1

Consumer Expenditures

in 2004

U.S. Department of Labor

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

April 2006

Report 992

1

 See the glossary at the end of this report for a definition of

consumer unit.

Consumer units1

 spent $43,395, on average, in 2004, a

6.3-percent increase over the previous year. This

was the largest change in average expenditures in

several years; however, there were changes to the survey

in 2004, and the estimates for average annual expenditures and some of the components are not strictly comparable

to estimates for previous years. (See the box on page 4

for information on the changes.) The increase in expenditures from 2003 to 2004 was more than the 2.7-percent rise

in the annual average Consumer Price Index (CPI) over

the same period. Spending rose 0.3 percent in 2003 and 2.9

percent in 2002. This presents the latest results from the

Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey

(CE).

Developments in 2004

The major components of spending—food, housing,

apparel and services, transportation, healthcare, entertainment, and personal insurance and pensions—account for

about 90 percent of total expenditures, and of these, several

showed significant increases in 2004. (See table A.) Increases for food (8.3 percent), housing (3.6 percent), apparel

and services (10.7 percent), and healthcare (6.5 percent) were

all significant. Spending on transportation was essentially

unchanged in 2004, and the 7.7-percent increase in spending

on entertainment was not statistically significant. The large

increase (18.9 percent) in personal insurance and pensions

is not strictly comparable to previous years’ percent changes,

as explained in the box.

Spending increases in 2004 on both food at home (7.0

percent) and food away from home (10.1 percent) were larger

than they had been in several years, contributing to the 8.3-

percent increase in overall food spending. The increase in

food in 2004 followed a slight decrease (–0.7 percent) in

2003 and a 1.0-percent increase in 2002. The increase in

spending on food at home in 2004 was spread across the

major food components, with the following significant

increases: meats, poultry, fish, and eggs, 6.7 percent; dairy

products, 13.1 percent; fruits and vegetables, 4.9 percent;

and other food at home, 7.6 percent. The 4.3-percent increase

in spending on cereals and bakery products was not

significant. Data classified by the region of residence show

that spending on food rose more than the overall U.S.

average in the Northeast (11.1 percent) and Midwest

(9.9 percent), and less than the average in the South (7.2

percent) and West (5.9 percent). Spending on food away

from home, which includes items such as restaurant meals,

catered affairs, and food on out-of-town trips, rose 10 percent

or more in the Northeast (12.2 percent), Midwest (10.0

percent), and South (12.0 percent), but less in the West (5.8

percent).

The 3.6-percent increase in spending on housing

followed increases of 1.1 percent in 2003 and 2.1 percent in

2002. Housing is the largest component of spending and

accounted for almost a third (32.1 percent) of total spending

in 2004. Among the components of housing, significant

increases in spending on utilities, fuels, and public services

(4.1 percent); housekeeping supplies (12.3 percent); and

housefurnishings and equipment (10.0 percent) contributed

to the rise in the overall housing component. Increases in

spending on shelter (1.4 percent), which accounts for over

half (57.5 percent) of total housing, and household operations

(6.5 percent) were not statistically significant. The increase

in expenditures on utilities, fuels, and public services was

close to the 4.8-percent increase in prices for fuels and utilities

in 2004, as measured by the CPI. Data classified by the age

of the reference person2

 show that the percent increases in

spending on housing in 2004 were largest for consumer units

headed by the youngest and oldest reference persons—7.8

percent for consumer units with reference person younger

than 25 years and 8.1 percent for those 75 years and older.

For the youngest group, increases for household operations

(17.4 percent), housekeeping supplies (12.5 percent), and

household furnishings and equipment (10.3 percent)

contributed to the overall increase in housing, and those

same components also contributed to the increase in

spending on housing for the older group, rising 12.1 percent,

19.4 percent, and 37.1 percent, respectively.

The 10.7-percent increase in spending on apparel and

services in 2004 was a departure from the modest or negative

changes in the past several years. In 2001 and 2003, apparel

expenditures dropped by 6.1 percent and 6.2 percent,

2

 See the glossary at the end of this report for a definition of

reference person.
2

respectively, and in 2002 spending was essentially

unchanged, rising 0.3 percent. Despite the large increase in

spending in 2004, the average amount spent per year ($1,816)

was below the average spent 4 years earlier in 2000 ($1,856),

not adjusted for inflation. Increases in spending on men’s

and boys’ apparel (9.1 percent), women’s and girls’ apparel

(16.6 percent), and footwear (11.9 percent) contributed

to the increase in the overall component. Spending on

apparel for children under 2 years of age dropped 2.5 percent,

and spending on other apparel products and services,

a category that includes items such as jewelry, watches,

laundry, and drycleaning, rose 2.3 percent. Data classified

by the size of the consumer unit show that spending on

apparel and services in 2004 increased by 13 percent or

more for units of three persons or fewer, whereas spending

by larger consumer units rose less than 4 percent. Spending

by one-, two-, and three-person consumer units grew by

13.4 percent, 13.6 percent, and 18.3 percent, respectively,

whereas spending by four-person and five-or-more-person

consumer units rose by 3.9 percent and 3.2 percent,

respectively.

Spending on transportation was essentially unchanged

in both 2003 and 2004, rising just 0.3 percent in both years.

In 2004, large increases in spending on gasoline and motor

oil (19.9 percent) and on public transportation (14.5 percent)

were almost entirely offset by a 9.0-percent decrease in

spending on vehicle purchases, although the latter decrease

was not statistically significant. Spending on purchases of

vehicles is subject to large changes from year to year

because vehicles are expensive and typically purchased

infrequently, so relatively small changes in the percentage

of consumer units making such purchases can affect the

overall average. The 19.1-percent increase in expenditures

on gasoline and motor oil closely matched the 18.1-percent

increase in the prices of motor fuels, as measured by the

CPI. The increase in spending on public transportation in

2004 followed a 1.0-percent decrease a year earlier. Public

transportation includes not only spending on intracity mass

transit and taxi fares, but also spending on airline fares.

Data classified by region of residence show that spending

on transportation rose 8.3 percent in the Northeast and 3.7

percent in the West, and dropped 5.1 percent in the South

and 1.4 percent in the Midwest. The increase in the

Northeast was the result of increases in all of the components

of transportation: vehicle purchases (5.1 percent), gasoline

and motor oil (19.8 percent), other vehicle expenses (3.9

percent), and public transportation (19.5 percent). Other

vehicle expenses include items such as vehicle finance

charges, rented and leased vehicles, maintenance and

repairs, and vehicle insurance. The decrease in spending

on transportation in the South resulted from a decline in

vehicle purchases (–17.9 percent) that offset increases in

gasoline and motor oil (21.0 percent) and in public

transportation (10.7 percent), whereas other vehicle expenses

were essentially unchanged (+0.3 percent).

The 6.5-percent increase in spending on healthcare in

2004 was higher than the 2.8-percent rise a year earlier and

more in line with the 7.7-percent increase in 2002 and the 5.6-

percent increase in 2001. Among the components of

healthcare, increased spending on health insurance (6.4

percent), medical services (9.6 percent), and medical supplies

(6.3 percent) contributed to the overall increase in healthcare

expenditures in 2004, whereas spending on drugs, including

prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and vitamins,

rose 2.8 percent. The increase in health insurance followed

increases of 7.2 percent in 2003, 10.1 percent in 2002, and 7.9

percent in 2001. Health insurance is the largest component

of healthcare, accounting for more than half (51.7 percent)

of overall healthcare spending. Spending on drugs

moderated in 2003 (a 4.1-percent decrease) and 2004 (a 2.8-

percent decline), following increases of 7.9 percent in 2001

and 8.5 percent in 2002. Data classified by the age of the

reference person show that there was a large increase (19.8

percent) in spending on healthcare in 2004 for the youngest

group (with reference person under age 25), whereas

spending increased by less than 9 percent for all other age

groups. Spending by the oldest group, with reference person

aged 75 years or older, rose 3.6 percent. Despite the large

increase for the youngest group, that group still spent the

least amount ($654) on healthcare among all the age groups.

The $654 represented just 2.7 percent of the group’s average

annual expenditures. In comparison, the oldest group spent

$3,995, a 15.5-percent share of the group’s average annual

expenditures.

The change in spending on entertainment in 2004 was

not statistically significant. Spending on entertainment tends

to fluctuate from year to year, because, as with vehicle

purchases, the component includes expensive items such

as recreational vehicles and boats that are purchased

relatively infrequently, so changes in the number of

consumers purchasing those items can have a large effect

on the overall mean. One component of entertainment—

other entertainment supplies, equipment, and services, a

category that includes recreational vehicles—has a large

standard error and is especially prone to fluctuation over

time.

The increase in spending on personal insurance and

pensions (18.9 percent) in 2004 was accounted for by the

increase in the pensions and Social Security component.

However, as noted in the box, the change is attributed to the

increase in the number of consumer units with imputed

incomes; as a result, there was an increase in the amount

estimated for Social Security deductions. Because of the

change in methodology implemented in 2004, this estimate

is not strictly comparable to previous years.

Among the remaining components of spending in 2004,

significant increases were exhibited by alcoholic beverages

(17.4 percent), personal care products and services (10.2 percent), and miscellaneous expenditures (13.9 percent), which

include items such as legal and accounting fees, funeral ex-
3

penses, and finance charges (excluding those on mortgages

and vehicles). A large increase (15.6 percent) also was exhibited by spending on education, but the change was not statistically significant. This component includes spending on

college tuition, which can fluctuate substantially from year

to year. Smaller changes were shown for reading (2.4 percent), cash contributions (2.8 percent), and tobacco products and smoking supplies (–0.7 percent).

