Just What Did You Do Last Summer? 

An exploration into local and long-distance travel behavior in the Consumer 

Expenditures Survey before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

David A. King, Ph.D.

Arizona State University

Mark Stroud, MA

The College of Staten Island

Jonathan R. Peters, Ph.D.

The College of Staten Island & The CUNY Graduate School

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Microdata User Conference

Washington, DC

July 19, 2023
Abstract

Households might travel away from home for various reasons, such as recreation or business. 

Travel, whether by car, plane, boat or train, brings with it the consumption of various goods. 

The goal of this study is to explore the role of both local and long-distance household travel 

behavior before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. By using detailed consumption 

information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditures Survey (CEX), we 

seek to explore the mix of goods consumed by travelers as well as the level and frequency of 

their consumption. Furthermore, we aim to understand how travel changed during this period 

as well as how it has rebounded over time. By using both the Diary Survey and the Interview 

Survey data from the CEX, we will also examine the short- and long-term impacts of the 

pandemic as well as the changing landscape of travel expenditures in the United States.
What is the goal of our investigation?

• To determine a pre-pandemic baseline level of consumption for various 

goods and services that are associated with travel. 

• To investigate if consumption of these goods and services increased or 

decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• To determine if certain travel-related sectors of the economy 

experienced a post-pandemic rebound.

• To assess regional nuances in travel-related consumption post-pandemic. 
What Constitutes Recreational Travel?

• Recreational travel encompasses the pursuit of leisure activities during an 

individual's free time (Tribe, 2011). 

• Tourism involves a journey away from home for a period that is typically 

greater than than 24 hours (Graburn, 1983). 

• Transportation, whether by plane, rail, or vehicle, is a fundamental 

component of recreational travel. 

• Individuals engage in recreational travel for a variety of reasons, such as: 

adventure seeking, rest and relaxation, and exploring new cultures and 

landscapes.
• The process of travel “involves decision-making across an entire range 

of vacation contexts that is complex and affected by many situational 

and environmental factors” (Kah & Lee, 2015, p. 373). 

• Between 2011 and 2016, the growth rate of global tourism surpassed 

world trade growth (Demir & Gozgor, 2018). 

• In 2019, global travel and tourism accounted for $8.9 trillion of world 

GDP (Madden, 2021). 

• The 2020 pandemic wreaked havoc on worldwide tourism, upending the 

lives of business owners, hospitality workers, and travelers.

Recreational Travel = Serious Business
Lodging: CEX Variables of Interest 

• Vacation clubs: UCC 680905

• Lodging on out-of-town trips: UCC 210210

• Alcoholic beverages purchased on trips: UCC 200900
Vacation Clubs: UCC 680905

Share of households with consumption

Area 2010 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

UnknownR 0.00% 0.00% 0.41% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 1.15%

NE Rural 0.00% 0.36% 0.39% 0.19% 0.20% 0.00% 0.46% 0.64%

NE Urban 0.44% 0.17% 0.71% 0.00% 0.00% 0.41% 0.23% 0.30%

MW Rural 0.10% 0.37% 0.13% 0.13% 0.00% 0.33% 0.31% 0.17%

MW Urban 0.00% 0.88% 0.70% 0.25% 0.00% 0.00% 0.24% 0.86%

S Rural 0.11% 0.27% 0.27% 0.14% 0.30% 0.09% 0.27% 0.00%

S Urban 0.00% 0.14% 0.00% 0.00% 0.20% 0.43% 0.18% 0.00%

W Rural 0.14% 1.00% 0.16% 0.82% 0.35% 0.92% 0.00% 0.00%

W Urban 0.33% 0.23% 0.24% 0.60% 0.13% 0.36% 0.34% 0.38%

Overall 0.16% 0.36% 0.30% 0.26% 0.17% 0.30% 0.25% 0.26%
Lodging on Out-of-town Trips: UCC 210210 

