Table 3620. Consumer units of two persons by age of reference person: Average annual expenditures and characteristics,

Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2008-2009

Item

Total

two

persons

Under

25

years

25-34

years

35-44

years

45-54

years

55-64

years

65 years

and older

65-74

years

75 years

and older

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ....... 39,580 1,672 5,180 3,845 8,015 9,954 10,914 6,600 4,313 

Consumer unit characteristics: 

Income before taxes ..................................... $68,280 $37,169 $71,337 $73,754 $81,056 $79,674 $49,892 $55,576 $41,195 

Income after taxes ........................................ 65,595 36,484 68,349 70,580 76,996 76,190 48,956 54,308 40,765 

Age of reference person ................................ 53.9 21.9 29.1 39.9 49.9 59.4 73.5 68.9 80.5 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ........................................................ 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 

Children under 18 ........................................ .1 .1 .2 .2 .1 1 ( ) 1 ( ) 1 ( ) 1 ( )

Persons 65 and older ................................... .5 1 ( ) 1 ( ) 1 ( ) 1 ( ) .2 1.7 1.6 1.8 

Earners ........................................................ 1.2 1.7 1.7 1.5 1.5 1.4 .5 .7 .3 

Vehicles ....................................................... 2.2 1.6 1.8 2.0 2.4 2.5 2.1 2.3 1.8 

Percent distribution:

Sex of reference person:

Male ............................................................. 51 41 56 48 45 50 56 55 58 

Female ......................................................... 49 59 44 52 55 50 44 45 42 

Housing tenure:

Homeowner .................................................. 75 16 47 61 77 88 90 91 90 

With mortgage ............................................ 42 13 41 51 57 50 25 31 14 

Without mortgage ....................................... 34 4 6 10 21 38 66 60 76 

Renter .......................................................... 25 84 53 39 23 12 10 9 10 

Race of reference person:

Black or African-American ........................... 10 13 13 13 12 9 7 7 6 

White, Asian, and all other races ................. 90 87 87 87 88 91 93 93 94 

Hispanic or Latino origin of reference person:

Hispanic or Latino ........................................ 7 12 12 12 7 6 5 6 4 

Not Hispanic or Latino .................................. 93 88 88 88 93 94 95 94 96 

Education of reference person:

Elementary (1-8) .......................................... 4 1 2 3 3 3 8 6 11 

High school (9-12) ........................................ 34 38 24 31 37 32 41 40 43 

College ......................................................... 61 61 75 66 60 65 50 53 46 

Never attended and other ............................ 2 ( ) 3 ( ) 3 ( ) 3 ( ) 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 0 1 2 ( )

At least one vehicle owned or leased ............ 93 83 91 90 93 96 93 95 91 

Average annual expenditures .......................... $52,492 $36,044 $51,021 $54,021 $56,179 $59,206 $46,569 $50,888 $39,978 

Food ............................................................... 6,292 4,155 6,258 6,211 6,597 6,844 6,033 6,506 5,313 

Food at home ............................................... 3,628 2,243 2,992 3,327 3,957 3,923 3,845 4,053 3,528 

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 473 263 399 419 518 488 527 532 520 

Cereals and cereal products .................... 155 97 155 148 163 157 163 163 162 

Bakery products ....................................... 318 166 244 271 355 331 364 369 358 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 817 520 640 782 895 879 869 936 767 

Beef .......................................................... 226 160 168 237 240 247 235 271 182 

Pork .......................................................... 162 112 111 142 182 174 181 197 156 

Other meats ............................................. 110 70 83 97 118 116 126 133 117 

Poultry ...................................................... 145 91 141 155 167 154 132 138 123 

Fish and seafood ..................................... 128 61 103 110 143 137 143 144 141 

Eggs ......................................................... 45 27 35 41 45 51 52 54 49 

Dairy products ............................................ 401 256 333 347 444 441 421 448 379 

Fresh milk and cream .............................. 140 103 117 125 153 150 146 152 136 

Other dairy products ................................ 261 153 216 222 291 291 275 296 243 

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 659 337 516 559 679 744 743 771 699 

Fresh fruits ............................................... 223 94 169 181 221 261 259 279 229 

Fresh vegetables ..................................... 223 117 172 187 240 260 238 251 219 

Processed fruits ....................................... 108 66 93 95 110 109 127 121 135 

Processed vegetables .............................. 105 60 82 95 108 114 119 121 115 