Table A. Average annual expenditures of all consumer units and percent changes, Consumer Expenditure Survey,

2002–2004

Percent Change

Item 2002 2003 2004

2002–2003 2003–2004

Number of consumer units (in thousands) .......................... 112,108 115,356 116,282

Income before taxes1 ............................................................ $49,430 $51,128 $54,453

Averages:

Age of reference person ................................................... 48.1 48.4 48.5

Number of persons in consumer unit ............................... 2.5 2.5 2.5

Number of earners ............................................................ 1.4 1.3 1.3

Number of vehicles ............................................................ 2.0 1.9 1.9

Percent homeowner........................................................... 66 67 68

Average annual expenditures ............................................... $40,677 $40,817 $43,395 0.3 6.3

Food .................................................................................... 5,375 5,340 5,781 –.7 8.3

Food at home ................................................................. 3,099 3,129 3,347 1.0 7.0

Cereals and bakery products ................................... 450 442 461 –1.8 4.3

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ................................... 798 825 880 3.4 6.7

Dairy products ............................................................ 328 328 371 .0 13.1

Fruits and vegetables ................................................ 552 535 561 –3.1 4.9

Other food at home .................................................... 970 999 1,075 3.0 7.6

Food away from home ................................................... 2,276 2,211 2,434 –2.9 10.1

Alcoholic beverages .......................................................... 376 391 459 4.0 17.4

Housing .............................................................................. 13,283 13,432 13,918 1.1 3.6

Shelter ............................................................................. 7,829 7,887 7,998 .7 1.4

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................................ 2,684 2,811 2,927 4.7 4.1

Household operations .................................................... 706 707 753 .1 6.5

Housekeeping supplies ................................................. 545 529 594 –2.9 12.3

Household furnishings and equipment ......................... 1,518 1,497 1,646 –1.4 10.0

Apparel and services ........................................................ 1,749 1,640 1,816 –6.2 10.7

Transportation .................................................................... 7,759 7,781 7,801 .3 .3

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................................... 3,665 3,732 3,397 1.8 –9.0

Gasoline and motor oil ................................................... 1,235 1,333 1,598 7.9 19.9

Other vehicle expenses ................................................ 2,471 2,331 2,365 –5.7 1.5

Public transportation ...................................................... 389 385 441 –1.0 14.5

Healthcare .......................................................................... 2,350 2,416 2,574 2.8 6.5

Entertainment ..................................................................... 2,079 2,060 2,218 –.9 7.7

Personal care products and services .............................. 526 527 581 .2 10.2

Reading .............................................................................. 139 127 130 –8.6 2.4

Education ............................................................................ 752 783 905 4.1 15.6

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ........................ 320 290 288 –9.4 –.7

Miscellaneous .................................................................... 792 606 690 –23.5 13.9

Cash contributions ............................................................. 1,277 1,370 1,408 7.3 2.8

Personal insurance and pensions .................................... 3,899 4,055 4,823 4.0 18.9

Life and other personal insurance ................................ 406 397 390 –2.2 –1.8

Pensions and Social Security ........................................ 3,493 3,658 4,433 4.7 21.2

1 In 2002 and 2003, income values are derived from complete

income reporters only. (See glossary.) In 2004, income imputation

was introduced and incomes are estimated for all consumer

units.
4

Table B. Distribution of total annual expenditures by major category, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2001–2004

Item 2001 2002 2003 2004

Average annual expenditures ...................................................................... 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Food ....................................................................................................... 13.5 13.2 13.1 13.3

Food at home .................................................................................... 7.8 7.6 7.7 7.7

Food away from home ...................................................................... 5.7 5.6 5.4 5.6

Alcoholic beverages ............................................................................. .9 .9 1.0 1.1

Housing .................................................................................................. 32.9 32.7 32.9 32.1

Apparel and services ............................................................................ 4.4 4.3 4.0 4.2

Transportation ....................................................................................... 19.3 19.1 19.1 18.0

Vehicles .............................................................................................. 9.1 9.0 9.1 7.8

Gasoline and motor oil ...................................................................... 3.2 3.0 3.3 3.7

Other transportation .......................................................................... 7.0 7.0 6.7 6.5

Healthcare ............................................................................................. 5.5 5.8 5.9 5.9

Entertainment ........................................................................................ 4.9 5.1 5.0 5.1

Personal care products and services ................................................. 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.3

Reading .................................................................................................. .4 .3 .3 .3

Education ............................................................................................... 1.6 1.8 1.9 2.1

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ........................................... .8 .8 .7 .7

Miscellaneous ....................................................................................... 1.9 1.9 1.5 1.6

Cash contributions ................................................................................ 3.2 3.1 3.4 3.2

Personal insurance and pensions ....................................................... 9.5 9.6 9.9 11.1

Life and other personal insurance ................................................... 1.0 1.0 1.0 .9

Pensions and Social Security ........................................................... 8.4 8.6 9.0 10.2

Brief description of the Consumer Expenditure

Survey

The current CE program was begun in 1980. Its principal

objective is to collect information on the buying habits of

U.S. consumers. Consumer expenditure data are used in a

variety of research endeavors by government, business,

labor, and academic analysts. In addition, the data are

required for periodic revision of the CPI.

The survey, which is conducted by the U.S. Census

Bureau for the Bureau of Labor Statistics, consists of two

components: a diary, or recordkeeping, survey, completed

by participating consumer units for two consecutive 1-week

periods; and an interview survey, in which expenditures of

consumer units are obtained in five interviews conducted at

3-month intervals. Results in this report are based on

integrated data from both surveys.

Consumer Expenditure Survey Begins Imputing Income Data

In a continuing effort to produce high-quality data, the Consumer Expenditure Survey (CE) has implemented

multiple imputation of income data, starting with the publication of the 2004 tables. Prior to 2004, the survey

published only income data collected from complete income reporters. (See glossary.) However, even complete

income reporters do not provide information on all their sources of income. Imputation allows income to be

estimated when it is not reported. In multiple imputation, several estimates are made for the same consumer unit,

and the average of the estimates is published.

Because of income imputation, data for 2004 are not strictly comparable to data from previous years, especially

for the income tables. In the 2003 CE tables, for example, nearly 16 percent of all consumer units are defined to

be incomplete reporters. Income imputation allows expenditure data for these consumer units to be included in

income categories from which they were previously excluded. To the extent that the incomplete reporters have

demographic characteristics (such as the age of the reference person) or expenditure patterns different from

those of the complete income reporters who were previously assigned to these categories, averages for

demographic characteristics and annual expenditures will change. In addition, some complete income reporters

who did not provide information on all their sources of income may be classified into different income categories

(ranges or quintiles) after imputation estimates the missing amounts. Again, to the extent that their demographic

characteristics or expenditure patterns differ from those of the complete income reporters previously assigned to

these categories, the data in the tables will change. Furthermore, certain expenditures, such as deductions for

Social Security, are computed with the use of income data. As a result of imputation, average annual estimates

for these expenditures in 2004 may be substantially different from, and not strictly comparable to, estimates for

previous years.
5

Survey participants record dollar amounts for goods and

services purchased during the reporting period, whether

payment is or is not made at the time of purchase. Expenditure

amounts include all sales and excise taxes for all items

purchased by the consumer unit for itself or for others.

Excluded from both surveys are all business-related

expenditures, as well as expenditures for which the consumer

unit is reimbursed.

Each component of the survey queries an independent

sample of consumer units that is representative of the U.S.

population. For the Diary Survey, about 7,500 consumer units

are sampled each year. Each consumer unit keeps a diary for

two 1-week periods, yielding approximately 15,000 diaries a

year. The Interview sample, selected on a rotating panel

basis, surveys about 7,500 consumer units each quarter.

Each consumer unit is interviewed once per quarter, for 5

consecutive quarters. Data are collected on an ongoing basis

in 105 areas of the United States.

The Interview Survey is designed to capture expenditure

data that respondents can reasonably recall for a period of 3

months or longer. In general, the expenditures are relatively

large, such as expenditures for real property, automobiles,

and major appliances, or they are expenditures that occur

on a regular basis, like rent, utility payments, and insurance

premiums. The Interview Survey also collects data on

expenditures incurred on leisure trips. Including global

estimates of spending for food, it is estimated that about 95

percent of expenditures are covered in the Interview Survey.

Nonprescription drugs, household supplies, and personal

care items are excluded.

The Diary Survey is designed to capture expenditures

on small, frequently purchased items that normally are

difficult for respondents to recall. Detailed records of

expenses are kept for food and beverages—both at home

and in eating places—and for tobacco, housekeeping

supplies, nonprescription drugs, and personal care products

and services. Expenditures incurred by members of the

consumer unit while they are away from home overnight or

longer are excluded from the Diary Survey. Although this

survey was designed to collect information on expenditures

that could not be recalled easily over an extended period,

respondents are asked to report all expenses (except those

for overnight travel) that the consumer unit incurs during

the survey week.

Integrated data from the BLS Diary and Interview Surveys provide a complete accounting of consumer expenditures and income that neither survey alone is designed to

do. Data on some expenditure items are collected in only one

of the surveys. For example, the Diary Survey does not collect data on expenditures for overnight travel or information

on reimbursements, whereas the Interview Survey does. Examples of expenditures for which reimbursements are excluded from the Diary Survey are medical care; automobile

repair; and construction, repairs, alterations, and maintenance

of property.

For items that are unique to one survey or the other, the

choice of which survey to use as the source of data is

obvious. However, there is considerable overlap in coverage

between the surveys. Consequently, integrating the data

presents the problem of determining the appropriate survey

component from which to select expenditure items. When

data are available from both surveys, the more reliable of the

two (as determined by statistical methods) is selected. As a

result, some items are selected from the Interview Survey,

others from the Diary Survey.

Population coverage and definitions of components of

the CE differ from those of the CPI. Consumer expenditure

data cover the total population, whereas the CPI covers

only the population in urban and metropolitan areas. In

addition, homeownership is treated differently in the two

surveys. Actual expenditures of homeowners are reported

in the CE, whereas the CPI uses a rental equivalence approach

that estimates the change in the cost of obtaining, in the

rental marketplace, services equivalent to those provided

by owner-occupied homes.

