Table 3620. Consumer units of two persons by age of reference person: Average annual expenditures and characteristics,

Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2007-2008

Item

Total

two

persons

Under

25

years

25-34

years

35-44

years

45-54

years

55-64

years

65 years

and older

65-74

years

75 years

and older

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ....... 38,945 1,840 4,924 4,119 7,916 9,611 10,534 6,317 4,217 

Consumer unit characteristics: 

Income before taxes ..................................... $69,114 $42,001 $70,967 $72,179 $81,540 $81,936 $50,750 $55,470 $43,680 

Income after taxes ........................................ 66,379 41,354 68,486 69,282 77,421 78,081 49,656 54,091 43,010 

Age of reference person ................................ 53.6 22.0 29.0 39.8 49.9 59.5 73.4 68.9 80.3 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ........................................................ 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 

Children under 18 ........................................ .1 .1 .1 .3 .1 1 ( ) 1 ( ) 1 ( ) 1 ( )

Persons 65 and older ................................... .5 1 ( ) 1 ( ) 1 ( ) 1 ( ) .2 1.7 1.6 1.8 

Earners ........................................................ 1.3 1.7 1.7 1.5 1.6 1.4 .5 .7 .3 

Vehicles ....................................................... 2.2 1.6 1.8 1.9 2.3 2.5 2.0 2.2 1.8 

Percent distribution:

Sex of reference person:

Male ............................................................. 51 44 56 47 45 52 56 56 58 

Female ......................................................... 49 56 44 53 55 48 44 44 42 

Housing tenure:

Homeowner .................................................. 75 17 49 61 78 88 89 90 88 

With mortgage ............................................ 42 13 44 50 58 48 24 31 15 

Without mortgage ....................................... 33 5 6 11 21 39 65 59 73 

Renter .......................................................... 25 83 51 39 22 12 11 10 12 

Race of reference person:

Black or African-American ........................... 10 13 11 15 12 8 8 8 6 

White, Asian, and all other races ................. 90 87 89 85 88 92 92 92 94 

Hispanic or Latino origin of reference person:

Hispanic or Latino ........................................ 8 12 12 12 9 6 5 6 5 

Not Hispanic or Latino .................................. 92 88 88 88 91 94 95 94 95 

Education of reference person:

Elementary (1-8) .......................................... 5 2 2 3 4 4 9 7 13 

High school (9-12) ........................................ 35 37 23 35 38 30 42 42 42 

College ......................................................... 60 61 74 62 59 66 48 50 44 

Never attended and other ............................ 2 ( ) 3 ( ) 3 ( ) 3 ( ) 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 1 1 1 

At least one vehicle owned or leased ............ 93 85 91 91 92 96 94 95 92 

Average annual expenditures .......................... $53,209 $36,125 $52,294 $53,578 $56,932 $61,216 $46,549 $50,323 $40,851 

Food ............................................................... 6,242 4,517 6,073 6,341 6,482 6,915 5,845 6,235 5,250 

Food at home ............................................... 3,501 2,250 2,939 3,408 3,649 3,835 3,672 3,854 3,393 

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 456 263 381 421 462 492 513 523 496 

Cereals and cereal products .................... 142 94 144 142 141 143 151 154 146 

Bakery products ....................................... 314 169 237 279 321 349 362 370 350 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 782 483 646 829 833 847 801 850 725 

Beef .......................................................... 216 150 178 265 230 231 207 216 194 

Pork .......................................................... 156 88 113 150 165 166 178 196 150 

Other meats ............................................. 102 63 80 101 110 113 105 112 94 

Poultry ...................................................... 139 90 132 154 153 149 126 139 108 

Fish and seafood ..................................... 126 66 112 118 132 138 134 137 131 

Eggs ......................................................... 44 25 31 42 43 51 50 51 48 

Dairy products ............................................ 398 248 337 348 417 438 429 453 393 

Fresh milk and cream .............................. 145 99 122 132 154 156 154 158 148 

Other dairy products ................................ 253 149 216 216 263 282 275 295 245 

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 635 327 522 562 632 729 703 726 668 

Fresh fruits ............................................... 215 99 168 188 208 252 245 255 230 

Fresh vegetables ..................................... 214 110 181 190 220 253 222 231 207 

Processed fruits ....................................... 108 67 96 95 103 112 129 128 130 

Processed vegetables .............................. 98 50 77 89 101 112 107 111 101 