Share of households with consumption 

Area 2010 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

UnknownR 7.14% 6.57% 6.64% 4.72% 6.67% 4.07% 4.59% 2.30%

NE Rural 6.72% 9.45% 9.36% 7.69% 7.85% 2.18% 8.33% 10.73%

NE Urban 6.39% 6.44% 5.66% 9.53% 5.50% 1.44% 8.47% 7.12%

MW Rural 9.21% 8.10% 9.67% 9.93% 10.53% 4.73% 9.92% 12.93%

MW Urban 7.55% 10.13% 11.16% 11.87% 12.46% 4.23% 10.44% 11.71%

S Rural 6.84% 7.89% 7.84% 8.70% 8.55% 3.70% 6.96% 7.57%

S Urban 7.65% 8.99% 7.99% 11.30% 8.18% 3.43% 9.12% 12.15%

W Rural 8.01% 14.45% 12.74% 13.07% 11.35% 6.96% 12.80% 8.96%

W Urban 8.68% 9.33% 7.09% 7.91% 10.21% 4.22% 8.84% 10.67%

Overall 7.61% 8.96% 8.60% 9.53% 9.18% 3.94% 8.98% 9.93%
0.00%

2.00%

4.00%

6.00%

8.00%

10.00%

12.00%

14.00%

16.00%

2010 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

UnknownR NE Rural NE Urban MW Rural MW Urban S Rural S Urban W Rural W Urban

Lodging on Out-of-town Trips: UCC 210210 

Share of households with consumption 
Alcoholic Beverages Purchased on Trips : UCC 200900 

Percentage of households with consumption

Area 2010 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

UnknownR 2.38% 6.93% 3.73% 2.36% 8.00% 1.63% 7.34% 3.45%

NE Rural 6.72% 9.98% 9.55% 6.92% 9.66% 3.05% 6.25% 10.94%

NE Urban 6.39% 6.78% 7.08% 7.32% 6.46% 0.82% 9.15% 9.20%

MW Rural 6.71% 8.23% 8.92% 9.93% 7.52% 3.75% 7.13% 10.52%

MW Urban 3.95% 10.13% 11.40% 13.38% 13.31% 3.48% 12.38% 12.57%

S Rural 5.23% 5.43% 6.20% 6.47% 6.90% 3.13% 5.15% 8.27%

S Urban 7.79% 7.13% 7.99% 11.30% 8.59% 3.21% 10.53% 13.35%

W Rural 7.87% 13.95% 10.00% 10.13% 10.28% 4.76% 11.69% 8.54%

W Urban 6.72% 9.44% 8.89% 7.91% 9.84% 4.70% 8.38% 11.56%

Overall 6.26% 8.25% 8.13% 8.45% 8.62% 3.41% 8.30% 10.28%
Alcoholic Beverages Purchased on Trips : UCC 200900

Percentage of households with consumption

0.00%

2.00%

4.00%

6.00%

8.00%

10.00%

12.00%

14.00%

16.00%

2010 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

UnknownR NE Rural NE Urban MW Rural MW Urban S Rural S Urban W Rural W Urban
Key Takeaways: Lodging Variables

• The percentage of households with vacation club consumption remained 

steady in 2020, 2021, and 2022. 

• Lodging on out-of-town trips rebounded quickly in 2021. Is this a case 

of pent-up demand? 

• The percentage of households that purchased alcohol on out-of-town 

trips has, as of 2022, exceeded pre-pandemic levels. In five different 

regions, the 2022 percentage of households with alcohol consumption 

exceeded 10%. 
Transportation: CEX Variables of Interest

• Gasoline on out-of-town trips: UCC 470113

• Rental of other vehicles on out-of-town trips: UCC 620919

• Intercity train fares: UCC 530510

• Ship fares: UCC 530901

• Airline fares: UCC 530110
Area 2010 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

UnknownR 9.52% 15.69% 14.52% 12.74% 13.33% 8.94% 13.76% 3.45%

NE Rural 11.44% 11.23% 11.31% 8.08% 12.68% 5.01% 11.34% 13.52%

NE Urban 8.82% 7.46% 5.84% 7.32% 7.42% 2.26% 8.47% 8.01%

MW Rural 13.31% 13.59% 14.82% 12.05% 15.04% 7.67% 13.33% 16.38%

MW Urban 11.66% 14.10% 14.42% 12.12% 14.16% 9.45% 14.08% 16.00%

S Rural 9.51% 11.00% 10.29% 12.08% 11.78% 6.17% 9.86% 11.50%

S Urban 12.04% 9.13% 8.95% 12.46% 7.16% 6.21% 11.23% 14.94%

W Rural 12.73% 22.76% 22.74% 19.28% 19.86% 11.17% 17.44% 17.29%

W Urban 10.09% 10.81% 11.90% 9.47% 10.47% 6.63% 10.22% 10.55%

Overall 10.89% 12.32% 12.36% 11.80% 12.39% 6.83% 11.74% 13.08%

Gas on out-of-town trips: UCC 470113

Percentage of households with consumption
Gas on out-of-town trips: UCC 470113

Percentage of households with consumption

0.00%

5.00%

10.00%

15.00%

20.00%

25.00%

2010 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

UnknownR NE Rural NE Urban MW Rural MW Urban S Rural S Urban W Rural W Urban
Area 2010 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

UnknownR 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.47% 0.44% 1.63% 0.00% 0.00%

