Average annual expenditures and characteristics of all consumer units, Consumer Expenditure Surveys, 2013-2020

Item 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 

Number of consumer units (in thousands)1......................... 125,670 127,006 128,437 129,549 130,001 131,439 132,242 131,234 

Consumer unit characteristics: 

 Income before taxes ......................................................... $63,784 $66,877 $69,627 $74,664 $73,573 $78,635 $82,852 $84,352 

 Income after taxes* ........................................................... 56,352 58,364 60,448 64,175 63,606 67,241 71,487 74,949 

 Age of reference person ................................................... 50.1 50.3 50.5 50.9 50.9 51.1 51.6 52.2 

 Average number in consumer unit: 

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

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

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

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

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

Percent distribution: 

 Reference person: 

 Men ................................................................................ 47 48 47 47 47 47 48 47 

 Women .......................................................................... 53 52 53 53 53 53 52 53 

 Housing tenure: 

 Homeowner ................................................................... 64 63 62 62 63 63 64 66 

 With mortgage ............................................................ 37 37 35 36 36 37 37 39 

 Without mortgage ....................................................... 26 26 27 27 27 26 27 27 

 Renter ............................................................................ 36 37 38 38 37 37 36 34 

 Race of reference person: 

 Black or African-American ............................................. 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 

 White, Asian, and all other races .................................. 87 87 87 87 87 87 87 87 

 Hispanic or Latino origin of reference person: 

 Hispanic or Latino .......................................................... 13 13 13 13 14 13 14 14 

 Not Hispanic or Latino ................................................... 87 87 87 87 86 87 86 86 

 Education of reference person: 

 Elementary (1-8)............................................................ 7 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 

 High school (9-12) ......................................................... 30 33 32 32 30 30 30 28 

 College .......................................................................... 63 63 64 65 67 67 67 69 

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

 At least one vehicle owned or leased ............................... 87 87 87 87 88 88 89 90 

Average annual expenditures .............................................. $51,100 $53,495 $55,978 $57,311 $60,060 $61,224 $63,036 $61,334 

 Food .................................................................................. 6,602 6,759 7,023 7,203 7,729 7,923 8,169 7,316 

 Food at home ................................................................ 3,977 3,971 4,015 4,049 4,363 4,464 4,643 4,942 

 Cereals and bakery products ..................................... 544 519 518 524 564 569 583 640 

 Cereals and cereal products ................................... 185 176 172 172 176 178 184 212 

 Bakery products ...................................................... 359 343 346 353 388 392 400 428 

 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................................... 856 892 896 890 944 961 980 1,075 

 Beef ......................................................................... 219 232 245 244 253 253 270 296 

 Pork ......................................................................... 170 177 165 169 181 180 187 214 

 Other meats ............................................................ 119 123 124 120 128 129 129 142 

 Poultry ..................................................................... 170 172 172 172 186 180 189 189 

 Fish and seafood .................................................... 122 129 126 130 140 154 147 170 

 Eggs ........................................................................ 56 58 63 56 55 64 58 64 

 Dairy products ............................................................ 414 423 413 410 450 449 455 474 

 Fresh milk and cream ............................................. 152 147 140 139 147 147 140 147 

 Other dairy products ............................................... 262 276 273 271 303 303 315 327 

 Fruits and vegetables ................................................. 751 756 769 783 837 858 876 977 

 Fresh fruits .............................................................. 270 274 284 288 314 318 322 349 

 Fresh vegetables .................................................... 236 240 247 254 274 283 295 311 

 Processed fruits ...................................................... 115 109 108 109 112 114 112 125 

 Processed vegetables ............................................ 130 133 130 133 136 144 147 192 

 Other food at home .................................................... 1,412 1,382 1,419 1,442 1,568 1,627 1,749 1,776 

 Sugar and other sweets .......................................... 143 139 155 148 150 151 165 166 

 Fats and oils ............................................................ 117 115 111 111 117 118 115 133 

 Miscellaneous foods ............................................... 728 702 726 734 824 865 952 973 

 Nonalcoholic beverages ......................................... 384 375 374 393 423 438 455 455 

 Food prepared by consumer unit on 

 out-of-town trips ................................................... 42 51 52 55 56 56 62 50 

 Food away from home................................................... 2,625 2,787 3,008 3,154 3,365 3,459 3,526 2,375 

 Alcoholic beverages ......................................................... 445 463 515 484 558 583 579 478 

See footnotes at end of table. 
Average annual expenditures and characteristics of all consumer units, Consumer Expenditure Surveys, 2013-2020 — Continued 

