

years

55-64

years

65 years

and older

Other vehicle expenses ............................... $3,467 $1,485 $2,693 $3,394 $4,471 $4,404 $2,837 

Vehicle finance charges ............................. 479 383 579 453 459 460 317 

Maintenance and repairs ........................... 936 533 573 917 1,302 1,220 781 

Vehicle insurance ....................................... 1,373 4237 940 1,328 1,908 42,070 41,165 

Vehicle rental, leases, licenses, and other

charges .................................................... 681 333 601 696 801 655 574 

Public transportation .................................... 593 287 335 630 788 751 570 

Healthcare ...................................................... 3,093 1,168 2,416 2,958 3,830 3,588 5,488 

Health insurance .......................................... 1,692 673 1,301 1,667 2,059 1,856 3,022 

Medical services .......................................... 866 269 747 830 1,050 947 1,326 

Drugs ........................................................... 415 167 298 350 548 643 952 

Medical supplies .......................................... 119 460 70 111 174 142 188 

Entertainment ................................................. 3,750 1,664 3,172 4,124 4,372 3,115 2,382 

Fees and admissions ................................... 1,011 206 627 1,220 1,321 675 522 

Audio and visual equipment and services .... 1,286 895 1,179 1,319 1,451 1,126 1,184 

Pets, toys, hobbies, and playground

equipment .................................................. 825 353 715 885 969 764 467 

Other entertainment supplies, equipment,

and services ............................................... 628 209 651 700 630 550 209 

Personal care products and services ............. 780 461 549 855 926 792 882 

Reading .......................................................... 123 42 69 129 167 146 175 

Education ....................................................... 1,555 919 478 1,340 3,026 1,662 786 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 343 422 327 329 354 389 352 

Miscellaneous ................................................ 940 881 807 761 1,225 1,360 1,074 

Cash contributions ......................................... 1,711 501 1,190 1,637 2,352 1,990 2,247 

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 7,858 4,083 5,910 8,449 9,677 8,105 4,313 

Life and other personal insurance ................ 406 4139 248 389 572 618 322 

Pensions and Social Security ...................... 7,452 3,943 5,662 8,060 9,105 7,487 3,990 

Sources of income and personal taxes: 

Money income before taxes ........................... 87,146 47,672 66,117 89,918 108,225 91,216 79,976 

Wages and salaries ..................................... 78,294 44,680 60,132 82,592 97,298 79,442 43,300 

Self-employment income ............................. 4,697 41,089 3,956 4,771 5,756 4,389 45,942 

Social Security, private and government

retirement ................................................... 1,769 4247 358 454 2,033 5,148 23,789 

Interest, dividends, rental income, other

property income ......................................... 965 426 425 746 1,435 1,202 5,050 

Unemployment and workers’ compensation,

veterans’ benefits ....................................... 192 440 228 192 207 4143 467 

Public assistance, supplemental security

income, food stamps .................................. 393 691 414 381 257 574 790 

Regular contributions for support ................. 658 728 428 640 1,004 4153 4804 

Other income ............................................... 179 4171 176 142 234 4166 4234 

Personal taxes ............................................... 2,099 297 442 2,555 3,599 1,566 20 

Federal income taxes ................................... 1,792 465 439 2,157 2,963 1,477 209 

2008 Tax stimulus (new UCC Q20082) ....... -572 -641 -514 -642 -547 -508 4-419 

State and local income taxes ....................... 656 435 401 795 869 348 26 

Other taxes .................................................. 224 438 116 246 315 248 204 

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 3640. Consumer units of four persons by age of reference person: Average annual expenditures

and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2007-2008 — Continued

Item

Total

four

persons

Under

25

years

25-34

years

35-44

years

45-54

years

55-64

years

65 years

and older

Income after taxes ......................................... 85,047 47,375 65,674 87,362 104,625 89,650 79,956 

Addenda:

Net change in total assets and liabilities ........ - $6,540 - $16,938 - $11,917 - $9,787 - $2,113 $182 $42,030 

Net change in total assets ............................ 14,821 20 12,688 16,038 15,977 2,535 56,054 

Net change in total liabilities ........................ 21,360 16,958 24,605 25,824 18,090 2,353 14,024 

Other financial information:

Other money receipts ................................... 552 4112 238 118 1,243 41,902 4125 

Mortgage principal paid on owned property -3,512 -717 -2,028 -3,847 -5,039 -3,235 -2,085 

Estimated market value of owned home ...... 218,373 62,520 134,460 235,223 280,176 270,570 230,478 

Estimated monthly rental value of owned

home .......................................................... 1,127 390 779 1,226 1,371 1,305 1,105 

Gifts of goods and services ............................ 849 589 644 676 1,330 968 615 

Food ............................................................. 71 4160 47 55 113 61 414 

Alcoholic beverages ..................................... 12 3 ( ) 4 13 19 413 2 ( )

Housing ........................................................ 176 135 154 148 257 162 496 

Housekeeping supplies .............................. 30 430 37 24 32 429 430 

Household textiles ...................................... 9 49 46 8 13 47 41 

Appliances and miscellaneous

housewares .............................................. 25 41 432 17 29 461 45 

Major appliances ...................................... 7 3 ( ) 41 43 11 441 3 ( )

Small appliances and miscellaneous

housewares ............................................ 18 41 430 14 418 419 45 

Miscellaneous household equipment ......... 51 417 34 54 75 435 3 ( )

Other housing ............................................ 62 478 44 44 109 430 461 

Apparel and services ................................... 191 151 204 186 205 181 109 

Males, 2 and over ...................................... 42 419 37 47 44 51 424 

Females, 2 and over .................................. 55 426 42 59 68 452 425 

Children under 2 ........................................ 68 485 93 67 48 63 436 

Other apparel products and services ......... 26 421 433 13 44 416 424 

Jewelry and watches ................................ 5 42 42 5 411 41 41 

All other apparel products and services ... 21 420 431 48 34 415 423 

Transportation .............................................. 48 16 54 41 68 30 42 

Healthcare .................................................... 8 3 ( ) 41 410 14 41 42 

Entertainment ............................................... 93 419 115 76 125 457 430 

Toys, games, arts and crafts, and tricycles 40 45 430 45 56 427 41 

Other entertainment ................................... 53 414 85 31 69 430 429 

Personal care products and services ........... 12 412 414 11 15 42 3 ( )

Reading ........................................................ 1 3 ( ) 2 ( ) 1 2 ( ) 41 3 ( )

Education ..................................................... 172 43 421 71 418 366 4351 

All other gifts ................................................ 66 493 30 66 96 94 411 

1 Value is less than or equal to 0.05. 2 Value is less than or equal to 0.5.3 No data reported. 4 Data are likely to have large sampling errors.