Table 3320. South region by housing tenure: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer 

Expenditure Survey, 2017-2018

Homeowner 

Item 

All 

consumer 

units in 

the South 

Total 

Homeowner 

with 

mortgage 

Homeowner 

without 

mortgage 

Renter 

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ................................................................50,215 32,586 18,169 14,417 17,629 

Consumer unit characteristics: 

 Income before taxes ................................................................................................ $69,315 $82,982 $105,366 $54,775 $44,052 

 Income after taxes ................................................................................................ 60,518 71,519 89,382 49,009 40,182 

 Age of reference person ................................................................................................ 50.8 55.7 49.5 63.4 41.9 

 Average number in consumer unit: 

 People ................................................................................................................................ 2.4 2.5 2.9 2.1 2.3 

 Children under 18 ................................................................................................ .6 .6 .8 .3 .6 

 Adults 65 and older ................................................................................................ .4 .5 .3 .8 .2 

 Earners ................................................................................................................................ 1.2 1.3 1.6 .8 1.2 

 Vehicles ................................................................................................................................ 1.9 2.2 2.3 2.1 1.2 

Percent distribution: 

 Reference person: 

 Men ................................................................................................................................ 46 48 50 45 44 

 Women ................................................................................................................................ 54 52 50 55 56 

 Housing tenure: 

 Homeowner ................................................................................................ 65 100 100 100 n.a. 

 With mortgage ................................................................................................ 36 56 100 n.a. n.a. 

 Without mortgage ................................................................................................ 29 44 n.a. 100 n.a. 

 Renter ................................................................................................................................ 35 n.a. n.a. n.a. 100 

 Race of reference person: 

 Black or African-American ................................................................................................ 19 14 16 11 29 

 White, Asian, and all other races ................................................................ 81 86 84 89 71 

 Hispanic or Latino origin of reference person: 

 Hispanic or Latino ................................................................................................ 14 11 13 9 18 

 Not Hispanic or Latino ................................................................................................86 89 87 91 82 

 Education of reference person: 

 Elementary (1-8)................................................................................................ 3 3 1 4 3 

 High school (9-12) ................................................................................................ 32 30 23 38 36 

 College ................................................................................................................................ 65 68 76 58 61 

 Never attended and other ................................................................................................ ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) 1 

 At least one vehicle owned or leased ................................................................ 90 96 97 94 79 

Average annual expenditures ................................................................................................ $55,700 $64,007 $75,276 $49,424 $40,346 

 Food ................................................................................................................................ 7,235 8,161 9,034 6,818 5,525 

 Food at home ................................................................................................ 4,059 4,567 4,919 4,014 3,120 

 Cereals and bakery products ................................................................................................ 520 585 614 540 398 

 Cereals and cereal products ................................................................ 159 172 190 143 134 

 Bakery products ................................................................................................ 361 414 424 397 264 

 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ................................................................ 916 1,021 1,125 858 723 

 Beef ................................................................................................................................ 248 278 304 238 192 

 Pork ................................................................................................................................ 186 209 219 193 143 

 Other meats ................................................................................................ 115 134 150 107 81 

 Poultry ................................................................................................................................ 180 190 217 146 161 

 Fish and seafood ................................................................................................132 149 168 118 102 

 Eggs ................................................................................................................................ 55 61 66 55 44 

 Dairy products ................................................................................................ 388 444 477 393 284 

 Fresh milk and cream ................................................................................................ 131 145 157 127 104 

 Other dairy products ................................................................................................ 257 299 319 267 180 

 Fruits and vegetables ................................................................................................ 753 856 927 744 563 

 Fresh fruits ................................................................................................ 272 315 338 279 193 

 Fresh vegetables ................................................................................................239 277 305 233 169 

 Processed fruits ................................................................................................ 103 113 121 99 85 

 Processed vegetables ................................................................................................ 139 151 162 133 117 

 Other food at home ................................................................................................ 1,482 1,661 1,777 1,480 1,151 

 Sugar and other sweets ................................................................................................ 135 157 166 141 94 

 Fats and oils ................................................................................................ 112 128 131 122 84 

 Miscellaneous foods ................................................................................................ 759 845 918 731 600 

See footnotes at end of table. 
Table 3320. South region by housing tenure: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer 

Expenditure Survey, 2017-2018 — Continued 

Homeowner 

Item 

All 

consumer 

units in 

the South 

Total 

Homeowner 

with 

mortgage 

Homeowner 

without 

mortgage 

Renter 

 Nonalcoholic beverages ................................................................................................ 430 475 499 437 347 

 Food prepared by consumer unit on out-of-town trips ................................ 46 56 63 48 26 

 Food away from home................................................................................................ 3,177 3,594 4,114 2,804 2,405 

 Alcoholic beverages ................................................................................................ 477 570 666 425 305 

 Housing ................................................................................................................................ 17,947 19,351 24,244 13,150 15,352 

 Shelter ................................................................................................................................ 10,096 9,996 13,852 5,136 10,280 

 Owned dwellings ................................................................................................5,858 8,984 12,764 4,220 82 