Item 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 

 Housing ............................................................................. 17,148 17,798 18,409 18,886 19,884 20,091 20,679 21,409 

 Shelter ........................................................................... 10,080 10,491 10,742 11,128 11,895 11,747 12,190 12,604 

 Owned dwellings ........................................................ 6,108 6,149 6,210 6,295 6,947 6,678 6,797 7,473 

 Mortgage interest and charges ............................... 3,078 2,953 2,859 2,889 3,265 2,775 2,760 2,962 

 Property taxes ......................................................... 1,848 1,903 1,913 1,969 2,065 2,200 2,159 2,353 

 Maintenance, repairs, insurance, other 

 expenses.............................................................. 1,182 1,293 1,438 1,437 1,616 1,703 1,879 2,158 

 Rented dwellings ........................................................ 3,324 3,631 3,802 4,035 4,167 4,249 4,432 4,408 

 Other lodging .............................................................. 649 710 730 798 782 821 961 722 

 Utilities, fuels, and public services ................................ 3,737 3,921 3,885 3,884 3,836 4,049 4,055 4,158 

 Natural gas ................................................................. 393 439 421 355 381 410 416 414 

 Electricity .................................................................... 1,422 1,484 1,460 1,444 1,420 1,496 1,472 1,516 

 Fuel oil and other fuels ............................................... 142 152 116 85 97 121 113 105 

 Telephone services .................................................... 1,271 1,315 1,347 1,431 1,356 1,407 1,409 1,441 

 Residential phone service, VOIP, and phone 

 cards .................................................................... 358 353 324 307 238 220 191 188 

 Cellular phone service ............................................ 913 963 1,023 1,124 1,118 1,188 1,218 1,253 

 Water and other public services ................................ 509 530 540 569 583 614 645 682 

 Household operations ................................................... 1,144 1,174 1,309 1,384 1,412 1,522 1,570 1,465 

 Personal services ....................................................... 368 366 427 457 439 472 489 347 

 Other household expenses ........................................ 776 808 882 927 973 1,050 1,081 1,118 

 Housekeeping supplies ................................................. 645 632 655 660 755 747 766 837 

 Laundry and cleaning supplies .................................. 154 148 156 160 177 184 185 170 

 Other household products .......................................... 350 354 368 363 428 431 458 536 

 Postage and stationery .............................................. 140 131 131 137 150 132 122 130 

 Household furnishings and equipment .......................... 1,542 1,581 1,818 1,829 1,987 2,025 2,098 2,346 

 Household textiles ...................................................... 97 96 115 98 114 111 131 116 

 Furniture ..................................................................... 382 387 502 460 515 518 521 534 

 Floor coverings ........................................................... 20 18 18 20 30 25 25 30 

 Major appliances ........................................................ 214 233 268 283 280 304 322 354 

 Small appliances, miscellaneous housewares .......... 100 106 118 123 131 118 119 135 

 Miscellaneous household equipment ......................... 727 740 798 845 916 948 981 1,178 

 Apparel and services ........................................................ 1,604 1,786 1,846 1,803 1,833 1,866 1,883 1,434 

 Men and boys ................................................................ 374 430 422 427 442 420 447 326 

 Men, 16 and over ....................................................... 304 326 331 323 342 337 348 240 

 Boys, 2 to 15 .............................................................. 70 104 91 104 100 83 100 86 

 Women and girls ........................................................... 636 656 697 665 694 755 704 545 

 Women, 16 and over .................................................. 527 551 596 571 580 638 602 456 

 Girls, 2 to 15 ............................................................... 109 105 101 94 114 117 102 89 

 Children under 2 ............................................................ 75 76 83 66 77 78 75 68 

 Footwear ........................................................................ 307 367 354 388 379 392 419 314 

 Other apparel products and services ............................ 211 256 291 257 241 222 237 181 

 Transportation .................................................................. 9,004 9,073 9,503 9,049 9,576 9,761 10,742 9,826 

 Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ...................................... 3,271 3,301 3,997 3,634 4,054 3,975 4,394 4,523 

 Cars and trucks, new ................................................. 1,563 1,562 1,956 1,650 1,900 1,825 1,960 2,089 

 Cars and trucks, used ................................................ 1,669 1,689 1,982 1,919 2,101 2,084 2,375 2,360 

 Other vehicles ............................................................ 39 50 59 66 53 66 59 75 

 Gasoline, other fuels, and motor oil .............................. 2,611 2,468 2,090 1,909 1,968 2,109 2,094 1,568 

