Table 3610. Consumer units of two or more persons by age of reference person: Average annual expenditures and

characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2007-2008

Item

Total

two or

more

persons

Under

25

years

25-34

years

35-44

years

45-54

years

55-64

years

65 years

and older

65-74

years

75 years

and older

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ....... 85,069 3,993 15,376 19,272 19,791 13,951 12,685 7,771 4,914 

Consumer unit characteristics: 

Income before taxes ..................................... $76,168 $45,013 $64,841 $83,239 $92,411 $85,239 $53,642 $58,592 $45,813 

Income after taxes ........................................ 73,868 44,645 63,762 80,989 88,656 81,861 52,633 57,325 45,212 

Age of reference person ................................ 47.5 21.7 29.7 39.6 49.3 59.2 73.2 68.9 80.1 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ........................................................ 3.1 3.0 3.4 3.7 3.2 2.5 2.3 2.3 2.2 

Children under 18 ........................................ .9 .8 1.4 1.6 .8 .2 .1 .1 .1 

Persons 65 and older ................................... .3 1 ( ) 1 ( ) 1 ( ) .1 .2 1.7 1.6 1.8 

Earners ........................................................ 1.6 1.8 1.7 1.8 2.0 1.6 .7 .8 .4 

Vehicles ....................................................... 2.3 1.7 1.9 2.3 2.6 2.6 2.1 2.3 1.8 

Percent distribution:

Sex of reference person:

Male ............................................................. 47 39 44 43 47 51 56 55 57 

Female ......................................................... 53 61 56 57 53 49 44 45 43 

Housing tenure:

Homeowner .................................................. 74 26 53 72 81 87 89 90 88 

With mortgage ............................................ 50 18 47 63 62 50 27 33 17 

Without mortgage ....................................... 23 8 6 9 18 37 62 57 71 

Renter .......................................................... 26 74 47 28 19 13 11 10 12 

Race of reference person:

Black or African-American ........................... 12 15 14 13 12 10 9 9 8 

White, Asian, and all other races ................. 88 85 86 87 88 90 91 91 92 

Hispanic or Latino origin of reference person:

Hispanic or Latino ........................................ 13 21 20 17 12 8 7 7 6 

Not Hispanic or Latino .................................. 87 79 80 83 88 92 93 93 94 

Education of reference person:

Elementary (1-8) .......................................... 5 3 4 4 4 4 10 8 14 

High school (9-12) ........................................ 35 49 32 33 34 32 44 44 43 

College ......................................................... 60 48 64 63 61 64 46 48 43 

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

At least one vehicle owned or leased ............ 93 85 91 94 94 96 94 95 92 

Average annual expenditures .......................... $58,499 $38,576 $52,352 $63,436 $66,761 $63,132 $47,252 $50,907 $41,437 

Food ............................................................... 7,441 5,355 6,704 8,352 8,464 7,531 6,107 6,568 5,365 

Food at home ............................................... 4,304 3,142 3,764 4,768 4,835 4,289 3,933 4,198 3,505 

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 579 369 505 653 647 568 546 573 504 

Cereals and cereal products .................... 189 130 182 219 210 168 163 173 147 

Bakery products ....................................... 390 239 322 434 437 400 383 399 356 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 978 756 820 1,101 1,110 970 881 945 778 

Beef .......................................................... 277 239 237 317 312 268 236 249 215 

Pork .......................................................... 190 139 155 212 207 191 194 215 162 

Other meats ............................................. 127 94 100 143 150 127 113 120 102 

Poultry ...................................................... 182 140 166 207 212 176 141 156 115 

Fish and seafood ..................................... 147 106 112 162 170 152 144 150 134 

Eggs ......................................................... 55 39 49 60 59 57 54 55 51 

Dairy products ............................................ 487 323 438 541 539 480 454 486 404 

Fresh milk and cream .............................. 192 142 187 223 206 177 164 171 153 

Other dairy products ................................ 295 181 252 319 333 304 290 314 251 

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 745 486 636 788 828 797 736 770 680 

Fresh fruits ............................................... 251 154 208 269 279 272 250 262 230 

Fresh vegetables ..................................... 239 150 198 251 265 269 234 250 208 

Processed fruits ....................................... 134 94 123 142 147 130 136 137 135 

Processed vegetables .............................. 121 87 107 126 137 126 115 121 106 