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 3620. Consumer units of two persons by age of reference person: Average annual expenditures and characteristics,

Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2007-2008 — Continued

Item

Total

two

persons

Under

25

years

25-34

years

35-44

years

45-54

years

55-64

years

65 years

and older

65-74

years

75 years

and older

Other food at home .................................... $1,229 $929 $1,053 $1,247 $1,305 $1,329 $1,227 $1,302 $1,111 

Sugar and other sweets ........................... 129 75 96 119 127 139 155 162 144 

Fats and oils ............................................. 101 60 78 84 102 109 119 121 116 

Miscellaneous foods ................................ 616 483 569 655 645 646 605 641 550 

Nonalcoholic beverages ........................... 324 291 276 353 369 346 292 309 264 

Food prepared by consumer unit on

out-of-town trips ..................................... 59 21 34 35 61 90 56 69 37 

Food away from home ................................. 2,741 2,267 3,134 2,933 2,833 3,080 2,173 2,381 1,857 

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 528 447 676 539 526 612 386 462 271 

Housing .......................................................... 17,292 12,468 18,263 18,186 18,778 19,035 14,671 15,441 13,508

Shelter .......................................................... 10,035 8,320 11,886 11,595 11,197 10,523 7,542 7,929 6,962 

Owned dwellings ........................................ 6,852 1,987 6,827 7,215 8,246 7,784 5,674 6,198 4,889 

Mortgage interest and charges ................ 3,461 1,343 4,866 4,723 4,690 3,655 1,581 2,081 832 

Property taxes .......................................... 1,955 385 1,222 1,520 2,126 2,481 2,135 2,185 2,059 

Maintenance, repairs, insurance, other

expenses ................................................ 1,435 259 739 972 1,429 1,648 1,958 1,932 1,997 

Rented dwellings ........................................ 2,179 6,164 4,630 3,528 1,804 1,227 960 821 1,168 

Other lodging ............................................. 1,004 169 429 852 1,148 1,512 908 911 905 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ............... 3,689 2,362 3,021 3,451 3,931 4,134 3,740 3,870 3,544 

Natural gas ................................................. 529 241 409 416 525 620 599 609 584 

Electricity .................................................... 1,372 903 1,095 1,294 1,480 1,537 1,381 1,431 1,305 

Fuel oil and other fuels ............................... 218 422 71 169 213 252 312 285 354 

Telephone services .................................... 1,111 971 1,133 1,154 1,252 1,195 928 1,020 789 

Water and other public services ................. 459 224 313 418 461 529 519 524 512 

Household operations .................................. 854 315 659 850 823 950 977 829 1,199 

Personal services ....................................... 165 463 211 311 117 93 208 464 424 

Other household expenses ........................ 688 252 448 539 706 857 769 765 775 

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 758 321 544 548 754 1,047 784 882 634 

Laundry and cleaning supplies .................. 139 102 112 123 158 147 144 162 118 

Other household products .......................... 425 172 261 319 382 663 421 460 361 

Postage and stationery .............................. 194 47 171 106 214 237 219 260 155 

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,956 1,150 2,154 1,743 2,073 2,381 1,629 1,931 1,170 

Household textiles ...................................... 153 63 129 91 152 218 148 184 93 

Furniture ..................................................... 454 407 690 409 491 504 296 348 218 

Floor coverings .......................................... 54 6 31 28 53 70 70 74 64 

Major appliances ........................................ 261 150 233 241 295 317 224 242 197 

Small appliances, miscellaneous

housewares .............................................. 123 63 88 84 142 163 118 133 95 

Miscellaneous household equipment ......... 911 460 982 891 940 1,109 774 951 503 

Apparel and services ..................................... 1,779 1,573 2,073 1,765 1,905 1,963 1,421 1,674 1,035 

Men and boys .............................................. 393 317 435 480 328 468 332 398 230 

Men, 16 and over ....................................... 363 292 407 431 297 441 306 359 226 

Boys, 2 to 15 .............................................. 30 24 28 48 31 28 26 39 4 

Women and girls .......................................... 759 606 873 604 928 798 632 735 472 

Women, 16 and over .................................. 704 597 803 522 855 748 594 677 466 

Girls, 2 to 15 ............................................... 55 49 71 82 73 50 38 58 46 

Children under 2 .......................................... 47 57 58 51 50 52 30 36 21 