 Mortgage interest and charges ................................................................ 2,771 4,254 7,531 124 231 

 Property taxes ................................................................................................ 1,474 2,257 2,662 1,747 27 

 Maintenance, repairs, insurance, other expenses ................................ 1,613 2,473 2,571 2,349 24 

 Rented dwellings ................................................................................................3,560 106 89 127 9,945 

 Other lodging ................................................................................................ 677 907 999 789 253 

 Utilities, fuels, and public services ................................................................ 3,937 4,546 4,899 4,102 2,811 

 Natural gas ................................................................................................ 240 303 343 251 125 

 Electricity ................................................................................................ 1,678 1,917 1,987 1,830 1,235 

 Fuel oil and other fuels ................................................................................................ 49 66 59 74 19 

 Telephone services ................................................................................................ 1,366 1,530 1,724 1,286 1,062 

 Residential phone service, VOIP, and phone cards ................................ 217 275 220 345 109 

 Cellular phone service ................................................................................................ 1,149 1,255 1,504 941 953 

 Water and other public services ................................................................ 604 731 786 661 369 

 Household operations ................................................................................................ 1,378 1,688 2,077 1,196 806 

 Personal services ................................................................................................ 413 475 739 141 300 

 Other household expenses ................................................................................................ 965 1,213 1,338 1,055 506 

 Housekeeping supplies ................................................................................................ 726 887 929 821 428 

 Laundry and cleaning supplies ................................................................ 184 208 216 195 139 

 Other household products ................................................................................................ 409 511 538 469 219 

 Postage and stationery ................................................................................................ 133 168 175 156 70 

 Household furnishings and equipment ................................................................ 1,810 2,234 2,486 1,896 1,027 

 Household textiles ................................................................................................ 118 149 157 137 61 

 Furniture ................................................................................................................................ 477 558 663 425 327 

 Floor coverings ................................................................................................ 19 24 31 15 10 

 Major appliances ................................................................................................ 279 370 395 338 112 

 Small appliances, miscellaneous housewares ................................................................ 115 130 145 108 88 

 Miscellaneous household equipment ................................................................ 802 1,004 1,096 873 428 

 Apparel and services ................................................................................................1,669 1,810 2,106 1,368 1,409 

 Men and boys ................................................................................................ 378 406 484 292 325 

 Men, 16 and over ................................................................................................ 299 326 379 246 249 

 Boys, 2 to 15 ................................................................................................ 79 81 105 47 76 

 Women and girls ................................................................................................ 663 757 863 596 491 

 Women, 16 and over ................................................................................................ 550 636 690 553 392 

 Girls, 2 to 15 ................................................................................................ 113 120 173 42 99 

 Children under 2 ................................................................................................ 77 68 93 29 93 

 Footwear ................................................................................................................................ 350 368 434 264 316 

 Other apparel products and services ................................................................ 202 211 232 187 184 

 Transportation ................................................................................................ 9,570 11,138 12,876 8,992 6,672 

 Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ................................................................................................ 4,309 5,095 6,238 3,653 2,857 

 Cars and trucks, new ................................................................................................ 2,108 2,728 3,316 1,986 962 

 Cars and trucks, used ................................................................................................ 2,140 2,288 2,841 1,591 1,868 

 Other vehicles ................................................................................................ 61 79 82 76 26 

 Gasoline, other fuels, and motor oil ................................................................ 2,034 2,287 2,611 1,879 1,567 

 Other vehicle expenses ................................................................................................ 2,648 3,042 3,216 2,870 1,918 

 Vehicle finance charges ................................................................................................ 249 288 376 178 177 

 Maintenance and repairs ................................................................................................ 833 992 1,082 884 539 

 Vehicle insurance ................................................................................................1,070 1,228 1,095 1,438 778 

 Vehicle rental, leases, licenses, and other charges ................................ 495 533 662 371 424 

 Public and other transportation ................................................................................................ 579 714 811 590 329 

 Healthcare ................................................................................................................................ 4,724 5,873 5,975 5,755 2,598 

 Health insurance ................................................................................................ 3,320 4,130 4,213 4,024 1,823 

 Medical services ................................................................................................ 779 959 1,051 843 448 

 Drugs ................................................................................................................................ 486 611 543 705 254 

 Medical supplies ................................................................................................ 139 174 168 184 74 

 Entertainment ................................................................................................ 2,804 3,462 3,861 2,916 1,587 

 Fees and admissions ................................................................................................629 787 967 549 338 

 Audio and visual equipment and services................................................................981 1,133 1,230 1,002 700 

See footnotes at end of table. 
Table 3320. South region by housing tenure: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer 

Expenditure Survey, 2017-2018 — Continued 

Homeowner 

Item 

All 

consumer 

units in 

the South 

Total 

Homeowner 

with 

mortgage 

Homeowner 

without 

mortgage 

Renter 

 Pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment ................................................................ 734 905 1,011 758 417 

 Pets ................................................................................................................................ 603 753 826 657 328 

 Toys, hobbies, and playground equipment ................................................................ 130 152 185 101 89 

 Other entertainment supplies, equipment, and services ................................ 460 637 653 607 132 