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 3610. Consumer units of two or more persons by age of reference person: Average annual expenditures and

characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2007-2008 — Continued

Item

Total

two or

more

persons

Under

25

years

25-34

years

35-44

years

45-54

years

55-64

years

65 years

and older

65-74

years

75 years

and older

Other food at home .................................... $1,517 $1,208 $1,365 $1,686 $1,712 $1,474 $1,315 $1,424 $1,140 

Sugar and other sweets ........................... 151 96 117 170 172 150 157 167 142 

Fats and oils ............................................. 117 74 96 121 132 122 124 127 118 

Miscellaneous foods ................................ 791 675 771 898 868 727 652 708 561 

Nonalcoholic beverages ........................... 402 345 347 443 478 394 327 354 283 

Food prepared by consumer unit on

out-of-town trips ..................................... 55 18 34 54 62 81 55 67 36 

Food away from home ................................. 3,136 2,213 2,940 3,583 3,629 3,242 2,174 2,369 1,859 

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 471 420 440 459 515 574 369 435 262 

Housing .......................................................... 19,352 13,148 18,796 22,176 21,117 19,484 14,891 15,660 13,667

Shelter .......................................................... 11,245 8,147 11,327 13,334 12,395 10,798 7,641 8,051 6,991 

Owned dwellings ........................................ 8,031 2,389 6,905 9,971 9,482 8,166 5,811 6,337 4,979 

Mortgage interest and charges ................ 4,709 1,625 4,914 6,788 5,539 3,988 1,767 2,292 938 

Property taxes .......................................... 2,027 479 1,230 2,124 2,452 2,528 2,122 2,170 2,047 

Maintenance, repairs, insurance, other

expenses ................................................ 1,295 284 761 1,058 1,491 1,650 1,921 1,875 1,994 

Rented dwellings ........................................ 2,376 5,554 4,109 2,676 1,800 1,264 944 827 1,128 

Other lodging ............................................. 838 204 313 688 1,113 1,368 886 887 884 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ............... 4,116 2,826 3,481 4,357 4,589 4,380 3,899 4,035 3,682 

Natural gas ................................................. 578 286 447 609 633 646 621 636 597 

Electricity .................................................... 1,540 1,112 1,307 1,642 1,693 1,640 1,457 1,512 1,369 

Fuel oil and other fuels ............................... 193 46 101 165 226 235 298 264 352 

Telephone services .................................... 1,291 1,102 1,214 1,390 1,486 1,292 985 1,080 835 

Water and other public services ................. 514 279 412 551 551 567 537 542 529 

Household operations .................................. 1,196 560 1,426 1,580 1,051 995 981 858 1,174 

Personal services ....................................... 531 320 985 953 277 154 217 110 386 

Other household expenses ........................ 665 240 441 627 774 841 763 748 788 

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 775 404 642 732 859 1,007 782 866 648 

Laundry and cleaning supplies .................. 173 118 159 199 188 171 149 165 124 

Other household products .......................... 427 209 336 395 469 614 414 450 355 

Postage and stationery .............................. 175 76 146 137 202 221 220 251 169 

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 2,020 1,212 1,919 2,173 2,223 2,305 1,588 1,849 1,172 

Household textiles ...................................... 153 77 120 154 179 191 137 163 97 

Furniture ..................................................... 499 390 582 589 492 507 298 339 233 

Floor coverings .......................................... 56 9 46 54 61 67 65 69 59 

Major appliances ........................................ 266 166 226 269 298 314 236 252 209 

Small appliances, miscellaneous

housewares .............................................. 120 64 101 111 136 156 117 133 90 

Miscellaneous household equipment ......... 927 506 845 995 1,056 1,069 736 894 484 

Apparel and services ..................................... 2,207 1,906 2,251 2,517 2,510 2,108 1,451 1,690 1,067 

Men and boys .............................................. 512 380 480 659 551 488 347 416 236 

Men, 16 and over ....................................... 399 319 335 453 444 443 315 370 226 

Boys, 2 to 15 .............................................. 113 61 145 206 107 45 32 45 9 

Women and girls .......................................... 883 614 816 940 1,117 871 643 738 491 

Women, 16 and over .................................. 719 570 624 651 940 790 591 659 482 

Girls, 2 to 15 ............................................... 164 44 192 288 177 81 52 79 9 