Footwear ...................................................... 287 242 307 321 289 342 223 259 167 

Other apparel products and services ........... 293 351 400 309 311 303 205 245 145 

Transportation ................................................ 9,249 7,020 10,168 9,172 9,671 10,492 7,828 8,969 6,114 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 3,171 2,627 4,209 3,552 2,866 3,477 2,581 2,967 2,002 

Cars and trucks, new ................................. 1,748 1,228 2,010 1,819 1,583 1,827 1,741 2,108 1,192 

Cars and trucks, used ................................ 1,295 1,365 2,059 1,627 1,106 1,464 782 802 752 

Other vehicles ............................................ 128 434 140 4106 177 186 457 457 458 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 2,623 2,472 2,720 2,661 2,991 2,909 2,053 2,350 1,607 

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 3620. Consumer units of two persons by age of reference person: Average annual expenditures and characteristics,

Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2007-2008 — Continued

Item

Total

two

persons

Under

25

years

25-34

years

35-44

years

45-54

years

55-64

years

65 years

and older

65-74

years

75 years

and older

Other vehicle expenses ............................... $2,785 $1,639 $2,662 $2,505 $3,083 $3,223 $2,569 $2,911 $2,050 

Vehicle finance charges ............................. 318 358 414 380 358 375 161 229 60 

Maintenance and repairs ........................... 800 599 682 677 898 971 713 801 579 

Vehicle insurance ....................................... 1,165 4388 925 971 1,311 1,254 1,335 1,464 1,137 

Vehicle rental, leases, licenses, and other

charges .................................................... 501 295 641 476 516 623 359 416 274 

Public transportation .................................... 670 281 578 453 731 883 626 741 455 

Healthcare ...................................................... 3,843 1,141 1,750 2,116 2,880 4,430 6,164 6,124 6,225 

Health insurance .......................................... 2,106 649 959 1,144 1,394 2,257 3,671 3,610 3,761 

Medical services .......................................... 905 324 504 562 833 1,143 1,165 1,221 1,080 

Drugs ........................................................... 683 127 203 332 526 854 1,112 1,090 1,144 

Medical supplies .......................................... 148 41 84 77 126 176 217 202 240 

Entertainment ................................................. 3,128 2,185 2,831 4,193 3,272 3,367 2,708 3,346 1,748 

Fees and admissions ................................... 651 384 551 725 617 799 607 693 476 

Audio and visual equipment and services .... 1,077 944 1,236 1,137 1,177 1,135 868 967 719 

Pets, toys, hobbies, and playground

equipment .................................................. 772 463 648 1,627 952 717 483 581 334 

Other entertainment supplies, equipment,

and services ............................................... 628 394 396 705 527 715 750 1,104 219 

Personal care products and services ............. 644 413 642 582 696 697 625 664 566 

Reading .......................................................... 142 60 93 108 124 178 174 178 167 

Education ....................................................... 822 1,466 1,059 421 1,341 880 314 332 286 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 338 372 331 439 474 341 189 228 130 

Miscellaneous ................................................ 966 465 703 923 1,002 1,373 801 832 753 

Cash contributions ......................................... 2,292 579 1,048 1,751 1,987 3,104 2,872 2,555 3,348 

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 5,945 3,419 6,583 7,042 7,794 7,829 2,550 3,284 1,450 

Life and other personal insurance ................ 385 66 149 204 375 582 450 583 250 

Pensions and Social Security ...................... 5,559 3,353 6,433 6,838 7,419 7,247 2,100 2,701 1,200 

Sources of income and personal taxes: 

Money income before taxes ........................... 69,114 42,001 70,967 72,179 81,540 81,936 50,750 55,470 43,680 

Wages and salaries ..................................... 50,961 38,207 67,697 65,751 70,796 61,736 14,847 20,162 6,884 

Self-employment income ............................. 3,635 1,591 1,483 2,871 4,327 5,822 2,782 3,455 1,774 

Social Security, private and government

retirement ................................................... 11,078 4263 360 1,260 3,310 10,455 28,224 27,760 28,921 

Interest, dividends, rental income, other

property income ......................................... 2,453 745 501 978 1,797 2,925 4,302 3,643 5,290 

Unemployment and workers’ compensation,

veterans’ benefits ....................................... 263 4143 180 136 290 430 200 107 4339 

Public assistance, supplemental security

income, food stamps .................................. 229 215 128 337 318 183 212 190 244 