Interpreting the data

Expenditures are averages for consumer units with specified

characteristics, regardless of whether a particular unit incurred an expense for a specific item during the recordkeeping

period. The average expenditure for an item may be considerably lower than the expenditure by the CUs that purchased

the item. The less frequently an item is purchased, the greater

is the difference between the average for all consumer units

and the average for those purchasing the item. Also, an individual CU may spend more or less than the average, depending on its particular characteristics. Factors such as income,

age of family members, geographic location, and personal

preference also influence expenditures. Furthermore, even

within groups with similar characteristics, the distribution of

expenditures varies substantially. These points should be

considered in relating reported averages to individual circumstances.

Users of these survey data should also keep in mind that

prices for many goods and services have risen since the

survey was conducted. For example, rent, as measured by

the CPI, rose 4.3 percent between 2004 (annual average index)

and November 2005 (not seasonally adjusted).

In addition, sample surveys are subject to two types of

error: sampling and nonsampling. Sampling errors occur

because the data are collected from a sample representing

the population, rather than from the entire population.

Nonsampling errors result from the inability or unwillingness

of respondents to provide correct information, differences

in interviewers’ abilities, mistakes in recording or coding,

and other processing errors.

Tables and data

Tables in this report include integrated data from both the

Diary and Interview components of the CE, enabling data
6

users to associate the full range of expenditures with

consumers’ demographic characteristics. Tables show data

classified by income quintile, income class, age of the

reference person, size of the consumer unit, composition of

the consumer unit, number of earners, housing tenure,

type of area (urban-rural), race, Hispanic origin, region

of residence, occupation, and education. These are the

same classifications published in previous reports and

bulletins.

Tables for the aforementioned classifications, but with

more detail than is given in this report, can be accessed via

the BLS Web site http://www.bls.gov/cex. Also available are

tables showing average annual data over a 2-year period for

(1) income before taxes, cross-tabulated by age, consumer

unit size, or region; (2) single consumers by sex, crosstabulated by either income or age; and (3) selected

Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs). Data are available

for 1984–2004. Other survey information available on the

Web site includes answers to frequently asked questions, a

glossary of terms, and order forms for survey products.

Beginning with the 2000 data, estimates of standard errors

for integrated Diary and Interview Survey data also are

available. Many of the tables that are shown on the BLS

Web site are published in biennial reports. The most recent

is Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2002–2003, Report 990,

December 2005.

Changes to the 2004 published tables

The introduction of multiply imputed income data in 2004

affects the CE published tables in several ways, because

income data are now published for all consumer units, instead

of for complete reporters only. The most obvious result of

this change is seen on the tables showing expenditures

categorized by income before taxes, including by quintile.

(See tables 1–3.) Starting in 2004, columns describing income,

expenditures, and characteristics for “total complete

reporting” and “incomplete reporting of income” no longer

appear in these tables, and the column headed “all consumer

units” appears on all income tables. This occurs because

income quintiles and income ranges are no longer defined

only on the basis of data collected from complete income

reporters, but instead are defined in terms of the average of

multiply imputed values for each consumer unit. Also, in the

tables showing expenditures by demographic characteristics,

such as the age of the reference person, the footnote

indicating that “income before taxes” refers to “components

of income...derived from ‘complete reporters only’” no

longer appears.

Other available data

The 2004 Diary and Interview Survey microdata—that is,

data on individual consumer units—are available on CDROM. The Interview Survey files contain expenditure data

in two different formats: MTAB files, which present monthly

values in an item-coding framework based on the CPI pricing

scheme; and EXPN files, which organize expenditures by

the section of the interview questionnaire in which they are

collected. Expenditure values on EXPN files cover different

periods, depending on the specific question asked; the files

also contain relevant nonexpenditure information not found

on the MTAB files. Currently available on CD-ROM are

microdata files back to 1990 and for selected earlier years.

The Consumer Expenditure Survey also has begun

publishing CE anthologies. The reports in these works

include analyses of expenditure data as they apply to various

topics of interest, as well as methodological and research

articles pertaining to a number of survey topics. The most

recent of the reports, Consumer Expenditure Survey

Anthology, 2005, Report 981, was published in April 2005.

CE data also are available through the BLS fax-on-demand

service, which provides information and data that may be

accessed from a touch-tone phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a

week, by dialing (202) 691-6325. Voice prompts explain how

to obtain the information. Data available from the fax-ondemand service are for the most recent published year.

Additional data also are presented in articles in the Monthly

Labor Review.

For more detailed information on the availability of

current and earlier data, contact the Division of Consumer

Expenditure Surveys, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room 3985,

2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20212-0001.

Telephone: (202) 691-6900. E-mail: cexinfo@bls.gov.Internet:

http://www.bls.gov/cex.

Material in this publication is in the public domain and,

with appropriate credit, may be reproduced without

permission. Information in this report is available upon

request to sensory-impaired individuals: Voice phone: (202)

691-5200, Federal Relay Service: 1-800-877-8339.
7

Glossary

Consumer unit. Members of a household consisting of (a)

occupants related by blood, marriage, adoption, or some

other legal arrangement; (b) a single person living alone or

sharing a household with others, but who is financially

independent; or (c) two or more persons living together

who share responsibility for at least 2 out of 3 major types of

expenses—food, housing, and other expenses. Students

living in university-sponsored housing also are included in

the sample as separate consumer units.

Reference person. The first member mentioned by the

respondent when asked to “Start with the name of the person

or one of the persons who owns or rents the home.” It is

with respect to this person that the relationship of other

consumer unit members is determined.

Total expenditures. The transaction costs, including excise

and sales taxes, of goods and services acquired during the

interview period. Estimates include expenditures for gifts

and contributions and payments for pensions and personal

insurance.

Income. The combined income earned by all consumer unit

members 14 years or older during the 12 months preceding

the interview. The components of income are wages and

salaries; self-employment income; Social Security and

private and government retirement income; interest, dividends, and rental and other property income; unemployment and workers’ compensation and veterans’ benefits;

public assistance, Supplemental Security Income, and

Food Stamps; rent or meals or both as pay; and regular contributions for support, such as alimony and child-support

payments.

Complete income reporters. In general, a consumer unit

that provides values for at least one of the major sources of

its income, such as wages and salaries, self-employment

income, and Social Security income. Even complete income

reporters may not provide a full accounting of all income

from all sources. Beginning with the introduction of income

imputation with the publication of the 2004 tables, income

data are available for all consumer units and data are no

longer shown for complete income reporters.

Quintiles of income before taxes. Categories of income

reporters, ranked in ascending order of income, and divided

into five equal groups. The lower limit shown in the quintiles

of income before taxes indicates the amount of income

before taxes of the lowest ranked consumer unit in each

income quintile.
Table 1. Quintiles of income before taxes: Average annual expenditures and characteristics,

Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2004

Item

All

consumer

units

Lowest

20

percent

Second

20

percent

Third

20

percent

Fourth

20

percent

Highest

20

percent

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ....... 116,282 23,223 23,266 23,252 23,263 23,277 

Lower limit ........................................................ n.a. n.a. $16,403 $32,477 $51,774 $81,058

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ...................................... $54,453 $9,168 $24,102 $41,614 $65,100 $132,158 

Age of reference person ................................. 48.5 51.1 50.9 47.2 45.7 47.4 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ........................................................ 2.5 1.7 2.2 2.6 2.9 3.2 

Children under 18 ......................................... .6 .4 .5 .7 .8 .8 

Persons 65 and over .................................... .3 .4 .4 .3 .2 .2 

Earners ......................................................... 1.3 .5 .9 1.4 1.7 2.1 

Vehicles ........................................................ 1.9 .9 1.5 2.0 2.4 2.8 

Percent homeowner ....................................... 68 41 57 68 80 91 

Average annual expenditures ........................... $43,395 $17,837 $27,410 $36,980 $50,974 $83,710 

Food ............................................................... 5,781 2,967 4,139 5,378 6,762 9,653 

Food at home ............................................... 3,347 2,044 2,659 3,209 3,836 4,984 

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 461 296 371 451 522 664 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 880 548 731 863 1,004 1,252 

Dairy products ............................................ 371 222 299 361 416 555 

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 561 354 438 546 614 853 

Other food at home .................................... 1,075 624 820 989 1,280 1,660 

Food away from home .................................. 2,434 923 1,480 2,169 2,926 4,669 

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 459 194 264 408 554 876 

Housing .......................................................... 13,918 6,760 9,505 12,144 15,741 25,424 

Shelter .......................................................... 7,998 3,941 5,478 6,902 9,031 14,629 

Owned dwellings ........................................ 5,324 1,358 2,517 4,091 6,659 11,986 

Rented dwellings ........................................ 2,201 2,448 2,802 2,555 1,906 1,295 

Other lodging .............................................. 473 135 159 255 466 1,348 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 2,927 1,720 2,371 2,868 3,370 4,301 

Household operations .................................. 753 278 406 493 771 1,814 

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 594 314 407 530 712 1,009 

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,646 507 843 1,351 1,856 3,670 

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,816 837 1,058 1,477 2,052 3,654 

Transportation ................................................ 7,801 2,629 5,005 6,827 9,954 14,580 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 3,397 951 2,130 2,797 4,546 6,555 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 1,598 730 1,157 1,579 2,020 2,500 

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,365 821 1,499 2,180 2,951 4,372 

Public transportation ..................................... 441 126 218 271 437 1,153 

Health care ...................................................... 2,574 1,421 2,139 2,529 2,969 3,810 

Entertainment ................................................. 2,218 764 1,377 1,728 2,735 4,484 

Personal care products and services ............. 581 271 400 507 641 1,086 

Reading .......................................................... 130 55 82 112 145 256 

Education ....................................................... 905 641 314 396 811 2,363 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 288 214 287 340 327 272 

Miscellaneous ................................................. 690 312 482 646 766 1,243 

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,408 343 790 1,106 1,422 3,376 

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 4,823 429 1,568 3,379 6,095 12,632 

Life and other personal insurance ................ 390 110 182 310 426 922 

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 4,433 318 1,386 3,069 5,669 11,710 

n.a. Not applicable.