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 3620. Consumer units of two persons by age of reference person: Average annual expenditures and characteristics,

Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2008-2009 — Continued

Item

Total

two

persons

Under

25

years

25-34

years

35-44

years

45-54

years

55-64

years

65 years

and older

65-74

years

75 years

and older

Other food at home .................................... $1,279 $867 $1,103 $1,220 $1,422 $1,373 $1,286 $1,366 $1,163 

Sugar and other sweets ........................... 137 83 95 116 148 149 159 162 154 

Fats and oils ............................................. 106 58 90 84 112 116 120 125 111 

Miscellaneous foods ................................ 647 441 591 638 719 679 642 676 591 

Nonalcoholic beverages ........................... 326 267 292 343 380 340 301 326 264 

Food prepared by consumer unit on

out-of-town trips ..................................... 62 18 35 39 63 89 64 77 43 

Food away from home ................................. 2,663 1,912 3,266 2,885 2,640 2,921 2,188 2,452 1,785 

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 532 445 701 532 582 574 392 485 252 

Housing .......................................................... 17,238 12,763 17,890 18,980 18,080 18,699 15,103 16,098 13,584

Shelter .......................................................... 10,111 8,384 11,957 12,223 10,827 10,588 7,794 8,322 6,986 

Owned dwellings ........................................ 6,919 1,861 6,466 7,810 7,765 7,975 6,009 6,563 5,162 

Mortgage interest and charges ................ 3,404 1,135 4,498 5,247 4,514 3,625 1,565 2,101 746 

Property taxes .......................................... 2,000 409 1,170 1,590 2,112 2,503 2,241 2,311 2,134 

Maintenance, repairs, insurance, other

expenses ................................................ 1,515 317 798 973 1,139 1,848 2,203 2,151 2,283 

Rented dwellings ........................................ 2,230 6,372 5,032 3,696 2,000 1,198 860 813 931 

Other lodging ............................................. 962 150 459 717 1,062 1,415 925 945 893 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ............... 3,769 2,391 3,118 3,534 4,016 4,163 3,832 3,996 3,581 

Natural gas ................................................. 531 257 424 414 539 594 603 595 615 

Electricity .................................................... 1,402 917 1,113 1,314 1,477 1,569 1,436 1,502 1,336 

Fuel oil and other fuels ............................... 221 423 58 175 232 261 300 291 314 

Telephone services .................................... 1,137 984 1,181 1,178 1,289 1,198 958 1,058 804 

Water and other public services ................. 478 210 343 452 480 542 535 550 512 

Household operations .................................. 864 376 728 882 796 966 954 862 1,094 

Personal services ....................................... 149 485 224 293 118 75 162 469 305 

Other household expenses ........................ 715 291 505 589 679 891 792 793 789 

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 735 344 477 606 700 910 856 941 726 

Laundry and cleaning supplies .................. 150 88 117 145 167 162 156 175 128 

Other household products .......................... 402 210 202 335 380 523 470 502 423 

Postage and stationery .............................. 184 46 158 126 153 225 229 264 175 

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,759 1,268 1,610 1,735 1,741 2,071 1,668 1,977 1,197 

Household textiles ...................................... 156 68 103 149 148 222 147 180 98 

Furniture ..................................................... 395 507 493 489 360 427 293 326 244 

Floor coverings .......................................... 51 7 26 45 40 58 74 67 85 

Major appliances ........................................ 227 161 172 209 207 309 209 243 158 

Small appliances, miscellaneous

housewares .............................................. 120 64 78 78 141 161 118 145 77 

Miscellaneous household equipment ......... 809 460 738 765 845 893 826 1,016 536 

Apparel and services ..................................... 1,638 1,498 2,016 1,644 1,769 1,706 1,329 1,611 901 

Men and boys .............................................. 365 278 407 372 380 401 318 404 188 

Men, 16 and over ....................................... 333 250 374 331 337 373 289 365 174 

Boys, 2 to 15 .............................................. 33 28 33 41 42 28 29 38 14 

Women and girls .......................................... 678 541 872 662 769 691 541 656 367 

Women, 16 and over .................................. 624 528 806 574 702 644 502 598 357 

Girls, 2 to 15 ............................................... 53 413 65 88 67 47 39 58 9 

Children under 2 .......................................... 48 67 65 36 47 57 32 39 23 