Children under 2 .......................................... 124 277 252 143 64 63 34 42 21 

Footwear ...................................................... 387 325 406 442 452 368 228 266 165 

Other apparel products and services ........... 301 310 297 333 325 317 200 229 155 

Transportation ................................................ 10,421 7,881 9,969 11,038 11,774 11,223 7,929 8,996 6,238 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 3,685 3,047 4,107 4,022 3,791 3,819 2,550 2,993 1,851 

Cars and trucks, new ................................. 1,766 1,280 1,633 1,849 1,865 1,974 1,574 1,885 1,083 

Cars and trucks, used ................................ 1,772 1,539 2,319 2,025 1,752 1,693 919 1,046 718 

Other vehicles ............................................ 147 227 155 148 175 152 457 462 450 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 3,057 2,630 2,908 3,354 3,497 3,124 2,163 2,446 1,715 

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 3610. Consumer units of two or more persons by age of reference person: Average annual expenditures and

characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2007-2008 — Continued

Item

Total

two or

more

persons

Under

25

years

25-34

years

35-44

years

45-54

years

55-64

years

65 years

and older

65-74

years

75 years

and older

Other vehicle expenses ............................... $3,067 $1,852 $2,556 $3,098 $3,756 $3,453 $2,612 $2,876 $2,190 

Vehicle finance charges ............................. 387 359 467 437 404 393 186 250 85 

Maintenance and repairs ........................... 849 569 633 818 1,077 1,004 727 816 587 

Vehicle insurance ....................................... 1,269 644 895 1,230 1,653 1,390 1,329 1,400 1,215 

Vehicle rental, leases, licenses, and other

charges .................................................... 562 281 561 614 622 666 368 410 303 

Public transportation .................................... 611 352 398 563 730 826 604 681 482 

Healthcare ...................................................... 3,376 1,126 2,017 2,654 3,272 4,255 6,036 6,035 6,036 

Health insurance .......................................... 1,835 618 1,104 1,445 1,656 2,181 3,600 3,543 3,690 

Medical services .......................................... 852 323 596 751 914 1,090 1,126 1,188 1,028 

Drugs ........................................................... 552 141 241 353 545 806 1,105 1,109 1,099 

Medical supplies .......................................... 136 44 76 105 157 179 204 195 219 

Entertainment ................................................. 3,277 1,955 2,813 3,942 3,638 3,326 2,664 3,211 1,796 

Fees and admissions ................................... 767 295 532 991 933 783 592 671 466 

Audio and visual equipment and services .... 1,154 913 1,158 1,251 1,271 1,144 904 1,003 747 

Pets, toys, hobbies, and playground

equipment .................................................. 745 398 623 966 848 760 509 590 377 

Other entertainment supplies, equipment,

and services ............................................... 611 348 500 734 586 638 660 948 205 

Personal care products and services ............. 695 425 572 751 806 729 648 694 572 

Reading .......................................................... 127 52 76 110 141 171 170 176 161 

Education ....................................................... 1,155 1,056 643 1,013 2,223 1,116 405 404 408 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 362 414 346 377 432 373 221 264 153 

Miscellaneous ................................................ 939 480 693 875 1,070 1,382 797 820 760 

Cash contributions ......................................... 1,992 760 1,148 1,575 2,153 2,928 2,758 2,437 3,267 

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 6,684 3,598 5,884 7,597 8,646 7,932 2,807 3,517 1,685 

Life and other personal insurance ................ 391 68 192 324 477 615 453 574 263 

Pensions and Social Security ...................... 6,294 3,529 5,692 7,273 8,170 7,317 2,354 2,943 1,422 

Sources of income and personal taxes: 

Money income before taxes ........................... 76,168 45,013 64,841 83,239 92,411 85,239 53,642 58,592 45,813 

Wages and salaries ..................................... 62,485 41,008 60,153 75,939 81,308 65,872 18,539 24,085 9,767 

Self-employment income ............................. 4,126 1,586 2,681 4,104 5,410 5,791 2,875 3,486 1,909 

Social Security, private and government

retirement ................................................... 6,564 356 371 912 2,619 9,650 27,375 26,877 28,161 

Interest, dividends, rental income, other

property income ......................................... 1,700 534 442 791 1,522 2,753 4,095 3,483 5,063 

Unemployment and workers’ compensation,

veterans’ benefits ....................................... 253 132 201 203 270 435 202 126 322 