 Other vehicle expenses ................................................. 2,584 2,723 2,756 2,884 2,842 2,859 3,474 3,471 

 Vehicle finance charges ............................................. 204 208 216 226 220 222 252 258 

 Maintenance and repairs ........................................... 835 836 837 849 954 890 887 879 

 Vehicle rental, leases, licenses, and other 

 charges ................................................................... 533 567 624 660 700 772 790 758 

 Vehicle insurance ....................................................... 1,013 1,112 1,079 1,149 967 976 1,545 1,575 

 Public and other transportation ..................................... 537 581 661 623 712 818 781 263 

 Healthcare ........................................................................ 3,631 4,290 4,342 4,612 4,928 4,968 5,193 5,177 

 Health insurance** ......................................................... 2,229 2,868 2,977 3,160 3,414 3,405 3,529 3,667 

 Medical services ............................................................ 796 790 791 838 872 909 984 864 

 Drugs ............................................................................. 470 486 425 463 486 483 486 476 

 Medical supplies ............................................................ 135 146 149 151 156 172 194 170 

 Entertainment ................................................................... 2,482 2,728 2,842 2,913 3,203 3,226 3,090 2,912 

 Fees and admissions .................................................... 569 636 652 681 750 766 880 425 

 Audio and visual equipment and services..................... 964 1,051 1,084 1,085 985 1,030 1,000 1,049 

 Pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment ........... 596 634 653 740 869 816 821 859 

 Pets ............................................................................ 460 507 528 583 710 662 681 690 

 Toys, hobbies, and playground equipment ................ 136 127 125 157 159 154 140 170 

 Other entertainment supplies, equipment, and 

 services ...................................................................... 353 407 453 406 599 614 389 579 

 Personal care products and services ............................... 608 645 683 707 762 768 786 646 

 Reading ............................................................................ 102 103 114 118 110 108 92 114 

See footnotes at end of table. 
Average annual expenditures and characteristics of all consumer units, Consumer Expenditure Surveys, 2013-2020 — Continued 

Item 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 

 Education***...................................................................... 1,138 1,236 1,315 1,329 1,491 1,407 1,443 1,271 

 Tobacco products and smoking supplies ......................... 330 319 349 337 332 347 320 315 

 Miscellaneous*** ............................................................... 645 782 871 959 1,010 993 899 907 

 Cash contributions ............................................................ 1,834 1,788 1,819 2,081 1,873 1,888 1,995 2,283 

 Personal insurance and pensions .................................... 5,528 5,726 6,349 6,831 6,771 7,296 7,165 7,246 

 Life and other personal insurance ................................. 319 327 333 322 418 465 520 486 

 Pensions and Social Security........................................ 5,209 5,399 6,016 6,509 6,353 6,831 6,645 6,760 

Sources of income and personal taxes: 

 Income before taxes ......................................................... $63,784 $66,877 $69,627 $74,664 $73,573 $78,635 $82,852 $84,352 

 Wages and salaries ....................................................... 50,168 51,889 54,405 57,319 57,590 61,557 64,708 65,449 

 Self-employment income ............................................... 3,273 4,284 4,363 6,270 4,506 5,232 5,947 5,808 

 Social Security, private and government 

 retirement ................................................................... 7,514 7,700 7,801 8,001 8,300 8,664 8,902 9,493 

 Interest, dividends, rental income, other property 

 income ........................................................................ 1,411 1,594 1,737 1,751 1,910 1,941 1,962 1,963 

 Public assistance, Supplemental Security Income, 

 Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program 

 (SNAP) ....................................................................... 534 530 568 519 460 450 426 458 

 Unemployment and workers' compensation, 

 veterans' benefits, and regular contributions for 

 support ....................................................................... 612 556 432 444 457 477 562 902 

 Other income ................................................................. 272 323 320 360 351 314 345 278 

 Personal taxes (contains some imputed values)* ............ 7,432 8,513 9,178 10,489 9,967 11,394 11,364 9,402 

 Federal income taxes .................................................... 5,743 6,680 7,111 8,367 7,819 9,032 8,831 8,812 

 Stimulus payment (new UCC Q20202)# ....................... n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. -1,911 

 State and local income taxes ........................................ 1,629 1,782 1,997 2,046 2,098 2,285 2,470 2,430 

 Other taxes .................................................................... 60 52 70 75 51 78 63 72 

 Income after taxes* ........................................................... 56,352 58,364 60,448 64,175 63,606 67,241 71,487 74,949 

Addenda: 

 Net change in total assets and liabilities .......................... $11,404 $7,431 $6,937 $8,721 $14,049 $12,679 $10,971 $3,584 

