Table 3015. Selected midwestern metropolitan statistical areas: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, 

Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2018-2019

Item 

All consumer 

units in the 

Midwest 

Chicago Detroit MinneapolisSt. Paul St. Louis 

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ............................................. 28,222 3,375 1,959 1,687 1,117 

Consumer unit characteristics: 

 Income before taxes ........................................................................... $76,134 $86,575 $87,214 $108,799 $88,772 

 Age of reference person ..................................................................... 51.7 50.3 52.6 49.4 51.3 

 Average number in consumer unit: 

 People .............................................................................................. 2.4 2.6 2.5 2.3 2.4 

 Children under 18 ............................................................................ .6 .7 .6 .5 .6 

 Adults 65 and older .......................................................................... .4 .3 .4 .3 .4 

 Earners ............................................................................................ 1.3 1.5 1.4 1.4 1.3 

 Vehicles ........................................................................................... 2.1 1.7 1.9 2.3 1.8 

 Percent homeowner ............................................................................ 68 63 74 65 68 

Average annual expenditures ................................................................ $59,282 $64,804 $65,163 $84,006 $64,777 

 Food .................................................................................................... 7,597 8,891 8,277 9,769 7,798 

 Food at home ................................................................................... 4,368 5,068 4,590 5,497 4,441 

 Cereals and bakery products ....................................................... 545 653 600 617 514 

 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ...................................................... 926 1,079 1,023 1,129 960 

 Dairy products .............................................................................. 442 489 422 567 423 

 Fruits and vegetables ................................................................... 788 1,071 908 1,059 777 

 Other food at home ...................................................................... 1,666 1,777 1,636 2,126 1,767 

 Food away from home ..................................................................... 3,229 3,822 3,687 4,271 3,357 

 Alcoholic beverages ............................................................................ 591 653 716 1,112 584 

 Housing ............................................................................................... 18,263 23,677 19,730 26,654 21,243 

 Shelter.............................................................................................. 10,196 15,162 10,866 16,027 11,633 

 Owned dwellings .......................................................................... 6,312 9,342 7,036 9,788 7,720 

 Rented dwellings .......................................................................... 2,978 4,785 2,980 4,335 2,852 

 Other lodging ................................................................................ 906 1,036 850 1,904 1,061 

 Utilities, fuels, and public services ................................................... 3,943 4,066 4,112 3,924 4,330 

 Household operations ...................................................................... 1,432 1,511 1,628 2,401 2,488 

 Housekeeping supplies ................................................................... 752 807 922 951 723 

 Household furnishings and equipment ............................................ 1,941 2,131 2,202 3,351 2,069 

 Apparel and services .......................................................................... 1,816 1,873 2,908 2,999 1,706 

 Transportation ..................................................................................... 10,102 9,084 11,260 11,049 11,123 

 Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ........................................................ 4,107 3,188 3,507 3,705 5,070 

 Gasoline, other fuels, and motor oil................................................. 2,015 1,882 2,111 2,216 2,097 

 Other vehicle expenses ................................................................... 3,294 2,955 4,939 3,664 3,262 

 Public and other transportation ....................................................... 685 1,059 703 1,465 695 

 Healthcare ........................................................................................... 5,445 5,504 5,042 6,448 5,700 

 Entertainment ...................................................................................... 3,373 2,796 4,227 4,962 2,976 

 Personal care products and services ................................................. 728 871 805 950 906 

 Reading ............................................................................................... 118 110 99 291 101 

 Education ............................................................................................ 1,107 1,711 1,044 2,932 1,110 

 Tobacco products and smoking supplies ........................................... 394 258 437 437 376 

 Miscellaneous ..................................................................................... 858 609 1,596 1,325 1,590 

 Cash contributions .............................................................................. 1,803 1,246 1,420 5,498 1,973 

 Personal insurance and pensions ...................................................... 7,088 7,520 7,604 9,581 7,592 

 Life and other personal insurance ................................................... 509 480 410 597 703 

 Pensions and Social Security .......................................................... 6,579 7,040 7,194 8,984 6,889 

Source: Consumer Expenditure Survey, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, September, 2020