Table 3015. Selected midwestern metropolitan statistical areas: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, 

Consumer Expenditure Surveys, 2019-2020

Item 

All consumer 

units in the 

Midwest 

Chicago Detroit MinneapolisSt. Paul St. Louis 

Number of consumer units (in thousands)1........................................... 28,024 3,544 2,160 1,578 1,120 

Consumer unit characteristics: 

 Income before taxes ........................................................................... $78,572 $84,208 $89,991 $116,495 $84,232 

 Age of reference person ..................................................................... 52.2 50.7 52.1 50.3 53.8 

 Average number in consumer unit: 

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

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

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

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

 Vehicles ........................................................................................... 2.1 1.7 2.0 2.2 1.9 

 Percent homeowner ............................................................................ 70 64 74 70 70 

Average annual expenditures ................................................................ $59,789 $63,251 $63,008 $80,046 $64,389 

 Food .................................................................................................... 7,302 8,750 7,687 8,931 7,429 

 Food at home ................................................................................... 4,571 5,642 4,891 5,378 4,375 

 Cereals and bakery products ....................................................... 587 724 612 641 484 

 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ...................................................... 951 1,155 1,150 957 836 

 Dairy products .............................................................................. 445 504 435 568 449 

 Fruits and vegetables ................................................................... 839 1,140 932 1,061 841 

 Other food at home ...................................................................... 1,749 2,119 1,762 2,152 1,765 

 Food away from home ..................................................................... 2,731 3,108 2,796 3,553 3,054 

 Alcoholic beverages ............................................................................ 538 504 609 1,042 599 

 Housing ............................................................................................... 18,973 23,757 20,143 25,799 20,493 

 Shelter.............................................................................................. 10,565 14,849 11,229 15,365 11,322 

 Owned dwellings .......................................................................... 6,683 9,037 7,436 9,567 7,894 

 Rented dwellings .......................................................................... 3,001 4,799 3,030 3,975 2,759 

 Other lodging ................................................................................ 881 1,014 762 1,822 669 

 Utilities, fuels, and public services ................................................... 3,976 3,985 4,367 4,004 4,183 

 Household operations ...................................................................... 1,449 1,689 1,566 2,285 2,041 

 Housekeeping supplies ................................................................... 862 873 941 950 768 

 Household furnishings and equipment ............................................ 2,120 2,360 2,039 3,196 2,179 

 Apparel and services .......................................................................... 1,636 1,755 2,325 2,199 2,227 

 Transportation ..................................................................................... 10,346 8,852 10,861 11,585 9,314 

 Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ........................................................ 4,720 3,547 3,352 5,243 3,706 

 Gasoline, other fuels, and motor oil................................................. 1,764 1,638 1,837 1,826 1,705 

 Other vehicle expenses ................................................................... 3,390 2,984 5,343 3,551 3,459 

 Public and other transportation ....................................................... 472 682 329 966 443 

 Healthcare ........................................................................................... 5,691 5,628 5,062 7,050 6,408 

 Entertainment ...................................................................................... 3,292 2,647 3,278 4,020 3,410 

 Personal care products and services ................................................. 695 803 767 933 980 

 Reading ............................................................................................... 112 88 90 277 81 

 Education ............................................................................................ 981 1,459 1,238 2,576 1,225 

 Tobacco products and smoking supplies ........................................... 359 259 345 357 373 

 Miscellaneous ..................................................................................... 799 594 1,381 1,481 1,136 

 Cash contributions .............................................................................. 1,985 1,172 1,824 3,959 3,090 

 Personal insurance and pensions ...................................................... 7,080 6,984 7,398 9,835 7,625 

 Life and other personal insurance ................................................... 511 441 441 583 606 

 Pensions and Social Security .......................................................... 6,568 6,544 6,957 9,252 7,019 

1

 Data are rounded to the nearest thousands. 

Source: Consumer Expenditure Surveys, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, September, 2021