Table 23. Selected southern metropolitan statistical areas: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer

Expenditure Survey, 2006-2007

Item

All consumer

units in the

South

Washington,

D.C. Baltimore Atlanta Miami DallasFort Worth Houston

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ....... 42,804 2,175 1,006 2,204 1,646 2,171 1,837 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ...................................... $57,216 $100,486 $78,930 $67,859 $54,990 $67,145 $71,124 

Age of reference person ................................. 48.8 45.8 48.9 45.7 48.8 45.5 45.3 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ........................................................ 2.5 2.6 2.5 2.5 2.4 2.8 2.7 

Children under 18 ......................................... .7 .6 .6 .7 .6 .9 .8 

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

Earners ......................................................... 1.3 1.6 1.4 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.5 

Vehicles ........................................................ 1.9 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.5 1.9 1.8 

Percent homeowner ....................................... 70 69 71 66 63 64 65 

Average annual expenditures ........................... $45,225 $65,894 $53,244 $46,705 $46,201 $54,334 $55,381 

Food ............................................................... 5,715 7,533 6,222 5,646 5,728 6,160 6,547 

Food at home ............................................... 3,223 3,747 3,386 2,871 3,830 3,498 3,447 

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 423 451 438 368 476 434 419 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 767 864 820 662 949 774 802 

Dairy products ............................................ 347 407 338 281 443 381 355 

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 532 780 573 518 854 605 607 

Other food at home .................................... 1,154 1,244 1,217 1,042 1,107 1,304 1,264 

Food away from home .................................. 2,492 3,786 2,836 2,775 1,898 2,662 3,099 

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 374 650 479 345 276 381 603 

Housing .......................................................... 14,719 25,525 19,123 17,716 18,708 18,169 17,752 

Shelter .......................................................... 8,056 17,040 11,930 10,860 12,190 9,843 9,965 

Owned dwellings ........................................ 5,536 12,380 8,921 7,353 8,100 6,446 6,872 

Rented dwellings ........................................ 2,107 3,947 2,504 2,831 3,809 2,892 2,533 

Other lodging .............................................. 412 713 505 676 281 505 560 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 3,550 4,037 3,951 3,874 3,611 4,551 4,297 

Household operations .................................. 898 1,592 960 1,035 1,197 1,192 1,080 

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 627 703 650 515 569 728 746 

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,588 2,153 1,632 1,433 1,140 1,856 1,664 

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,720 2,440 1,755 1,792 1,269 1,907 2,345 

Transportation ................................................ 8,578 9,531 8,673 8,053 7,938 10,764 11,119 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 3,428 3,319 3,562 2,957 2,859 4,866 4,544 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 2,440 2,272 2,508 2,407 2,457 2,559 2,936 

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,368 3,163 2,049 2,119 2,092 2,902 3,149 

Public transportation ..................................... 342 778 554 570 530 439 490 

Healthcare ...................................................... 2,788 2,641 2,431 2,355 2,167 2,967 3,293 

Entertainment ................................................. 2,322 2,995 2,726 2,130 1,583 2,515 2,789 

Personal care products and services ............. 568 682 565 513 641 747 782 

Reading .......................................................... 87 130 84 75 42 101 89 

Education ....................................................... 726 1,664 1,771 420 1,054 739 918 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 334 237 229 202 197 265 299 

Miscellaneous ................................................. 689 1,234 908 635 770 765 761 

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,762 2,168 1,891 1,281 1,421 2,223 1,821 

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 4,843 8,463 6,387 5,542 4,407 6,632 6,264 

Life and other personal insurance ................ 305 341 546 242 192 346 417 

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 4,537 8,123 5,841 5,300 4,215 6,286 5,847