NE Rural 0.00% 0.18% 0.19% 0.19% 0.40% 0.00% 0.23% 0.64%

NE Urban 0.33% 0.00% 0.53% 0.22% 0.48% 0.41% 0.23% 0.00%

MW Rural 0.20% 1.12% 0.13% 0.40% 0.45% 0.33% 0.31% 0.00%

MW Urban 0.34% 0.22% 0.70% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.97% 0.00%

S Rural 0.11% 0.13% 0.20% 0.00% 0.45% 0.09% 0.36% 0.20%

S Urban 0.14% 0.14% 0.00% 0.50% 0.41% 0.43% 0.70% 0.80%

W Rural 0.29% 1.16% 0.32% 0.33% 0.53% 0.18% 0.56% 0.42%

W Urban 0.11% 0.46% 0.84% 0.48% 1.13% 0.84% 0.80% 0.76%

Overall 0.18% 0.39% 0.33% 0.26% 0.52% 0.34% 0.51% 0.37%

Vehicle rentals on out-of-town trips: UCC 620919

Percentage of households with consumption
0.00%

0.20%

0.40%

0.60%

0.80%

1.00%

1.20%

1.40%

1.60%

1.80%

2010 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

UnknownR NE Rural NE Urban MW Rural MW Urban S Rural S Urban W Rural W Urban

Vehicle rentals on out-of-town trips: UCC 620919

Percentage of households with consumption
Area 2010 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

UnknownR 0.00% 1.46% 0.41% 0.00% 0.89% 0.81% 0.92% 1.15%

NE Rural 1.49% 2.85% 1.95% 1.73% 1.41% 0.22% 0.23% 1.72%

NE Urban 1.87% 1.86% 2.12% 3.55% 1.20% 0.62% 0.69% 2.97%

MW Rural 1.80% 1.50% 1.26% 2.65% 1.80% 0.00% 0.78% 2.24%

MW Urban 1.54% 2.20% 2.33% 3.54% 1.98% 0.00% 0.73% 2.86%

S Rural 1.56% 1.66% 1.36% 2.01% 1.50% 0.00% 0.63% 1.41%

S Urban 2.83% 2.85% 3.04% 3.32% 2.86% 0.43% 1.75% 1.79%

W Rural 3.72% 3.65% 3.87% 2.94% 3.01% 0.73% 2.23% 2.50%

W Urban 2.71% 2.50% 3.13% 2.28% 2.02% 0.36% 0.92% 3.56%

Overall 2.11% 2.23% 2.17% 2.49% 1.87% 0.28% 0.98% 2.29%

Intercity Train Fares: UCC 530510

Percentage of households with consumption
0.00%

0.50%

1.00%

1.50%

2.00%

2.50%

3.00%

3.50%

4.00%

4.50%

2010 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

UnknownR NE Rural NE Urban MW Rural MW Urban S Rural S Urban W Rural W Urban

Intercity Train Fares: UCC 530510

Percentage of households with consumption
Area 2010 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

UnknownR $0.00 $5,280.00 $120.00 $0.00 $372.00 $348.00 $456.00 $24.00

NE Rural $3,048.00 $16,296.00 $10,536.00 $34,836.03 $14,263.97 $600.00 $12.00 $5,040.00

NE Urban $23,831.96 $14,927.99 $15,408.00 $34,340.00 $9,272.00 $4,080.00 $29,520.00 $9,464.00

MW Rural $35,004.06 $10,716.00 $18,132.00 $56,136.00 $25,116.00 $0.00 $8,148.00 $12,204.01

MW Urban $32,472.00 $7,800.00 $8,292.00 $15,796.06 $6,264.02 $0.00 $1,164.00 $24,048.00

S Rural $38,340.12 $37,140.00 $54,156.00 $33,071.92 $38,376.00 $0.00 $6,216.00 $30,084.04

S Urban $27,468.00 $12,024.00 $57,251.94 $42,144.00 $35,700.00 $1,128.00 $4,620.00 $13,068.00

W Rural $28,871.96 $30,191.92 $33,084.00 $22,548.06 $17,471.92 $1,308.00 $20,952.00 $13,380.00

W Urban $33,072.00 $40,236.02 $37,436.10 $31,920.00 $27,408.00 $9,012.00 $6,288.00 $38,508.12

Totals $222,108.10 $174,611.93 $234,416.04 $270,792.07 $174,243.91 $16,476.00 $77,376.00 $145,820.17

Intercity Train Fares: UCC 530510

Total Survey Spending
Area 2010 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

UnknownR 0.00% 0.36% 0.41% 0.94% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%