9
Table 2. Income before taxes: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2004

Item

All

consumer

units

Less

than

$5,000

$5,000

to

$9,999

$10,000

to

$14,999

$15,000

to

$19,999

$20,000

to

$29,999

$30,000

to

$39,999

$40,000

to

$49,999

$50,000

to

$69,999

$70,000

and

more

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ......... 116,282 4,553 7,218 8,950 8,177 14,172 13,125 11,374 18,069 30,644 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ........................................ $54,453 $1,097 $7,812 $12,499 $17,417 $24,767 $34,739 $44,645 $59,259 $118,482 

Age of reference person ................................... 48.5 38.9 51.6 56.2 53.9 50.5 47.5 47.3 45.8 47.0 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons .......................................................... 2.5 1.6 1.6 1.8 2.0 2.2 2.4 2.6 2.8 3.1 

Children under 18 ........................................... .6 .3 .3 .4 .5 .5 .6 .7 .7 .8 

Persons 65 and over ...................................... .3 .2 .4 .5 .5 .4 .3 .3 .2 .2 

Earners ........................................................... 1.3 .6 .4 .5 .7 1.0 1.3 1.4 1.7 2.0 

Vehicles .......................................................... 1.9 .8 .8 1.1 1.3 1.5 1.8 2.1 2.4 2.8 

Percent homeowner ......................................... 68 26 36 51 54 57 63 70 78 90 

Average annual expenditures ............................ $43,395 $17,029 $14,596 $19,444 $23,023 $27,741 $33,273 $38,204 $47,750 $76,954 

Food ................................................................. 5,781 3,173 2,409 2,981 3,567 4,076 4,986 5,452 6,312 9,042 

Food at home ................................................. 3,347 2,030 1,695 2,105 2,435 2,591 3,056 3,263 3,640 4,734 

Cereals and bakery products ....................... 461 300 259 294 351 359 430 456 506 628 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ...................... 880 558 476 562 640 698 827 900 936 1,209 

Dairy products .............................................. 371 229 177 230 268 289 349 361 403 521 

Fruits and vegetables ................................... 561 346 272 385 419 425 519 549 592 794 

Other food at home ...................................... 1,075 597 512 633 757 819 930 997 1,202 1,582 

Food away from home ................................... 2,434 1,143 714 876 1,132 1,485 1,930 2,189 2,672 4,308 

Alcoholic beverages ......................................... 459 219 156 207 193 262 323 449 484 824 

Housing ............................................................ 13,918 6,300 5,645 7,513 8,370 9,639 11,143 12,383 14,699 23,547 

Shelter ............................................................ 7,998 3,952 3,379 4,245 4,783 5,538 6,371 7,074 8,421 13,571

Owned dwellings .......................................... 5,324 1,354 971 1,577 2,052 2,479 3,406 4,363 5,917 11,053 

Rented dwellings .......................................... 2,201 2,409 2,272 2,550 2,599 2,893 2,753 2,457 2,085 1,362 

Other lodging ................................................ 473 189 136 118 132 166 212 255 419 1,156 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................. 2,927 1,340 1,506 1,988 2,148 2,425 2,645 2,935 3,270 4,125 

Household operations .................................... 753 180 151 420 318 452 453 487 690 1,597 

Housekeeping supplies .................................. 594 325 223 316 398 381 513 542 645 948 

Household furnishings and equipment ........... 1,646 505 386 544 724 843 1,161 1,345 1,672 3,306 

Apparel and services ........................................ 1,816 915 722 809 915 1,047 1,384 1,490 1,774 3,349 

Transportation .................................................. 7,801 2,270 2,052 3,000 3,758 5,114 6,288 7,031 9,700 13,513 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ....................... 3,397 712 700 1,209 1,328 2,186 2,671 2,867 4,539 6,017 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................... 1,598 690 620 782 964 1,190 1,432 1,621 1,953 2,411 

Other vehicle expenses .................................. 2,365 690 648 872 1,301 1,525 1,942 2,259 2,795 4,092 

Public transportation ...................................... 441 178 86 137 165 212 243 283 413 992 

Health care ........................................................ 2,574 886 1,171 1,806 2,010 2,157 2,383 2,552 2,874 3,630 

Entertainment ................................................... 2,218 853 582 852 901 1,512 1,525 1,756 2,587 4,119 

Personal care products and services ............... 581 279 207 282 333 410 451 550 600 985 

Reading ............................................................ 130 48 52 59 76 83 95 118 137 234 

Education ......................................................... 905 1,023 637 494 383 316 316 417 706 2,031 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ......... 288 178 189 239 274 291 320 329 339 285 

Miscellaneous .................................................. 690 347 278 255 463 502 522 735 748 1,128 

Cash contributions ........................................... 1,408 276 213 414 828 738 844 1,284 1,360 2,929 

Personal insurance and pensions .................... 4,823 261 282 533 951 1,594 2,692 3,656 5,430 11,338 

Life and other personal insurance .................. 390 89 78 141 156 183 270 316 417 804 

Pensions and Social Security ......................... 4,433 172 205 392 795 1,411 2,422 3,340 5,013 10,535 

10
Table 3. Higher income before taxes: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure

Survey, 2004

Item

All

consumer

units

Less

than

$70,000

$70,000

to

$79,999

$80,000

to

$99,999

$100,000

and

more

$100,000

to

$119,999

$120,000

to

$149,999

$150,000

and

more

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ....... 116,282 85,638 6,461 9,246 14,937 5,625 4,245 5,067 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ...................................... $54,453 $31,541 $74,437 $88,811 $155,901 $108,751 $132,292 $228,021 

Age of reference person ................................. 48.5 49.0 45.8 46.6 47.7 47.2 47.6 48.4 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ........................................................ 2.5 2.3 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.1 3.3 3.2 

Children under 18 ......................................... .6 .6 .8 .9 .8 .8 .9 .8 

Persons 65 and over .................................... .3 .3 .2 .2 .2 .2 .1 .2 

Earners ......................................................... 1.3 1.1 1.8 2.0 2.1 2.1 2.2 2.1 

Vehicles ........................................................ 1.9 1.6 2.6 2.7 2.9 2.8 2.9 2.9 

Percent homeowner ....................................... 68 60 85 90 93 90 93 95 

Average annual expenditures ........................... $43,395 $31,280 $55,012 $65,446 $93,526 $75,213 $87,299 $119,449 

Food ............................................................... 5,781 4,562 7,337 7,467 10,733 9,444 10,419 12,555 

Food at home ............................................... 3,347 2,825 4,079 4,043 5,435 5,014 5,542 5,840 

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 461 398 522 545 724 672 741 772 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 880 756 1,097 1,033 1,363 1,271 1,396 1,442 

Dairy products ............................................ 371 314 426 451 604 560 620 641 

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 561 473 645 659 941 860 932 1,049 

Other food at home .................................... 1,075 884 1,389 1,355 1,803 1,651 1,853 1,935 

Food away from home .................................. 2,434 1,737 3,259 3,424 5,299 4,429 4,877 6,715 

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 459 323 617 702 987 724 887 1,405 

Housing .......................................................... 13,918 10,456 17,422 20,397 28,140 22,273 26,339 36,246 

Shelter .......................................................... 7,998 6,004 10,213 11,761 16,143 12,871 14,869 20,843 

Owned dwellings ........................................ 5,324 3,275 8,051 9,604 13,249 10,421 12,527 16,992 

Rented dwellings ........................................ 2,201 2,501 1,638 1,325 1,266 1,496 1,019 1,219 

Other lodging .............................................. 473 229 524 833 1,628 954 1,323 2,633 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 2,927 2,498 3,552 3,903 4,511 3,977 4,446 5,159 

Household operations .................................. 753 451 895 1,332 2,064 1,407 1,799 3,016 

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 594 461 677 862 1,118 893 1,051 1,461 

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,646 1,042 2,085 2,539 4,304 3,125 4,174 5,767 

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,816 1,248 2,219 2,666 4,253 3,644 3,675 5,502 

Transportation ................................................ 7,801 5,756 9,965 12,446 15,707 13,520 15,515 18,308 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 3,397 2,459 4,218 5,516 7,106 6,013 7,028 8,384 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 1,598 1,307 2,131 2,366 2,559 2,452 2,686 2,573 

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,365 1,747 3,184 3,812 4,659 4,162 4,582 5,278 

Public transportation ..................................... 441 244 432 752 1,383 894 1,219 2,073 

Health care ...................................................... 2,574 2,195 3,029 3,384 4,042 3,732 3,812 4,581 

Entertainment ................................................. 2,218 1,534 2,870 3,677 4,932 3,613 4,716 6,570 

Personal care products and services ............. 581 433 658 852 1,207 1,030 1,191 1,427 

Reading .......................................................... 130 93 159 197 290 227 298 353 

Education ....................................................... 905 502 940 1,540 2,806 1,865 2,166 4,382 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 288 289 337 303 252 279 290 189 

Miscellaneous ................................................. 690 532 809 894 1,411 1,132 1,140 1,968 

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,408 864 1,551 2,052 4,067 2,445 2,672 7,037 

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 4,823 2,492 7,099 8,871 14,699 11,284 14,178 18,927 

Life and other personal insurance ................ 390 242 430 645 1,063 785 904 1,505 

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 4,433 2,249 6,670 8,225 13,636 10,498 13,274 17,422 

11
Table 4. Age of reference person: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2004

Item

All

consumer

units

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) ....... 116,282 8,817 19,439 24,070 23,712 17,479 22,765 11,230 11,536 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ...................................... $54,453 $22,840 $52,484 $65,515 $70,434 $61,031 $34,988 $42,137 $28,028 

Age of reference person ................................. 48.5 21.4 29.7 39.7 49.3 59.1 75.3 69.3 81.2 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ........................................................ 2.5 1.9 2.9 3.2 2.7 2.1 1.7 1.9 1.5 

