Table 3002. Selected northeastern metropolitan statistical areas: Average annual

expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2011-2012

Item

All consumer

units in the

Northeast

New York Philadelphia Boston

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ....... 22,498 8,922 2,599 2,918

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ....................................... $71,884 $80,222 $71,691 $79,833

Age of reference person ................................. 50.8 50.5 51.2 50.5

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 .4 .3 .4

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

Vehicles ........................................................ 1.6 1.3 1.4 1.7

Percent homeowner ....................................... 63 56 67 63

Average annual expenditures ........................... $55,215 $58,658 $53,546 $64,982

Food ............................................................... 6,881 7,274 6,788 8,563

Food at home ............................................... 4,077 4,185 3,909 5,408

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 598 601 605 814

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 890 1,004 817 1,101

Dairy products ............................................ 446 438 446 569

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 805 870 697 1,104

Other food at home .................................... 1,339 1,272 1,344 1,819

Food away from home .................................. 2,804 3,089 2,879 3,155

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 513 448 548 813

Housing .......................................................... 19,650 23,315 20,302 20,637

Shelter .......................................................... 12,153 15,631 12,204 12,583

Owned dwellings ........................................ 7,561 9,208 8,221 7,749

Rented dwellings ........................................ 3,752 5,536 3,317 3,548

Other lodging .............................................. 840 887 666 1,286

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 4,038 4,211 4,465 4,046

Household operations .................................. 1,351 1,543 1,432 1,526

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 619 603 720 606

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,490 1,327 1,481 1,875

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,869 2,281 1,889 2,022

Transportation ................................................ 8,645 8,031 7,688 9,610

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 2,790 2,031 2,266 3,338

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 2,506 2,208 2,424 2,787

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,566 2,650 2,518 2,593

Public and other transportation .................... 783 1,142 480 893

Health care ..................................................... 3,470 3,294 3,408 4,135

Entertainment ................................................. 2,678 2,474 2,739 3,485

Personal care products and services ............. 631 692 652 710

Reading .......................................................... 132 104 159 166

Education ....................................................... 1,704 1,790 1,346 2,306

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 355 259 282 451

Miscellaneous ................................................. 898 842 701 1,315

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,803 1,502 1,693 3,251

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 5,985 6,352 5,352 7,518

Life and other personal insurance ................ 369 363 210 373

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 5,615 5,990 5,142 7,144

Source: Consumer Expenditure Survey, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, September, 2013