 Net change in total assets ............................................. 20,539 15,798 15,442 15,570 23,805 22,521 23,320 24,635 

 Net change in total liabilities .......................................... 9,136 8,366 8,504 6,848 9,756 9,842 12,350 21,052 

 Other financial information: 

 Other money receipts .................................................... 737 659 766 718 1,156 701 1,201 2,042 

 Mortgage principal paid on owned property .................. -1,858 -1,816 -1,757 -1,908 -1,839 -2,227 -2,288 -2,395 

 Estimated market value of owned home ....................... 154,907 160,814 162,749 172,263 186,064 198,612 204,174 221,708 

 Estimated monthly rental value of owned home ........... 882 908 930 971 1,017 1,071 1,097 1,181 

 Gifts of good and services, total (thru 2019) .................... 1,078 1,063 1,249 1,125 1,229 1,206 1,310 ( 3 ) 

 Food .............................................................................. 78 75 91 74 88 91 98 ( 3 ) 

 Alcoholic beverages ...................................................... 12 14 15 13 14 15 13 ( 3 ) 

 Housing ......................................................................... 201 222 244 238 233 260 248 ( 3 ) 

 Housekeeping supplies .............................................. 26 23 30 26 33 35 28 ( 3 ) 

 Household textiles ...................................................... 5 9 8 10 7 11 15 ( 3 ) 

 Appliances and miscellaneous housewares .............. 19 22 22 21 20 23 23 ( 3 ) 

 Major appliances ..................................................... 5 8 8 9 7 8 9 ( 3 ) 

 Small appliances and miscellaneous 

 housewares ......................................................... 14 14 14 13 13 16 14 ( 3 ) 

 Miscellaneous household equipment ......................... 41 42 48 43 53 50 47 ( 3 ) 

 Other housing ............................................................. 112 127 137 138 120 141 135 ( 3 ) 

 Apparel and services ..................................................... 198 201 253 190 203 212 247 ( 3 ) 

 Males, 2 and over ....................................................... 51 50 59 51 56 48 57 ( 3 ) 

 Females, 2 and over .................................................. 76 69 64 63 73 84 88 ( 3 ) 

 Children under 2 ......................................................... 30 31 40 27 32 28 37 ( 3 ) 

 Other apparel products and services ......................... 42 52 90 50 43 52 64 ( 3 ) 

 Jewelry and watches .............................................. 14 16 60 14 9 14 8 ( 3 ) 

 All other apparel products and services ................. 28 36 30 36 34 37 57 ( 3 ) 

 Transportation ............................................................... 100 108 139 101 141 125 133 ( 3 ) 

 Healthcare ..................................................................... 35 35 34 28 21 21 38 ( 3 ) 

 Entertainment ................................................................ 89 89 95 95 98 105 100 ( 3 ) 

 Toys, games, arts and crafts, and tricycles ............... 27 28 29 43 39 36 30 ( 3 ) 

 Other entertainment ................................................... 62 61 66 52 59 69 70 ( 3 ) 

 Personal care products and services ............................ 14 13 16 13 12 18 21 ( 3 ) 

 Reading ......................................................................... 5 4 6 4 3 4 3 ( 3 ) 

 Education ....................................................................... 274 236 278 276 314 258 296 ( 3 ) 

See footnotes at end of table. 
Average annual expenditures and characteristics of all consumer units, Consumer Expenditure Surveys, 2013-2020 — Continued 

Item 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 

 All other gifts .................................................................. 72 65 77 92 102 96 113 ( 3 ) 

1

 Data are rounded to the nearest thousands. 

2

 Value is too small to display. 

3

 Due to changes in data collection, gifts can no longer be parsed out from expenditures. 

n.a. Not applicable. 

* Because changes were introduced part way into 2013 for calculating Federal and State taxes, estimates for 2013 are not strictly comparable to prior or subsequent years. Estimates 

beginning in 2014 are not strictly comparable to earlier years. 

** Because of questionnaire changes for health insurance, estimates beginning in 2014 are not strictly comparable to prior years. 

*** Finance, late, interest charges for student loans was moved from Miscellaneous into Education beginning in 2014 after the expenditure category was broken out separately from other 

miscellaneous interest and related charges. 

# Data collection for this item began in June 2020. Stimulus payments delivered to respondents interviewed in April and May of 2020 were not included in estimation. 

Note: All values have been rounded, and as a result some cell values have been rounded to zero. This is particularly evident in the characteristic section. When data are not reported or are 

not applicable (i.e., missing values), tabulated cell values have been set to zero. 

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