Table 3002. Selected northeastern metropolitan statistical areas: Average

annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey,

2005-2006

Item

All

consumer

units in the

Northeast

New York Philadel-

 phia Boston

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ....... 22,557 8,155 2,856 3,127 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ...................................... $63,655 $73,243 $60,304 $76,273 

Age of reference person ................................. 49.9 50.6 48.4 47.3 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ........................................................ 2.4 2.5 2.4 2.3 

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

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

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

Vehicles ........................................................ 1.6 1.4 1.5 1.8 

Percent homeowner ....................................... 65 58 71 63 

Average annual expenditures ........................... $48,564 $55,137 $45,922 $53,691 

Food ............................................................... 6,357 7,101 6,031 6,865 

Food at home ............................................... 3,554 3,877 3,372 3,760 

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 493 533 454 561 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 851 989 834 866 

Dairy products ............................................ 402 425 382 405 

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 643 759 620 634 

Other food at home .................................... 1,165 1,172 1,082 1,295 

Food away from home .................................. 2,803 3,224 2,659 3,105 

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 480 488 437 573 

Housing .......................................................... 17,072 20,865 16,417 18,922 

Shelter .......................................................... 10,572 13,848 9,722 12,256 

Owned dwellings ........................................ 7,004 8,613 6,748 8,351 

Rented dwellings ........................................ 2,905 4,424 2,510 3,020 

Other lodging .............................................. 663 812 464 885 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 3,498 3,709 3,771 3,590 

Household operations .................................. 849 1,019 877 918 

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 619 599 634 584 

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,535 1,689 1,413 1,574 

Apparel and services ...................................... 2,046 2,746 2,063 1,690 

Transportation ................................................ 7,776 7,792 7,092 9,170 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 2,902 2,416 2,661 4,011 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 1,836 1,798 1,783 1,958 

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,405 2,555 2,227 2,625 

Public transportation ..................................... 633 1,022 421 576 

Healthcare ...................................................... 2,586 2,607 2,188 2,794 

Entertainment ................................................. 2,305 2,451 1,871 2,555 

Personal care products and services ............. 549 659 575 554 

Reading .......................................................... 140 133 108 189 

Education ....................................................... 1,232 1,597 1,064 1,779 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 331 245 371 302 

Miscellaneous ................................................. 853 1,132 561 699 

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,421 1,353 1,301 1,330 

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 5,416 5,968 5,842 6,269 

Life and other personal insurance ................ 354 380 323 360 

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 5,062 5,588 5,519 5,909