Footwear ...................................................... 284 336 304 339 299 271 244 282 186 

Other apparel products and services ........... 264 275 368 236 275 287 194 231 138 

Transportation ................................................ 8,772 7,503 8,908 8,965 9,433 9,791 7,473 8,619 5,720 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 3,013 3,204 3,155 3,444 3,037 3,215 2,563 2,951 1,969 

Cars and trucks, new ................................. 1,624 41,115 1,673 1,745 1,528 1,670 1,664 1,817 1,431 

Cars and trucks, used ................................ 1,300 2,054 1,363 1,624 1,416 1,392 871 1,126 481 

Other vehicles ............................................ 89 435 4119 475 93 152 427 48 457 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 2,392 2,360 2,434 2,467 2,702 2,638 1,898 2,184 1,459 

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 3620. Consumer units of two persons by age of reference person: Average annual expenditures and characteristics,

Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2008-2009 — Continued

Item

Total

two

persons

Under

25

years

25-34

years

35-44

years

45-54

years

55-64

years

65 years

and older

65-74

years

75 years

and older

Other vehicle expenses ............................... $2,777 $1,704 $2,622 $2,601 $3,064 $3,263 $2,479 $2,906 $1,829 

Vehicle finance charges ............................. 308 354 394 359 377 337 166 233 64 

Maintenance and repairs ........................... 809 600 701 718 941 958 697 781 567 

Vehicle insurance ....................................... 1,148 4470 863 1,004 1,250 1,358 1,222 1,436 897 

Vehicle rental, leases, licenses, and other

charges .................................................... 512 281 664 519 496 611 394 456 301 

Public transportation .................................... 590 235 697 453 630 675 533 578 464 

Healthcare ...................................................... 3,996 1,076 1,737 2,245 3,179 4,487 6,296 6,158 6,506 

Health insurance .......................................... 2,268 654 1,049 1,238 1,631 2,301 3,895 3,852 3,960 

Medical services .......................................... 896 255 410 587 862 1,196 1,086 1,021 1,184 

Drugs ........................................................... 681 129 205 329 536 830 1,095 1,070 1,135 

Medical supplies .......................................... 151 38 73 91 150 160 220 215 227 

Entertainment ................................................. 3,046 2,006 2,918 3,703 3,143 3,427 2,607 3,193 1,714 

Fees and admissions ................................... 618 313 632 555 630 751 557 664 394 

Audio and visual equipment and services .... 1,082 861 1,248 1,100 1,115 1,145 944 1,045 789 

Pets, toys, hobbies, and playground

equipment .................................................. 840 501 634 1,547 961 790 685 872 400 

Other entertainment supplies, equipment,

and services ............................................... 505 331 404 502 438 741 421 611 131 

Personal care products and services ............. 642 384 633 626 646 680 658 707 583 

Reading .......................................................... 140 54 91 100 120 173 176 181 169 

Education ....................................................... 829 1,730 1,156 479 1,394 845 234 275 170 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 364 435 304 476 544 378 198 240 133 

Miscellaneous ................................................ 897 468 649 998 951 1,182 746 819 634 

Cash contributions ......................................... 2,054 504 1,022 1,838 1,866 2,302 2,767 2,685 2,893 

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 6,053 3,024 6,739 7,224 7,876 8,117 2,558 3,310 1,406 

Life and other personal insurance ................ 407 49 165 198 385 590 499 626 304 

Pensions and Social Security ...................... 5,646 2,975 6,574 7,026 7,491 7,527 2,059 2,685 1,101 

Sources of income and personal taxes: 

Money income before taxes ........................... 68,280 37,169 71,337 73,754 81,056 79,674 49,892 55,576 41,195 

Wages and salaries ..................................... 50,367 34,428 67,331 67,297 71,118 59,662 15,074 20,338 7,020 

Self-employment income ............................. 3,264 847 1,559 2,974 3,418 6,149 1,802 2,806 267 

Social Security, private and government

retirement ................................................... 11,305 4355 418 1,062 3,391 9,997 28,765 28,620 28,988 

Interest, dividends, rental income, other

property income ......................................... 2,209 165 948 851 1,525 2,772 3,589 3,070 4,384 

Unemployment and workers’ compensation,

veterans’ benefits ....................................... 350 4343 280 323 495 551 105 142 448 

Public assistance, supplemental security

income, food stamps .................................. 296 211 167 412 422 288 245 248 242 