Public assistance, supplemental security

income, food stamps .................................. 386 543 377 469 371 339 298 261 358 

Regular contributions for support ................. 479 535 403 654 733 279 114 121 102 

Other income ............................................... 174 319 213 167 180 120 144 153 130 

Personal taxes ............................................... 2,300 368 1,079 2,250 3,756 3,378 1,009 1,266 602 

Federal income taxes ................................... 1,945 453 1,010 1,941 3,038 2,796 910 1,126 568 

2008 Tax stimulus (new UCC Q20082) ....... -481 -363 -514 -560 -474 -466 -387 -408 -353 

State and local income taxes ....................... 600 248 476 675 894 714 162 193 113 

Other taxes .................................................. 237 31 107 194 297 334 324 355 274 

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 3610. Consumer units of two or more persons by age of reference person: Average annual expenditures and

characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2007-2008 — Continued

Item

Total

two or

more

persons

Under

25

years

25-34

years

35-44

years

45-54

years

55-64

years

65 years

and older

65-74

years

75 years

and older

Income after taxes ......................................... 73,868 44,645 63,762 80,989 88,656 81,861 52,633 57,325 45,212 

Addenda:

Net change in total assets and liabilities ........ - $4,664 - $2,383 - $1,994 - $10,294 - $5,869 - $4,453 $1,582 $728 $2,932 

Net change in total assets ............................ 10,723 8,802 21,155 11,972 9,062 5,446 5,179 6,701 2,772 

Net change in total liabilities ........................ 15,387 11,185 23,149 22,266 14,931 9,899 3,597 5,973 -160 

Other financial information:

Other money receipts ................................... 656 121 271 336 881 1,559 433 566 223 

Mortgage principal paid on owned property -2,799 -498 -1,719 -3,403 -3,995 -3,352 -1,443 -1,761 -942 

Estimated market value of owned home ...... 204,817 47,011 119,748 204,506 238,704 258,749 245,891 244,617 247,907 

Estimated monthly rental value of owned

home .......................................................... 1,024 303 683 1,078 1,159 1,231 1,143 1,162 1,113 

Gifts of goods and services ............................ 1,355 522 567 809 2,115 2,132 1,395 1,607 1,056 

Food ............................................................. 111 57 52 60 156 216 94 105 77 

Alcoholic beverages ..................................... 14 8 8 12 15 17 20 28 8 

Housing ........................................................ 255 107 136 158 444 355 201 239 140 

Housekeeping supplies .............................. 34 26 28 25 47 36 37 42 28 

Household textiles ...................................... 15 44 8 7 28 28 8 9 8 

Appliances and miscellaneous

housewares .............................................. 24 48 17 13 35 40 18 17 19 

Major appliances ...................................... 8 44 2 3 10 20 4 4 45 

Small appliances and miscellaneous

housewares ............................................ 16 44 15 10 24 20 14 13 15 

Miscellaneous household equipment ......... 67 11 44 52 131 61 49 62 27 

Other housing ............................................ 115 58 38 61 204 189 89 109 58 

Apparel and services ................................... 251 203 180 212 308 327 250 324 130 

Males, 2 and over ...................................... 53 45 22 44 64 85 60 86 18 

Females, 2 and over .................................. 94 45 49 61 142 128 113 143 65 

Children under 2 ........................................ 60 93 76 66 52 55 32 39 21 

Other apparel products and services ......... 44 20 33 41 50 60 44 55 427 

Jewelry and watches ................................ 13 46 10 14 14 12 18 21 411 

All other apparel products and services ... 31 414 23 27 37 47 27 34 415 

Transportation .............................................. 119 37 33 61 136 195 225 256 175 

Healthcare .................................................... 18 2 ( ) 44 12 29 30 22 21 424 

Entertainment ............................................... 106 66 78 89 124 151 102 132 54 

Toys, games, arts and crafts, and tricycles 37 415 34 38 41 49 29 43 46 

Other entertainment ................................... 69 51 44 51 82 102 73 89 47 

Personal care products and services ........... 17 5 9 20 22 17 16 22 45 

Reading ........................................................ 1 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 1 1 1 2 2 1 

Education ..................................................... 363 412 17 102 787 671 289 259 337 

All other gifts ................................................ 101 27 48 82 92 152 174 218 105 

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.