Children under 18 ......................................... .6 .4 1.1 1.3 .6 .2 .1 .1 1 ( )

Persons 65 and over .................................... .3 1 ( ) 1 ( ) 1 ( ) 1 ( ) .1 1.4 1.4 1.3 

Earners ......................................................... 1.3 1.3 1.5 1.7 1.7 1.3 .5 .7 .2 

Vehicles ........................................................ 1.9 1.2 1.8 2.1 2.4 2.2 1.5 1.9 1.2 

Percent homeowner ....................................... 68 15 49 69 77 83 80 83 78 

Average annual expenditures ........................... $43,395 $24,535 $42,701 $50,402 $52,764 $47,299 $31,104 $36,512 $25,763 

Food ............................................................... 5,781 3,715 5,705 6,752 7,038 5,898 4,206 4,871 3,518 

Food at home ............................................... 3,347 1,853 3,155 3,897 4,083 3,374 2,722 3,049 2,380 

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 461 265 432 552 547 437 394 422 364 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 880 480 812 1,019 1,111 894 694 799 584 

Dairy products ............................................ 371 205 346 440 436 371 313 353 271 

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 561 285 521 615 673 588 510 548 470 

Other food at home .................................... 1,075 618 1,043 1,271 1,316 1,083 812 927 692 

Food away from home .................................. 2,434 1,862 2,550 2,855 2,955 2,524 1,484 1,822 1,138 

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 459 503 522 535 502 457 261 329 190 

Housing .......................................................... 13,918 7,649 14,379 16,794 16,164 14,339 10,259 11,152 9,381 

Shelter .......................................................... 7,998 4,901 8,729 9,856 9,313 7,883 5,329 5,784 4,886 

Owned dwellings ........................................ 5,324 1,009 4,700 7,025 6,968 5,970 3,523 4,134 2,928 

Rented dwellings ........................................ 2,201 3,647 3,802 2,450 1,636 1,169 1,393 1,123 1,655 

Other lodging .............................................. 473 244 227 381 710 743 414 527 303 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 2,927 1,413 2,687 3,309 3,413 3,222 2,580 2,881 2,287 

Household operations .................................. 753 270 915 992 693 645 694 522 861 

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 594 253 499 677 756 657 509 569 445 

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,646 812 1,548 1,960 1,989 1,932 1,147 1,395 901 

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,816 1,371 2,134 2,142 2,217 1,863 907 1,200 604 

Transportation ................................................ 7,801 4,704 8,485 9,183 9,343 8,421 4,875 6,506 3,286 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 3,397 2,035 4,033 4,190 3,790 3,616 1,966 2,822 1,132 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 1,598 1,130 1,679 1,877 1,980 1,666 963 1,259 675 

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,365 1,326 2,407 2,681 3,061 2,532 1,546 1,902 1,200 

Public transportation ..................................... 441 214 366 435 512 606 400 524 280 

Health care ...................................................... 2,574 654 1,519 2,263 2,695 3,262 3,899 3,799 3,995 

Entertainment ................................................. 2,218 1,166 2,122 2,504 2,711 2,823 1,429 1,879 990 

Personal care products and services ............. 581 334 552 660 690 628 468 514 421 

Reading .......................................................... 130 51 94 123 149 177 146 158 135 

Education ....................................................... 905 1,821 726 786 1,567 730 274 352 198 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 288 236 283 350 375 301 147 197 98 

Miscellaneous ................................................. 690 297 600 773 774 825 641 735 547 

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,408 310 815 1,265 1,625 1,752 2,000 2,471 1,542 

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 4,823 1,726 4,765 6,273 6,915 5,825 1,592 2,348 856 

Life and other personal insurance ................ 390 31 235 391 505 612 372 472 275 

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 4,433 1,695 4,529 5,881 6,410 5,214 1,220 1,875 582 

1 Value less than 0.05.

12
Table 5. Size of consumer unit: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey,

2004

Item

All

consumer

units

One

person

Two or more persons

Total Two

persons

Three

persons

Four

persons

Five or

more

persons

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ................. 116,282 33,686 82,596 37,542 17,806 16,388 10,859 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ............................................... $54,453 $28,143 $65,183 $58,307 $66,762 $74,970 $71,600 

Age of reference person .......................................... 48.5 51.9 47.1 52.9 44.0 41.1 41.1 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ................................................................. 2.5 1.0 3.1 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.6 

Children under 18 .................................................. .6 n.a. .9 .1 .8 1.6 2.8 

Persons 65 and over ............................................. .3 .3 .3 .5 .2 .1 .1 

Earners .................................................................. 1.3 .6 1.6 1.3 1.8 1.9 2.2 

Vehicles ................................................................. 1.9 1.0 2.3 2.2 2.4 2.5 2.5 

Percent homeowner ................................................ 68 51 74 75 71 77 74 

Average annual expenditures .................................... $43,395 $25,423 $50,706 $45,855 $51,503 $57,866 $55,468 

Food ........................................................................ 5,781 3,095 6,866 5,808 6,930 8,171 8,516 

Food at home ........................................................ 3,347 1,681 4,019 3,288 4,007 4,809 5,416 

Cereals and bakery products ............................... 461 229 555 435 556 673 791 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .............................. 880 411 1,069 864 1,097 1,252 1,464 

Dairy products ..................................................... 371 183 446 358 442 548 608 

Fruits and vegetables .......................................... 561 298 667 576 643 745 908 

Other food at home .............................................. 1,075 560 1,282 1,055 1,269 1,590 1,644 

Food away from home ........................................... 2,434 1,414 2,847 2,520 2,924 3,362 3,100 

Alcoholic beverages ................................................ 459 359 500 569 468 478 345 

Housing ................................................................... 13,918 9,244 15,822 14,036 16,177 18,360 17,593 

Shelter ................................................................... 7,998 5,841 8,878 7,866 9,036 10,382 9,849 

Owned dwellings ................................................. 5,324 2,916 6,307 5,311 6,263 7,977 7,299 

Rented dwellings ................................................. 2,201 2,659 2,014 1,930 2,213 1,921 2,121 

Other lodging ....................................................... 473 265 558 625 561 484 429 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ......................... 2,927 1,830 3,374 3,004 3,470 3,757 3,917 

Household operations ............................................ 753 443 879 595 980 1,346 993 

Housekeeping supplies ......................................... 594 315 707 661 713 802 720 

Household furnishings and equipment .................. 1,646 816 1,983 1,909 1,977 2,073 2,114 

Apparel and services ............................................... 1,816 949 2,167 1,758 2,266 2,601 2,784 

Transportation ......................................................... 7,801 3,941 9,376 8,151 9,790 11,148 10,258 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) .............................. 3,397 1,600 4,130 3,412 4,297 5,298 4,575 

Gasoline and motor oil ........................................... 1,598 806 1,920 1,634 1,994 2,250 2,293 

Other vehicle expenses ......................................... 2,365 1,281 2,808 2,543 2,976 3,136 2,951 

Public transportation .............................................. 441 254 518 561 523 464 439 

Health care ............................................................... 2,574 1,697 2,932 3,212 2,865 2,635 2,520 

Entertainment .......................................................... 2,218 1,162 2,649 2,618 2,417 2,910 2,743 

Personal care products and services ...................... 581 355 673 631 650 740 753 

Reading ................................................................... 130 97 144 161 129 138 118 

Education ................................................................. 905 629 1,018 793 1,019 1,417 1,190 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ................ 288 167 338 309 374 346 365 

Miscellaneous .......................................................... 690 517 761 780 763 745 714 

Cash contributions ................................................... 1,408 1,027 1,563 1,888 1,393 1,162 1,327 

Personal insurance and pensions ........................... 4,823 2,184 5,899 5,141 6,263 7,014 6,242 

Life and other personal insurance ......................... 390 146 490 486 479 496 513 

Pensions and Social Security ................................ 4,433 2,039 5,409 4,655 5,783 6,518 5,729 

n.a. Not applicable.

13
Table 6. Composition of consumer unit: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2004

Item

Husband and wife consumer units

One

parent,

at least

one child

under 18

Single

person

and other

consumer

units

Total

Husband

and wife

only

Husband and wife with children Other

husband

and wife

consumer

units

Total

Oldest

child

under 6

Oldest

child

6 to 17

Oldest

child 18

or older

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ............. 59,797 25,585 29,279 5,604 15,376 8,300 4,933 6,892 49,592 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ........................................... $73,001 $64,434 $79,764 $75,293 $78,508 $85,109 $77,287 $31,055 $35,341 

Age of reference person ...................................... 48.8 56.7 42.0 32.6 40.3 51.5 47.8 37.9 49.6 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons .............................................................. 3.2 2.0 3.9 3.5 4.1 3.9 4.9 2.9 1.6 

Children under 18 .............................................. .9 n.a. 1.6 1.5 2.1 .7 1.5 1.8 .2 

Persons 65 and over .......................................... .3 .6 .1 1 ( ) 1 ( ) .2 .5 1 ( ) .3 

Earners .............................................................. 1.7 1.2 2.0 1.7 1.8 2.5 2.3 1.0 1.0 

Vehicles ............................................................. 2.6 2.4 2.7 2.2 2.6 3.3 2.6 1.2 1.3 

Percent homeowner ............................................. 83 85 82 73 81 88 79 43 53 

Average annual expenditures ................................ $55,607 $49,690 $60,661 $55,981 $60,578 $64,162 $56,290 $32,824 $30,085 

Food ..................................................................... 7,379 6,268 8,089 6,300 8,484 8,682 8,950 4,873 3,946 

Food at home ..................................................... 4,303 3,574 4,711 3,765 4,887 5,104 5,692 3,015 2,218 

Cereals and bakery products ........................... 593 472 668 492 718 705 778 443 301 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .......................... 1,121 923 1,210 875 1,216 1,465 1,641 835 589 

Dairy products .................................................. 480 390 542 437 580 549 579 317 243 

