Table 21. Selected northeastern metropolitan statistical areas: Average annual

expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2010-2011

Item

All consumer

units in the

Northeast

New York Philadelphia Boston

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ....... 22,382 9,080 2,527 2,947 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ...................................... $70,083 $77,886 $67,320 $85,746 

Age of reference person ................................. 50.7 50.3 50.5 50.2 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ........................................................ 2.4 2.6 2.3 2.4 

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

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

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

Vehicles ........................................................ 1.6 1.3 1.5 1.7 

Percent homeowner ....................................... 63 57 69 64 

Average annual expenditures ........................... $53,695 $58,172 $50,985 $64,802 

Food ............................................................... 6,777 7,371 5,997 8,080 

Food at home ............................................... 4,005 4,163 3,577 5,089 

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 584 597 529 780 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 871 996 734 1,028 

Dairy products ............................................ 438 437 411 528 

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 782 858 625 1,019 

Other food at home .................................... 1,329 1,274 1,278 1,734 

Food away from home .................................. 2,772 3,208 2,419 2,991 

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 509 522 492 736 

Housing .......................................................... 19,293 23,154 19,810 21,053 

Shelter .......................................................... 11,903 15,479 12,008 12,862 

Owned dwellings ........................................ 7,536 9,312 8,158 8,260 

Rented dwellings ........................................ 3,601 5,360 3,218 3,499 

Other lodging .............................................. 766 807 631 1,104 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 4,041 4,273 4,442 4,121 

Household operations .................................. 1,192 1,384 1,201 1,569 

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 630 610 701 641 

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,527 1,408 1,460 1,859 

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,996 2,596 1,771 1,877 

Transportation ................................................ 8,097 7,843 7,337 9,127 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 2,515 1,891 2,289 3,382 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 2,209 2,006 2,147 2,489 

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,651 2,813 2,457 2,579 

Public and other transportation .................... 722 1,133 444 678 

Health care ..................................................... 3,247 3,089 3,086 4,107 

Entertainment ................................................. 2,677 2,512 2,385 3,688 

Personal care products and services ............. 615 679 600 734 

Reading .......................................................... 127 113 136 166 

Education ....................................................... 1,619 1,654 1,457 2,542 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 368 249 282 479 

Miscellaneous ................................................. 884 763 1,260 1,267 

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,627 1,473 1,268 2,672 

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 5,859 6,155 5,105 8,276 

Life and other personal insurance ................ 378 357 248 437 

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 5,481 5,798 4,857 7,839 

Source: Consumer Expenditure Survey, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, September, 2012