 Personal care products and services ................................................................ 711 812 907 681 527 

 Reading ................................................................................................................................ 89 107 105 114 56 

 Education ................................................................................................................................ 1,166 1,305 1,623 902 908 

 Tobacco products and smoking supplies ................................................................ 346 338 319 363 359 

 Miscellaneous ................................................................................................ 886 1,098 1,229 926 496 

 Cash contributions ................................................................................................ 1,760 2,269 2,165 2,400 820 

 Personal insurance and pensions ................................................................ 6,315 7,712 10,169 4,615 3,733 

 Life and other personal insurance ................................................................ 432 580 661 478 157 

 Pensions and Social Security................................................................................................ 5,883 7,131 9,508 4,137 3,575 

Sources of income and personal taxes: 

 Money income before taxes ................................................................................................ $69,315 $82,982 $105,366 $54,775 $44,052 

 Wages and salaries ................................................................................................ 54,598 63,868 88,919 32,299 37,463 

 Self-employment income ................................................................................................ 4,227 5,506 7,359 3,171 1,864 

 Social Security, private and government retirement ................................................................ 8,220 11,051 6,912 16,268 2,985 

 Interest, dividends, rental income, other property income ................................ 1,223 1,764 1,356 2,278 223 

 Public assistance, Supplemental Security Income, Supplementary 

 Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) ................................................................ 415 230 195 273 758 

 Unemployment and workers' compensation, veterans' benefits, 

 and regular contributions for support ................................................................ 391 440 474 398 299 

 Other income ................................................................................................ 241 123 150 88 459 

 Personal taxes (contains some imputed values) ................................................................ 8,797 11,463 15,983 5,766 3,870 

 Federal income taxes ................................................................................................ 7,202 9,475 13,234 4,737 3,001 

 State and local income taxes ................................................................................................ 1,533 1,907 2,651 969 841 

 Other taxes ................................................................................................ 63 82 99 60 28 

 Income after taxes ................................................................................................ 60,518 71,519 89,382 49,009 40,182 

Addenda: 

 Net change in total assets and liabilities ................................................................$11,104 $16,324 $7,106 $27,940 $1,455 

 Net change in total assets ................................................................................................ 19,302 28,277 27,344 29,452 2,714 

 Net change in total liabilities ................................................................................................ 8,199 11,953 20,238 1,512 1,259 

 Other financial information: 

 Other money receipts ................................................................................................540 726 750 696 197 

 Mortgage principal paid on owned property ................................................................ -1,769 -2,714 -4,649 -277 -22 

 Estimated market value of owned home ................................................................ 148,408 228,698 260,026 189,218 ( 3 ) 

 Estimated monthly rental value of owned home ................................................................ 939 1,445 1,618 1,228 21 

 Gifts of goods and services, total ................................................................................................ 997 1,263 1,334 1,168 505 

 Food ................................................................................................................................ 89 116 110 125 40 

 Alcoholic beverages ................................................................................................ 8 10 11 8 5 

 Housing ................................................................................................................................ 222 261 275 241 149 

 Housekeeping supplies ................................................................................................ 28 36 36 36 14 

 Household textiles ................................................................................................ 6 8 8 9 22 

 Appliances and miscellaneous housewares ................................................................ 20 29 29 29 24 

 Major appliances ................................................................................................ 9 14 12 16 21 

 Small appliances and miscellaneous housewares ................................ 11 16 17 13 23 

 Miscellaneous household equipment ................................................................ 44 58 64 49 19 

 Other housing ................................................................................................ 122 130 138 118 109 

 Apparel and services ................................................................................................172 194 226 146 131 

 Males, 2 and over ................................................................................................ 37 46 48 44 20 

 Females, 2 and over ................................................................................................69 80 97 55 49 

 Children under 2 ................................................................................................ 25 27 33 16 22 

 Other apparel products and services ................................................................ 41 41 49 31 40 

 Jewelry and watches ................................................................................................ 11 12 18 4 28 

See footnotes at end of table. 
Table 3320. South region by housing tenure: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer 

Expenditure Survey, 2017-2018 — Continued 

Homeowner 

Item 

All 

consumer 

units in 

the South 

Total 

Homeowner 

with 

mortgage 

Homeowner 

without 

mortgage 

Renter 

 All other apparel products and services ................................................................30 29 30 27 31 

 Transportation ................................................................................................ 117 150 190 99 56 

 Healthcare ................................................................................................................................ 14 13 16 9 17 

 Entertainment ................................................................................................ 86 115 130 98 32 

 Toys, games, arts and crafts, and tricycles ................................................................ 25 32 28 39 212 

 Other entertainment ................................................................................................61 83 102 58 20 

 Personal care products and services ................................................................ 12 13 9 18 11 

 Reading ................................................................................................................................ 3 3 4 3 2 

 Education ................................................................................................................................ 207 299 274 332 36 

 All other gifts ................................................................................................ 66 89 88 89 25 

1

 Value is too small to display. 

2

 Data are likely to have large sampling errors. 

3

 No data reported. 

n.a. Not applicable. 

Source: Consumer Expenditure Survey, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, September, 2019