Fruits and vegetables ....................................... 726 644 756 634 771 823 980 456 373 

Other food at home .......................................... 1,383 1,145 1,535 1,327 1,602 1,561 1,714 964 712 

Food away from home ....................................... 3,076 2,694 3,378 2,535 3,597 3,578 3,258 1,858 1,729 

Alcoholic beverages ............................................. 493 567 443 330 455 506 410 219 452 

Housing ................................................................ 17,005 14,706 18,912 21,045 18,900 17,503 17,595 12,030 10,451 

Shelter ................................................................ 9,427 8,031 10,658 11,944 10,838 9,455 9,365 7,043 6,408

Owned dwellings .............................................. 7,291 5,947 8,473 9,254 8,644 7,628 7,253 3,314 3,232 

Rented dwellings .............................................. 1,463 1,308 1,558 2,334 1,545 1,058 1,708 3,510 2,909 

Other lodging ................................................... 673 776 628 357 650 769 404 219 267 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ..................... 3,572 3,176 3,839 3,325 3,809 4,240 4,041 2,755 2,173 

Household operations ........................................ 996 638 1,299 2,699 1,167 599 1,058 759 458 

Housekeeping supplies ...................................... 771 729 815 820 824 794 724 453 397 

Household furnishings and equipment ............... 2,238 2,133 2,301 2,257 2,262 2,415 2,407 1,020 1,015 

Apparel and services ........................................... 2,263 1,745 2,680 2,583 2,757 2,617 2,463 1,859 1,263 

Transportation ...................................................... 10,486 8,975 11,884 10,599 11,377 13,694 10,021 5,446 4,892

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ........................... 4,724 3,806 5,579 5,142 5,370 6,263 4,402 2,304 1,949 

Gasoline and motor oil ....................................... 2,087 1,752 2,362 1,991 2,277 2,770 2,192 1,216 1,061 

Other vehicle expenses ..................................... 3,080 2,753 3,381 3,015 3,188 3,986 2,985 1,716 1,594 

Public transportation .......................................... 595 664 561 451 542 674 442 209 288 

Health care ............................................................ 3,345 3,761 3,009 2,369 2,948 3,554 3,191 1,384 1,809 

Entertainment ....................................................... 2,945 2,919 3,051 2,442 3,320 2,975 2,449 1,573 1,430 

Personal care products and services ................... 711 656 748 604 732 891 773 517 432 

Reading ................................................................ 166 186 153 139 158 154 135 68 97 

Education ............................................................. 1,154 828 1,485 414 1,439 2,294 880 700 633 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ............. 301 249 324 211 318 413 429 277 274 

Miscellaneous ...................................................... 800 790 757 687 650 1,011 1,101 643 564 

Cash contributions ............................................... 1,836 2,316 1,481 1,189 1,517 1,610 1,459 587 1,006 

Personal insurance and pensions ........................ 6,722 5,723 7,645 7,069 7,524 8,257 6,434 2,648 2,836 

Life and other personal insurance ...................... 594 604 570 389 543 742 688 204 170 

Pensions and Social Security ............................ 6,128 5,119 7,075 6,680 6,981 7,516 5,745 2,444 2,665 

1 Value less than 0.05.

n.a. Not applicable.

14
Table 7. Number of earners in consumer unit: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer

Expenditure Survey, 2004

Item

All

consumer

units

Single consumers Consumer units of two or more persons

No earner One earner No earner One earner Two earners

Three or

more

earners

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ....... 116,282 12,607 21,079 10,012 23,873 39,198 9,513 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ...................................... $54,453 $15,219 $35,873 $26,878 $50,684 $76,821 $93,931 

Age of reference person ................................. 48.5 68.9 41.7 65.9 46.7 42.7 46.4 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ........................................................ 2.5 1.0 1.0 2.3 3.0 3.0 4.3 

Children under 18 ......................................... .6 n.a. n.a. .3 1.1 .9 1.1 

Persons 65 and over .................................... .3 .7 .1 1.2 .3 .1 .1 

Earners ......................................................... 1.3 n.a. 1.0 n.a. 1.0 2.0 3.3 

Vehicles ........................................................ 1.9 .8 1.2 1.8 2.0 2.5 3.2 

Percent homeowner ....................................... 68 59 47 77 68 76 81 

Average annual expenditures ........................... $43,395 $18,398 $29,640 $32,404 $43,955 $55,718 $66,606 

Food ............................................................... 5,781 2,539 3,433 5,180 6,096 7,182 9,454 

Food at home ............................................... 3,347 1,708 1,664 3,537 3,742 3,977 5,475 

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 461 250 215 494 541 531 756 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 880 421 405 987 979 1,035 1,542 

Dairy products ............................................ 371 192 178 394 418 444 591 

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 561 321 284 625 629 648 897 

Other food at home .................................... 1,075 524 582 1,036 1,175 1,320 1,690 

Food away from home .................................. 2,434 831 1,769 1,643 2,354 3,205 3,979 

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 459 167 475 349 368 600 601 

Housing .......................................................... 13,918 7,569 10,247 10,584 14,837 17,152 18,365 

Shelter .......................................................... 7,998 4,350 6,732 5,277 8,440 9,739 10,221 

Owned dwellings ........................................ 5,324 2,041 3,440 3,359 5,591 7,152 7,721 

Rented dwellings ........................................ 2,201 2,141 2,969 1,486 2,334 2,008 1,794 

Other lodging .............................................. 473 168 323 432 515 580 706 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 2,927 1,774 1,863 2,780 3,181 3,437 4,224 

Household operations .................................. 753 619 337 454 761 1,101 711 

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 594 316 314 626 648 744 803 

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,646 510 1,000 1,447 1,808 2,130 2,407 

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,816 562 1,184 1,135 1,945 2,437 2,760 

Transportation ................................................ 7,801 2,133 5,022 5,431 7,676 10,337 13,838 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 3,397 727 2,122 2,344 3,314 4,543 6,355 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 1,598 477 1,003 1,115 1,607 2,103 2,800 

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,365 768 1,587 1,623 2,282 3,139 4,009 

Public transportation ..................................... 441 161 310 348 472 552 673 

Health care ...................................................... 2,574 2,390 1,282 3,973 2,682 2,771 3,127 

Entertainment ................................................. 2,218 746 1,411 2,196 2,222 2,920 3,096 

Personal care products and services ............. 581 285 398 491 592 709 929 

Reading .......................................................... 130 91 102 133 124 157 151 

Education ....................................................... 905 376 781 146 820 1,083 2,166 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 288 135 186 221 327 354 419 

Miscellaneous ................................................. 690 435 566 658 725 777 891 

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,408 822 1,150 1,436 1,322 1,718 1,664 

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 4,823 148 3,403 471 4,219 7,522 9,143 

Life and other personal insurance ................ 390 132 154 379 412 520 681 

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 4,433 116 3,249 92 3,808 7,002 8,462 

1 Data are likely to have large sampling errors.

n.a. Not applicable.

15
Table 8. Housing tenure and type of area: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2004

Item

All

consumer

units

Housing tenure Type of area

Homeowner

Renter

Urban

Rural

Total

Homeowner

with

mortgage

Homeowner

without

mortgage

Total Central

City

Other

Urban

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ....... 116,282 78,698 49,098 29,600 37,584 101,336 34,336 67,001 14,945 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ...................................... $54,453 $65,436 $76,571 $46,967 $31,455 $55,769 $46,596 $60,470 $45,530 

Age of reference person ................................. 48.5 52.3 46.3 62.3 40.4 48.0 46.7 48.7 51.6 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ........................................................ 2.5 2.6 2.9 2.1 2.2 2.5 2.4 2.5 2.5 

Children under 18 ......................................... .6 .7 .9 .3 .6 .6 .6 .7 .6 

Persons 65 and over .................................... .3 .4 .2 .7 .1 .3 .3 .3 .4 

Earners ......................................................... 1.3 1.4 1.7 .9 1.2 1.3 1.2 1.4 1.3 

Vehicles ........................................................ 1.9 2.3 2.5 2.0 1.2 1.9 1.5 2.0 2.5 

Percent homeowner ....................................... 68 100 100 100 n.a. 65 53 72 83 

Average annual expenditures ........................... $43,395 $50,195 $57,978 $36,936 $29,170 $44,172 $38,428 $47,107 $38,088 

Food ............................................................... 5,781 6,451 7,095 5,197 4,383 5,854 5,325 6,122 5,263 

Food at home ............................................... 3,347 3,711 3,975 3,188 2,587 3,370 3,053 3,529 3,181 

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 461 511 542 449 358 463 410 490 444 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 880 963 1,033 822 707 882 845 901 861 

Dairy products ............................................ 371 413 437 366 281 373 324 397 356 

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 561 619 651 554 440 575 523 601 464 

Other food at home .................................... 1,075 1,206 1,311 997 802 1,077 951 1,141 1,057 

Food away from home .................................. 2,434 2,740 3,121 2,009 1,796 2,484 2,271 2,592 2,081 

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 459 492 547 386 391 484 473 489 287 

Housing .......................................................... 13,918 15,653 19,169 9,786 10,290 14,487 12,866 15,316 10,059 

Shelter .......................................................... 7,998 8,503 11,272 3,912 6,941 8,488 7,683 8,901 4,678 

Owned dwellings ........................................ 5,324 7,837 10,550 3,336 64 5,587 4,077 6,360 3,547 

Rented dwellings ........................................ 2,201 57 55 60 6,690 2,411 3,225 1,994 777 

Other lodging .............................................. 473 609 666 515 187 490 382 546 353 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 2,927 3,442 3,722 2,979 1,847 2,940 2,632 3,098 2,834 

Household operations .................................. 753 930 1,081 679 382 793 679 851 482 

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 594 712 747 641 351 597 511 640 578 

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,646 2,066 2,347 1,575 770 1,669 1,361 1,826 1,488 

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,816 2,007 2,346 1,373 1,416 1,867 1,770 1,915 1,464 

Transportation ................................................ 7,801 9,151 10,703 6,575 4,975 7,702 6,363 8,388 8,474 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 3,397 4,057 4,849 2,744 2,014 3,290 2,535 3,677 4,125 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 1,598 1,826 2,075 1,413 1,120 1,549 1,270 1,692 1,926 

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,365 2,758 3,216 1,997 1,544 2,389 2,055 2,560 2,206 

Public transportation ..................................... 441 510 563 422 297 474 504 459 217 

Health care ...................................................... 2,574 3,196 2,966 3,582 1,272 2,498 2,102 2,701 3,090 

Entertainment ................................................. 2,218 2,700 3,029 2,136 1,210 2,236 1,786 2,466 2,102 

Personal care products and services ............. 581 659 730 528 418 598 555 620 461 

Reading .......................................................... 130 156 162 147 76 134 124 139 108 

Education ....................................................... 905 965 1,167 623 781 972 877 1,021 450 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 288 274 293 242 319 279 275 281 348 

Miscellaneous ................................................. 690 783 791 770 495 692 578 750 677 

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,408 1,788 1,629 2,052 612 1,438 1,183 1,568 1,206 

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 4,823 5,918 7,352 3,540 2,531 4,930 4,149 5,330 4,099 

Life and other personal insurance ................ 390 514 579 406 131 383 282 435 437 

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 4,433 5,404 6,772 3,134 2,400 4,547 3,867 4,895 3,662 

n.a. Not applicable.