NE Rural 1.00% 1.60% 0.97% 1.73% 1.01% 0.00% 0.69% 0.86%

NE Urban 1.43% 1.02% 0.71% 0.00% 0.24% 0.00% 0.46% 0.59%

MW Rural 0.50% 0.75% 1.13% 0.79% 0.60% 0.00% 0.78% 0.52%

MW Urban 0.86% 1.76% 0.70% 2.53% 0.85% 0.00% 0.97% 1.43%

S Rural 0.67% 0.73% 0.82% 1.29% 0.60% 0.00% 0.63% 0.71%

S Urban 1.27% 1.28% 1.92% 1.83% 2.45% 0.00% 0.88% 1.20%

W Rural 1.86% 2.49% 0.81% 0.33% 0.53% 0.00% 0.93% 1.04%

W Urban 1.19% 1.48% 1.56% 1.32% 1.26% 0.36% 0.46% 2.29%

Overall 1.02% 1.22% 1.05% 1.20% 0.86% 0.06% 0.68% 1.09%

Ship Fares: UCC 530901

Percentage of households with consumption
0.00%

0.50%

1.00%

1.50%

2.00%

2.50%

3.00%

2010 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

UnknownR NE Rural NE Urban MW Rural MW Urban S Rural S Urban W Rural W Urban

Ship Fares: UCC 530901

Percentage of households with consumption
Area 2010 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

UnknownR $ - $ 1,140.00 $ 1,788.00 $ 20,856.00 $ - $ - $ - $ -

NE Rural $ 7,992.00 $ 41,580.00 $ 3,528.00 $ 78,372.00 $ 3,108.00 $ - $ 11,160.00 $242,400.00

NE Urban $137,580.04 $ 40,488.00 $ 24,000.00 $ - $ 1,512.00 $ - $ 7,908.00 $ 6,684.00

MW Rural $ 3,576.00 $ 49,140.00 $ 60,455.97 $ 16,044.00 $142,320.00 $ - $ 21,744.00 $ 3,396.00

MW Urban $ 7,200.00 $ 19,356.00 $ 12,480.00 $ 28,260.00 $ 1,116.00 $ - $ 4,728.00 $ 1,512.00

S Rural $ 55,164.00 $260,999.97 $150,828.00 $ 78,971.94 $ 19,212.00 $ - $ 29,400.00 $ 32,832.03

S Urban $ 11,531.97 $ 39,251.97 $ 36,648.00 $121,296.01 $155,748.00 $ - $ 4,368.00 $ 28,524.00

W Rural $135,071.95 $ 65,028.00 $ 39,780.00 $ 1,092.00 $ 4,248.00 $ - $ 10,068.00 $ 25,980.00

W Urban $ 21,935.98 $228,696.00 $ 17,700.02 $112,812.04 $ 11,820.00 $ 708.00 $ 12,960.00 $ 82,008.00

Total Survey Spending $ 380,051.94 $745,679.94 $347,207.99 $457,703.99 $339,084.00 $ 708.00 $102,336.00 $423,336.03

Ship Fares: UCC 530901

Total Survey Spending
Airline Fares: UCC 530110

Share of households with consumption

Area 2010 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

UnknownR 0.00% 2.19% 1.24% 1.89% 2.67% 1.63% 1.83% 2.30%

NE Rural 2.99% 3.92% 2.92% 3.85% 3.62% 0.44% 2.31% 5.79%

NE Urban 3.97% 4.41% 5.13% 7.76% 3.11% 0.82% 4.35% 4.75%

MW Rural 3.20% 3.74% 4.02% 5.30% 3.61% 1.47% 3.88% 5.34%

MW Urban 4.12% 6.17% 7.44% 7.32% 3.97% 1.24% 6.31% 5.71%

S Rural 3.39% 2.65% 3.61% 4.67% 3.90% 0.95% 3.07% 3.73%

S Urban 6.09% 5.71% 8.31% 9.30% 9.20% 1.28% 5.79% 5.78%

W Rural 9.01% 8.47% 7.26% 9.48% 7.98% 1.83% 5.38% 7.92%

W Urban 6.83% 7.85% 10.10% 6.95% 7.94% 2.29% 7.12% 9.78%

Overall 4.73% 4.90% 5.67% 6.32% 5.25% 1.35% 4.69% 6.05%
• The pandemic changed the way individuals travel and the products and 

services that they consume. 

• Total survey spending on ship fares has increased to pre-pandemic levels. NE 

Rural and West Urban consumers appear to be driving this increase. 

• Although the percentage of households with train fare consumption has 

increased since 2020, the amount of survey spending has not rebounded as 

quickly. Why is this the case and how can we further explain? 

• Examining the data provides us with many directions for future research. 

• Lastly, we thank the BLS staff for the opportunity to present at this workshop. 

Closing Remarks