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

Expenditure Survey, 2007-2008

Item

All consumer

units in the

South

Washington,

D.C. Baltimore Atlanta Miami DallasFort Worth Houston

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ....... 43,424 2,212 1,027 2,269 1,674 2,282 1,882 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ...................................... $58,555 $103,756 $82,140 $70,428 $58,696 $64,899 $75,751 

Age of reference person ................................. 49.0 47.3 48.1 45.8 49.0 46.4 45.1 

Average number in consumer unit:

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

Children under 18 ......................................... .6 .6 .5 .6 .6 .8 .8 

Persons 65 and older ................................... .3 .2 .3 .2 .3 .3 .2 

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

Vehicles ........................................................ 1.9 1.9 1.7 1.8 1.4 1.8 1.8 

Percent homeowner ....................................... 69 70 70 65 62 64 62 

Average annual expenditures ........................... $46,149 $70,611 $52,543 $46,667 $47,079 $52,985 $55,703 

Food ............................................................... 5,946 8,144 5,979 6,005 5,629 6,217 6,837 

Food at home ............................................... 3,404 4,214 3,257 3,006 3,796 3,516 3,515 

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 455 526 431 406 489 465 416 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 807 1,017 828 682 925 748 836 

Dairy products ............................................ 380 475 352 313 459 395 383 

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 566 792 576 532 807 592 576 

Other food at home .................................... 1,196 1,405 1,069 1,073 1,116 1,316 1,304 

Food away from home .................................. 2,543 3,930 2,723 2,999 1,833 2,701 3,323 

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 386 785 416 375 308 348 626 

Housing .......................................................... 15,095 26,128 20,255 17,275 18,459 17,737 18,059 

Shelter .......................................................... 8,357 17,167 12,904 10,925 12,095 9,876 10,359 

Owned dwellings ........................................ 5,683 12,435 9,443 7,421 7,507 6,339 6,906 

Rented dwellings ........................................ 2,185 3,691 2,912 2,923 4,118 3,142 2,834 

Other lodging .............................................. 488 1,041 548 582 470 396 619 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 3,604 4,001 4,170 3,811 3,576 4,307 4,332 

Household operations .................................. 922 1,774 881 820 1,180 1,093 1,018 

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 620 752 822 447 587 695 677 

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,592 2,433 1,478 1,271 1,022 1,767 1,674 

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,733 2,737 1,415 1,635 1,238 1,784 1,990 

Transportation ................................................ 8,484 10,452 7,793 7,316 8,506 10,140 10,880 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 2,969 3,492 2,396 2,101 3,049 4,196 4,070 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 2,731 2,666 2,665 2,821 2,863 2,733 3,274 

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,434 3,190 2,191 1,893 2,076 2,861 3,064 

Public transportation ..................................... 349 1,103 542 501 518 350 472 

Healthcare ...................................................... 2,825 2,996 2,571 2,383 1,933 2,787 3,002 

Entertainment ................................................. 2,417 3,115 2,730 2,168 1,630 2,697 2,653 

Personal care products and services ............. 573 836 555 527 604 758 761 

Reading .......................................................... 88 157 74 79 31 93 90 

Education ....................................................... 770 1,875 1,294 467 968 774 1,009 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 328 263 225 197 143 225 298 

Miscellaneous ................................................. 698 1,254 746 751 1,151 690 733 

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,753 2,461 1,742 1,588 1,828 2,014 1,886 

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 5,054 9,408 6,746 5,900 4,651 6,721 6,879 

Life and other personal insurance ................ 310 502 444 281 130 305 346 

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 4,744 8,905 6,302 5,619 4,521 6,416 6,533