16
Table 9. Race of reference person: Average annual expenditures and characteristics,

Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2004

Item

All

consumer

units

White and all other races, and

Asian Black or

AfricanAmerican Total

White and

all other

races1

Asian

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ....... 116,282 102,509 98,552 3,957 13,773 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ...................................... $54,453 $56,596 $56,150 $67,705 $38,503 

Age of reference person ................................. 48.5 48.7 49.0 41.7 46.6 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ........................................................ 2.5 2.5 2.4 2.8 2.6 

Children under 18 ......................................... .6 .6 .6 .7 .8 

Persons 65 and over .................................... .3 .3 .3 .2 .2 

Earners ......................................................... 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.5 1.2 

Vehicles ........................................................ 1.9 2.0 2.0 1.7 1.3 

Percent homeowner ....................................... 68 70 71 58 49 

Average annual expenditures ........................... $43,395 $45,135 $44,962 $49,459 $30,481 

Food ............................................................... 5,781 5,987 5,958 6,742 4,265 

Food at home ............................................... 3,347 3,428 3,418 3,689 2,749 

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 461 471 469 527 388 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 880 877 872 1,021 898 

Dairy products ............................................ 371 387 391 286 249 

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 561 577 566 870 442 

Other food at home .................................... 1,075 1,116 1,121 985 772 

Food away from home .................................. 2,434 2,559 2,539 3,053 1,516 

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 459 499 505 325 171 

Housing .......................................................... 13,918 14,306 14,181 17,418 11,043 

Shelter .......................................................... 7,998 8,212 8,071 11,728 6,411 

Owned dwellings ........................................ 5,324 5,615 5,530 7,734 3,165 

Rented dwellings ........................................ 2,201 2,081 2,022 3,537 3,097 

Other lodging .............................................. 473 516 519 458 149 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 2,927 2,932 2,938 2,781 2,884 

Household operations .................................. 753 791 788 885 466 

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 594 625 630 472 374 

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,646 1,746 1,754 1,552 907 

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,816 1,823 1,821 1,885 1,765 

Transportation ................................................ 7,801 8,181 8,166 8,556 4,976 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 3,397 3,617 3,615 3,676 1,759 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 1,598 1,647 1,647 1,637 1,231 

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,365 2,455 2,460 2,330 1,696 

Public transportation ..................................... 441 462 443 913 290 

Health care ...................................................... 2,574 2,736 2,762 2,101 1,368 

Entertainment ................................................. 2,218 2,377 2,401 1,789 1,040 

Personal care products and services ............. 581 592 595 506 503 

Reading .......................................................... 130 141 142 112 53 

Education ....................................................... 905 950 904 2,087 573 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 288 300 308 103 200 

Miscellaneous ................................................. 690 721 728 569 457 

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,408 1,485 1,501 1,089 835 

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 4,823 5,037 4,991 6,176 3,230 

Life and other personal insurance ................ 390 404 408 306 292 

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 4,433 4,634 4,584 5,871 2,938 

1 All other races includes Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, American Indian or Alaska Native, and

approximately 1.5 percent reporting more than one race.

17
Table 10. Hispanic or Latino origin of reference person: Average annual expenditures

and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2004

Item

All

consumer

units

Hispanic

or Latino

Not Hispanic or Latino

Total

White and

all other

races

Black or

AfricanAmerican

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ....... 116,282 12,298 103,984 90,424 13,559 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ...................................... $54,453 $43,693 $55,726 $58,314 $38,464 

Age of reference person ................................. 48.5 42.2 49.2 49.6 46.6 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ........................................................ 2.5 3.3 2.4 2.3 2.6 

Children under 18 ......................................... .6 1.2 .6 .5 .8 

Persons 65 and over .................................... .3 .2 .3 .3 .2 

Earners ......................................................... 1.3 1.6 1.3 1.3 1.2 

Vehicles ........................................................ 1.9 1.7 2.0 2.1 1.3 

Percent homeowner ....................................... 68 50 70 73 50 

Average annual expenditures ........................... $43,395 $37,578 $44,084 $46,163 $30,286 

Food ............................................................... 5,781 5,911 5,764 5,999 4,230 

Food at home ............................................... 3,347 3,883 3,281 3,367 2,725 

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 461 517 454 464 387 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 880 1,175 844 836 893 

Dairy products ............................................ 371 425 364 382 245 

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 561 712 542 559 435 

Other food at home .................................... 1,075 1,054 1,077 1,125 766 

Food away from home .................................. 2,434 2,027 2,483 2,633 1,505 

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 459 320 476 523 172 

Housing .......................................................... 13,918 12,884 14,042 14,503 10,977 

Shelter .......................................................... 7,998 7,833 8,018 8,266 6,362 

Owned dwellings ........................................ 5,324 4,107 5,469 5,817 3,145 

Rented dwellings ........................................ 2,201 3,501 2,047 1,894 3,068 

Other lodging .............................................. 473 226 502 555 150 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 2,927 2,671 2,957 2,966 2,894 

Household operations .................................. 753 574 774 820 467 

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 594 503 606 641 372 

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,646 1,303 1,687 1,809 881 

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,816 1,817 1,816 1,830 1,724 

Transportation ................................................ 7,801 7,497 7,837 8,273 4,936 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 3,397 3,445 3,391 3,639 1,741 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 1,598 1,650 1,591 1,646 1,229 

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,365 2,048 2,403 2,511 1,684 

Public transportation ..................................... 441 355 452 477 282 

Health care ...................................................... 2,574 1,588 2,691 2,891 1,362 

Entertainment ................................................. 2,218 1,443 2,311 2,503 1,035 

Personal care products and services ............. 581 519 588 602 501 

Reading .......................................................... 130 53 140 152 54 

Education ....................................................... 905 438 961 1,019 573 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 288 155 304 319 201 

Miscellaneous ................................................. 690 477 715 754 459 

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,408 710 1,491 1,589 836 

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 4,823 3,765 4,948 5,207 3,226 

Life and other personal insurance ................ 390 155 418 437 293 

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 4,433 3,610 4,530 4,770 2,933 

18
Table 11. Region of residence: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2004

Item

All

consumer

units

Northeast Midwest South West

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ........................ 116,282 22,051 26,539 41,801 25,891 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ...................................................... $54,453 $61,050 $53,567 $50,775 $55,682 

Age of reference person ................................................. 48.5 50.3 49.1 48.2 46.7 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ......................................................................... 2.5 2.4 2.4 2.5 2.6 

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

Persons 65 and over ..................................................... .3 .3 .3 .3 .3 

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

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

Percent homeowner ........................................................ 68 65 73 69 62 

Average annual expenditures ........................................... $43,395 $46,115 $43,371 $39,174 $47,922 

Food ................................................................................ 5,781 6,368 5,592 5,318 6,224 

Food at home ................................................................ 3,347 3,634 3,189 3,119 3,634 

Cereals and bakery products ...................................... 461 521 446 427 480 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..................................... 880 1,008 781 849 922 

Dairy products ............................................................. 371 417 358 329 411 

Fruits and vegetables .................................................. 561 638 510 501 645 

Other food at home ..................................................... 1,075 1,050 1,094 1,013 1,177 

Food away from home .................................................. 2,434 2,733 2,403 2,199 2,590 

Alcoholic beverages ........................................................ 459 625 427 348 532 

Housing ........................................................................... 13,918 15,734 13,438 12,250 15,557 

Shelter ........................................................................... 7,998 9,626 7,339 6,621 9,513 

Owned dwellings ......................................................... 5,324 6,387 5,260 4,456 5,887 

Rented dwellings ......................................................... 2,201 2,674 1,556 1,826 3,066 

Other lodging .............................................................. 473 565 523 339 560 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................................ 2,927 3,098 2,957 2,975 2,672 

Household operations ................................................... 753 793 707 673 894 

Housekeeping supplies ................................................. 594 586 661 549 606 

Household furnishings and equipment .......................... 1,646 1,630 1,775 1,432 1,871 

Apparel and services ...................................................... 1,816 2,176 1,672 1,643 1,936 

Transportation ................................................................. 7,801 7,622 7,710 7,233 8,966 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ...................................... 3,397 3,196 3,315 3,195 3,979 

Gasoline and motor oil .................................................. 1,598 1,386 1,620 1,598 1,755 

Other vehicle expenses ................................................ 2,365 2,396 2,413 2,160 2,622 

Public transportation ..................................................... 441 644 363 280 609 

Health care ....................................................................... 2,574 2,371 2,861 2,508 2,560 

Entertainment .................................................................. 2,218 2,017 2,208 2,134 2,538 