Regular contributions for support ................. 342 473 390 687 559 269 66 446 496 

Other income ............................................... 152 365 228 160 142 116 118 108 4131 

Personal taxes ............................................... 2,735 646 2,481 2,897 4,118 3,855 1,095 1,379 670 

Federal income taxes ................................... 2,278 644 2,114 2,498 3,271 3,210 957 1,183 618 

2008 Tax stimulus (new UCC Q20082) ....... -394 -273 -400 -380 -370 -446 -387 -413 -348 

State and local income taxes ....................... 598 253 671 635 940 785 183 234 106 

Other taxes .................................................. 253 22 97 144 278 306 342 375 293 

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 3620. Consumer units of two persons by age of reference person: Average annual expenditures and characteristics,

Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2007-2008 — Continued

Item

Total

two

persons

Under

25

years

25-34

years

35-44

years

45-54

years

55-64

years

65 years

and older

65-74

years

75 years

and older

Income after taxes ......................................... 66,379 41,354 68,486 69,282 77,421 78,081 49,656 54,091 43,010 

Addenda:

Net change in total assets and liabilities ........ - $1,273 $359 $4,610 - $1,980 - $4,686 - $2,736 - $131 - $1,909 $2,532 

Net change in total assets ............................ 10,120 9,840 30,622 17,117 8,188 5,606 3,418 3,868 2,745 

Net change in total liabilities ........................ 11,393 9,480 26,012 19,097 12,875 8,342 3,550 5,777 213 

Other financial information:

Other money receipts ................................... 760 165 197 542 703 1,633 460 625 213 

Mortgage principal paid on owned property -2,284 -314 -1,574 -2,467 -3,466 -3,035 -1,314 -1,638 -830 

Estimated market value of owned home ...... 205,444 33,536 124,641 150,016 208,900 257,080 245,212 244,581 246,157 

Estimated monthly rental value of owned

home .......................................................... 1,003 221 685 813 1,030 1,222 1,143 1,155 1,125 

Gifts of goods and services ............................ 1,681 400 591 920 2,611 2,378 1,406 1,681 988 

Food ............................................................. 148 31 59 63 186 268 109 124 86 

Alcoholic beverages ..................................... 17 47 12 10 11 21 24 34 8 

Housing ........................................................ 306 90 123 206 537 412 207 249 144 

Housekeeping supplies .............................. 37 419 29 15 54 38 39 49 25 

Household textiles ...................................... 18 44 11 46 28 32 10 11 9 

Appliances and miscellaneous

housewares .............................................. 28 49 16 49 43 46 19 19 20 

Major appliances ...................................... 11 48 45 44 12 23 4 5 43 

Small appliances and miscellaneous

housewares ............................................ 18 41 11 45 31 23 15 14 417 

Miscellaneous household equipment ......... 75 49 45 60 161 70 52 68 28 

Other housing ............................................ 148 49 23 117 251 225 87 103 62 

Apparel and services ................................... 287 172 163 252 379 359 256 343 123 

Males, 2 and over ...................................... 62 57 21 43 58 98 63 95 13 

Females, 2 and over .................................. 131 51 67 86 223 143 119 157 62 

Children under 2 ........................................ 44 43 49 45 50 52 30 35 21 

Other apparel products and services ......... 50 421 26 78 48 66 45 56 427 

Jewelry and watches ................................ 16 47 12 26 19 10 20 25 413 

All other apparel products and services ... 34 414 14 52 30 55 25 31 414 

Transportation .............................................. 163 7 23 83 207 207 217 232 193 

Healthcare .................................................... 27 41 47 47 44 38 25 24 427 

Entertainment ............................................... 125 480 87 78 149 171 110 144 58 

Toys, games, arts and crafts, and tricycles 38 412 46 416 40 54 32 49 47 

Other entertainment ................................... 87 467 42 63 108 117 78 96 51 

Personal care products and services ........... 16 43 9 7 26 18 15 22 45 

Reading ........................................................ 1 2 ( ) 41 2 ( ) 1 1 2 3 1 

Education ..................................................... 458 42 26 129 966 718 251 262 233 

All other gifts ................................................ 133 9 81 83 105 165 190 244 109 

1 Value is less than or equal to 0.05. 2 Value is less than or equal to 0.5.3 No data reported. 4 Data are likely to have large sampling errors.