Regular contributions for support ................. 283 452 414 648 418 138 100 492 4113 

Other income ............................................... 205 370 220 187 270 119 210 259 134 

Personal taxes ............................................... 2,685 686 2,988 3,174 4,061 3,484 936 1,268 429 

Federal income taxes ................................... 2,209 683 2,456 2,677 3,294 2,798 828 1,095 420 

2008 Tax stimulus (new UCC Q20082) (thru

Q20091) ..................................................... -388 -300 -380 -408 -366 -431 -374 -396 -341 

State and local income taxes ....................... 621 290 792 784 864 834 160 234 45 

Other taxes .................................................. 243 12 121 121 268 284 323 334 304 

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 3620. Consumer units of two persons by age of reference person: Average annual expenditures and characteristics,

Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2008-2009 — Continued

Item

Total

two

persons

Under

25

years

25-34

years

35-44

years

45-54

years

55-64

years

65 years

and older

65-74

years

75 years

and older

Income after taxes ......................................... 65,595 36,484 68,349 70,580 76,996 76,190 48,956 54,308 40,765 

Addenda:

Net change in total assets and liabilities ........ - $5,318 - $2,376 - $9,432 - $10,400 - $9,064 - $2,510 - $1,835 - $1,678 - $2,076 

Net change in total assets ............................ 6,454 12,113 16,646 10,663 4,884 5,010 1,736 3,903 -1,579 

Net change in total liabilities ........................ 11,772 14,489 26,077 21,063 13,948 7,520 3,571 5,581 497 

Other financial information:

Other money receipts ................................... 601 278 216 215 501 990 686 865 412 

Mortgage principal paid on owned property -2,280 -280 -1,509 -2,445 -3,297 -2,971 -1,518 -1,927 -892 

Estimated market value of owned home ...... 190,548 26,458 104,794 145,132 186,097 240,576 230,035 235,355 221,894 

Estimated monthly rental value of owned

home .......................................................... 983 186 632 806 996 1,189 1,137 1,166 1,093 

Gifts of goods and services ............................ 1,456 350 586 939 2,233 2,012 1,169 1,439 759 

Food ............................................................. 137 33 73 75 167 223 107 130 71 

Alcoholic beverages ..................................... 16 47 15 14 9 15 25 34 11 

Housing ........................................................ 272 106 125 214 403 393 191 234 127 

Housekeeping supplies .............................. 41 413 27 34 49 56 40 46 29 

Household textiles ...................................... 15 46 47 415 28 18 9 13 3 

Appliances and miscellaneous

housewares .............................................. 25 410 13 412 39 39 19 22 415 

Major appliances ...................................... 7 48 44 44 6 14 5 7 43 

Small appliances and miscellaneous

housewares ............................................ 18 41 9 48 32 25 14 15 412 

Miscellaneous household equipment ......... 66 410 42 57 92 81 59 85 20 

Other housing ............................................ 125 67 37 96 195 200 65 68 60 

Apparel and services ................................... 268 150 194 274 321 299 260 352 121 

Males, 2 and over ...................................... 65 48 28 55 75 69 81 112 33 

Females, 2 and over .................................. 103 49 72 107 133 111 101 136 47 

Children under 2 ........................................ 44 33 54 32 46 56 32 38 23 

Other apparel products and services ......... 56 419 41 81 67 64 47 66 18 

Jewelry and watches ................................ 16 48 10 25 16 15 16 23 45 

All other apparel products and services ... 41 411 31 56 50 49 31 43 413 

Transportation .............................................. 104 9 25 32 116 144 135 132 140 

Healthcare .................................................... 27 41 49 413 44 38 24 416 437 

Entertainment ............................................... 120 432 74 76 113 185 122 166 53 

Toys, games, arts and crafts, and tricycles 40 413 39 424 31 61 40 63 45 

Other entertainment ................................... 80 420 35 51 82 124 82 103 48 

Personal care products and services ........... 14 44 11 14 13 16 18 23 9 

Reading ........................................................ 1 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 41 1 1 2 2 2 

Education ..................................................... 396 41 35 160 941 567 155 182 113 

All other gifts ................................................ 100 7 26 67 106 131 131 166 76 

1 Value is less than or equal to 0.05. 2 Value is less than or equal to 0.5. 3 No data reported. 4 Data are likely to have large sampling errors.

Source: Consumer Expenditure Survey, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, October, 2010