Personal care products and services .............................. 581 631 563 542 620 

Reading ........................................................................... 130 145 150 98 150 

Education ........................................................................ 905 1,152 928 631 1,115 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ........................ 288 296 340 291 223 

Miscellaneous ................................................................. 690 760 797 512 809 

Cash contributions .......................................................... 1,408 1,108 1,790 1,252 1,525 

Personal insurance and pensions ................................... 4,823 5,110 4,895 4,414 5,167 

Life and other personal insurance ................................. 390 364 439 394 357 

Pensions and Social Security ....................................... 4,433 4,746 4,456 4,020 4,809 

19
Table 12. Occupation of reference person: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2004

Item

Selfemployed

workers

Wage and salary earners

Retired

All other,

including

not

reporting Total

Managers

and

professionals

Technical

sales and

clerical

workers

Service

workers

Construction

workers

and

mechanics

Operators

fabricators

and

laborers

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ....... 5,262 76,790 28,960 21,461 11,309 4,443 10,616 20,060 14,170 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ...................................... $71,241 $62,679 $86,705 $53,033 $40,433 $51,542 $44,997 $30,399 $37,693 

Age of reference person ................................. 50.3 42.3 43.8 41.6 41.2 39.9 41.7 73.8 45.5 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ........................................................ 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.5 2.7 2.7 2.8 1.7 2.8 

Children under 18 ......................................... .7 .7 .7 .7 .8 .8 .9 .1 .9 

Persons 65 and over .................................... .3 .1 .1 .1 .1 1 ( ) .1 1.2 .2 

Earners ......................................................... 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.8 1.8 .2 .7 

Vehicles ........................................................ 2.3 2.1 2.2 2.0 1.7 2.4 2.1 1.6 1.6 

Percent homeowner ....................................... 82 66 76 62 50 66 59 80 56 

Average annual expenditures ........................... $55,464 $47,576 $61,111 $43,271 $34,695 $42,722 $35,253 $30,450 $34,684 

Food ............................................................... 6,922 6,173 7,255 5,701 5,215 5,813 5,404 4,200 5,530 

Food at home ............................................... 3,853 3,437 3,733 3,218 3,143 3,506 3,378 2,711 3,598 

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 508 469 495 459 451 456 444 386 510 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 1,032 901 943 797 902 957 974 688 990 

Dairy products ............................................ 450 377 418 357 325 391 357 310 395 

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 670 564 638 517 504 532 539 502 588 

Other food at home .................................... 1,194 1,127 1,240 1,088 959 1,171 1,063 825 1,114 

Food away from home .................................. 3,069 2,736 3,522 2,483 2,072 2,307 2,027 1,489 1,931 

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 602 530 678 510 357 556 347 299 257 

Housing .......................................................... 16,060 15,098 19,338 13,984 11,375 12,477 10,871 10,363 11,770

Shelter .......................................................... 9,229 8,840 11,393 8,237 6,643 7,136 6,143 5,329 6,762 

Owned dwellings ........................................ 6,879 5,933 8,489 5,258 3,389 4,543 3,619 3,526 3,996 

Rented dwellings ........................................ 1,483 2,413 2,085 2,596 3,000 2,317 2,354 1,398 2,455 

Other lodging .............................................. 867 493 820 383 254 277 171 406 311 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 3,362 3,030 3,452 2,860 2,623 2,862 2,729 2,559 2,723 

Household operations .................................. 863 822 1,250 681 457 580 427 668 460 

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 736 612 789 566 433 461 484 536 529 

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,869 1,795 2,454 1,640 1,219 1,438 1,087 1,270 1,296 

Apparel and services ...................................... 2,106 2,043 2,618 1,848 1,612 1,797 1,460 970 1,706 

Transportation ................................................ 9,530 8,799 10,556 8,343 6,481 9,704 7,021 4,976 5,751 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 4,167 3,852 4,477 3,791 2,721 5,025 2,984 2,050 2,554 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 1,825 1,791 1,952 1,688 1,523 2,023 1,751 998 1,312 

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,950 2,671 3,299 2,524 1,963 2,432 2,109 1,571 1,616 

Public transportation ..................................... 587 485 828 340 274 224 177 357 269 

Health care ...................................................... 3,679 2,265 2,855 2,115 1,658 1,917 1,753 3,868 2,003 

Entertainment ................................................. 2,850 2,410 3,366 2,000 1,686 1,763 1,679 1,722 1,651 

Personal care products and services ............. 681 627 796 599 498 450 436 483 439 

Reading .......................................................... 170 132 197 115 73 81 74 143 90 

Education ....................................................... 1,099 1,101 1,692 945 703 646 422 167 821 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 336 304 211 297 325 557 445 168 353 

Miscellaneous ................................................. 930 718 917 653 518 788 496 583 601 

Cash contributions .......................................... 2,140 1,419 2,116 1,202 746 949 874 1,476 978 

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 8,359 5,957 8,516 4,961 3,448 5,223 3,971 1,031 2,734 

Life and other personal insurance ................ 688 411 593 354 211 377 255 339 241 

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 7,671 5,546 7,923 4,607 3,237 4,846 3,716 692 2,492 

1 Value less than 0.05.

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Table 13. Education of reference person: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2004

Item

All

consumer

units

Less than college graduate College graduate

Total

Less than

high

school

graduate

High

school

graduate

High

school

graduate

with

some

college

Associate’s

degree Total Bachelor’sdegree

Master’s,

professional,

doctoral

degree

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ......... 116,282 83,830 16,829 31,005 25,317 10,678 32,452 20,684 11,768 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ........................................ $54,453 $43,083 $29,094 $42,334 $46,756 $58,593 $83,825 $75,647 $98,201 

Age of reference person ................................... 48.5 49.1 54.8 50.6 44.9 45.6 46.9 45.2 49.8 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons .......................................................... 2.5 2.5 2.7 2.5 2.3 2.6 2.5 2.4 2.5 

Children under 18 ........................................... .6 .6 .8 .6 .6 .7 .6 .6 .6 

Persons 65 and over ...................................... .3 .3 .5 .4 .3 .2 .2 .2 .3 

Earners ........................................................... 1.3 1.3 1.0 1.3 1.3 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 

Vehicles .......................................................... 1.9 1.9 1.4 1.9 1.9 2.2 2.1 2.1 2.1 

Percent homeowner ......................................... 68 64 57 68 60 74 76 73 82 

Average annual expenditures ............................ $43,395 $36,654 $25,421 $35,439 $40,878 $48,177 $60,712 $56,728 $67,801 

Food ................................................................. 5,781 5,213 4,260 5,182 5,505 6,218 7,206 6,848 7,877 

Food at home ................................................. 3,347 3,174 2,991 3,229 3,098 3,482 3,779 3,626 4,071 

Cereals and bakery products ....................... 461 443 413 466 425 465 504 494 524 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ...................... 880 867 889 890 808 898 911 872 985 

Dairy products .............................................. 371 344 325 346 335 394 436 415 474 

Fruits and vegetables ................................... 561 512 507 510 502 551 682 640 761 

Other food at home ...................................... 1,075 1,006 856 1,017 1,028 1,173 1,246 1,204 1,326 

Food away from home ................................... 2,434 2,039 1,269 1,952 2,407 2,736 3,428 3,222 3,806 

Alcoholic beverages ......................................... 459 359 202 345 452 448 711 693 746 

Housing ............................................................ 13,918 11,682 8,724 11,208 12,915 14,855 19,676 18,305 22,110 

Shelter ............................................................ 7,998 6,563 4,913 6,177 7,364 8,389 11,706 10,956 13,024 

Owned dwellings .......................................... 5,324 4,083 2,412 3,869 4,623 6,062 8,530 7,689 10,009 

Rented dwellings .......................................... 2,201 2,184 2,425 2,066 2,303 1,863 2,246 2,462 1,866 

Other lodging ................................................ 473 296 76 242 438 464 930 804 1,150 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................. 2,927 2,759 2,414 2,837 2,717 3,172 3,361 3,232 3,586 

Household operations .................................... 753 546 318 475 657 847 1,288 1,125 1,573 

Housekeeping supplies .................................. 594 518 394 507 557 670 786 715 921 

Household furnishings and equipment ........... 1,646 1,297 685 1,212 1,621 1,777 2,536 2,277 3,004 

Apparel and services ........................................ 1,816 1,535 1,150 1,405 1,806 1,948 2,526 2,436 2,690 

Transportation .................................................. 7,801 7,040 4,472 6,819 7,829 9,872 9,766 9,720 9,848 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ....................... 3,397 3,205 1,922 3,046 3,590 4,776 3,893 4,072 3,580 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................... 1,598 1,509 1,142 1,537 1,574 1,852 1,826 1,817 1,841 

Other vehicle expenses .................................. 2,365 2,065 1,259 2,027 2,324 2,851 3,140 3,052 3,293 

Public transportation ...................................... 441 260 149 209 341 393 908 780 1,134 

Health care ........................................................ 2,574 2,328 1,874 2,450 2,325 2,703 3,208 3,031 3,522 

Entertainment ................................................... 2,218 1,814 953 1,685 2,276 2,465 3,259 3,045 3,639 

Personal care products and services ............... 581 503 361 481 554 684 779 754 825 

Reading ............................................................ 130 92 45 85 116 130 229 193 292 

Education ......................................................... 905 560 133 364 981 808 1,797 1,497 2,326 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ......... 288 343 347 380 308 312 147 166 113 

Miscellaneous .................................................. 690 602 382 607 674 760 918 827 1,084 

Cash contributions ........................................... 1,408 968 544 949 1,094 1,390 2,546 2,046 3,425 

Personal insurance and pensions .................... 4,823 3,615 1,974 3,480 4,042 5,584 7,943 7,169 9,305 

Life and other personal insurance .................. 390 299 210 302 311 406 625 551 756 

Pensions and Social Security ......................... 4,433 3,316 1,764 3,178 3,731 5,177 7,318 6,618 8,549 

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