Table 3253. Consumer units with reference person age 65 and over by income before taxes: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, 

Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2016-2017

Item 

Total 

65 years 

and older 

Less 

than 

$5,000 

$5,000 

to

$9,999 

$10,000 

to

$14,999 

$15,000 

to

$19,999 

$20,000 

to

$29,999 

$30,000 

to

$39,999 

$40,000 

to

$49,999 

$50,000 

to

$69,999 

$70,000 

and

more 

Number of consumer units (in 

 thousands) ................................................................ 31,476 1,112 1,146 3,048 3,948 5,608 4,506 2,928 3,343 5,836 

Consumer unit characteristics: 

 Income before taxes ................................ $48,570 $2,479 $8,133 $13,090 $17,514 $24,888 $34,810 $44,539 $59,012 $134,258 

 Income after taxes ................................................................ 44,033 2,590 8,229 13,188 17,595 24,814 34,459 43,631 56,845 111,680 

 Age of reference person ................................ 74.3 74.5 75.7 75.9 77.3 75.6 74.5 73.0 72.6 71.2 

 Average number in consumer 

 unit: 

 People................................................................ 1.7 1.4 1.3 1.2 1.3 1.5 1.9 1.9 2.1 2.3 

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

 Adults 65 and older ................................ 1.4 1.2 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.3 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.5 

 Earners ................................................................ .5 .1 .1 .1 .1 .2 .3 .6 .9 1.3 

 Vehicles ................................................................ 1.7 1.0 1.0 .8 1.1 1.5 1.9 1.9 2.2 2.6 

Percent distribution: 

 Reference person: 

 Men ................................................................ 45 50 36 30 33 40 49 50 52 59 

 Women ................................................................ 55 50 64 70 67 60 51 50 48 41 

 Housing tenure: 

 Homeowner ................................................................ 79 59 58 55 68 78 86 84 89 92 

 With mortgage ................................................................ 23 11 10 11 11 17 20 27 32 41 

 Without mortgage ................................ 56 47 49 43 57 61 65 57 56 51 

 Renter ................................................................ 21 41 42 45 32 22 14 16 11 8 

 Race of reference person: 

 Black or African-American ................................ 10 18 13 19 13 9 8 10 8 5 

 White, Asian, and all other 

 races ................................................................ 90 82 87 81 87 91 92 90 92 95 

 Hispanic or Latino origin of 

 reference person: 

 Hispanic or Latino ................................ 6 12 13 10 7 5 4 4 7 4 

 Not Hispanic or Latino ................................ 94 88 87 90 93 95 96 96 93 96 

 Education of reference person: 

 Elementary (1-8)................................................................ 5 12 16 8 6 5 3 3 2 1 

 High school (9-12) ................................ 37 41 43 51 49 39 39 35 33 17 

 College................................................................ 58 46 40 40 44 56 58 62 64 81 

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

 At least one vehicle owned or 

 leased................................................................ 86 61 60 63 76 88 94 94 96 97 

Average annual expenditures ................................ $47,665 $27,256 $28,650 $21,218 $27,746 $38,452 $45,019 $47,935 $55,992 $87,330 

 Food ................................................................ 6,070 4,369 4,098 2,987 3,645 4,788 5,807 6,586 7,435 9,900 

 Food at home ................................................................ 3,696 2,594 2,479 2,235 2,432 3,134 3,689 4,111 4,443 5,366 

 Cereals and bakery products ................................ 490 292 324 311 347 417 517 590 592 649 

 Cereals and cereal products ................................ 139 72 119 95 92 113 138 159 187 185 

 Bakery products ................................ 351 219 205 217 255 304 379 431 404 465 

 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ................................ 788 618 483 446 509 673 800 851 992 1,137 

 Beef ................................................................225 131 143 111 142 191 236 220 289 339 

 Pork ................................................................160 143 89 92 109 140 180 177 194 213 

 Other meats ................................................................ 105 87 47 60 70 90 105 125 128 150 

 Poultry ................................................................ 129 123 94 93 69 119 129 147 150 180 

 Fish and seafood ................................ 123 395 68 54 88 94 105 128 176 194 

 Eggs ................................................................ 46 38 42 36 31 39 46 53 54 61 

 Dairy products ................................................................ 384 252 242 244 273 318 398 417 434 561 

 Fresh milk and cream ................................ 121 75 92 95 89 105 128 125 139 157 

 Other dairy products ................................ 264 177 150 148 185 212 271 292 296 404 

 Fruits and vegetables ................................ 730 559 510 447 426 615 658 789 914 1,126 

 Fresh fruits ................................................................ 275 197 194 179 157 231 230 301 342 432 

 Fresh vegetables ................................ 238 202 149 144 124 203 224 245 301 374 

 Processed fruits ................................ 98 58 88 52 75 81 90 110 126 140 

 Processed vegetables ................................ 119 102 79 71 71 99 114 132 145 180 

See footnotes at end of table. 
Table 3253. Consumer units with reference person age 65 and over by income before taxes: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, 

Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2016-2017 — Continued 

Item 

Total 

65 years 

and older 

Less 

than 

$5,000 

$5,000 

to

$9,999 

$10,000 

to

$14,999 

$15,000 

to

$19,999 

$20,000 

to

$29,999 

$30,000 

to

$39,999 

$40,000 

to

$49,999 

$50,000 

to

$69,999 

$70,000 

and

more 

 Other food at home ................................ 1,303 872 921 787 876 1,112 1,315 1,465 1,511 1,893 

 Sugar and other sweets ................................ 146 102 86 81 93 113 150 193 184 206 

 Fats and oils ................................................................ 102 74 89 66 64 95 103 115 116 138 

 Miscellaneous foods ................................ 645 487 457 374 429 548 646 712 741 954 

 Nonalcoholic beverages................................ 359 200 255 254 275 323 365 395 415 471 

 Food prepared by consumer 

 unit on out-of-town trips ................................51 39 334 313 15 33 52 49 56 124 

 Food away from home ................................ 2,374 1,776 1,619 752 1,213 1,654 2,118 2,475 2,992 4,534 

 Alcoholic beverages ................................ 415 340 103 91 146 229 332 435 491 981 

 Housing ................................................................16,285 10,645 11,428 9,361 11,664 13,953 15,248 16,297 18,733 26,519 

 Shelter ................................................................9,046 6,023 6,283 5,811 6,953 7,948 8,096 8,770 9,864 14,731 

 Owned dwellings ................................ 5,686 2,533 2,920 2,446 2,903 4,542 5,458 6,056 7,175 10,643 

 Mortgage interest and 

 charges ................................................................ 1,479 538 780 538 491 960 1,224 1,491 1,948 3,378 

 Property taxes ................................ 2,233 1,247 1,085 970 1,279 1,803 2,278 2,399 2,729 3,961 

 Maintenance, repairs, 

 insurance, other expenses ................................ 1,975 749 1,056 938 1,134 1,780 1,956 2,166 2,499 3,304 

 Rented dwellings ................................ 2,556 3,332 3,068 3,246 3,736 2,938 1,997 2,107 1,752 1,901 

 Other lodging ................................................................ 804 158 295 119 314 467 641 607 937 2,187 

 Utilities, fuels, and public 

 services ................................................................ 3,560 2,370 2,528 2,181 2,636 3,124 3,709 3,848 4,159 5,151 

 Natural gas ................................................................ 374 245 241 212 290 336 382 456 414 532 

 Electricity ................................................................ 1,389 997 1,062 949 1,120 1,271 1,489 1,475 1,579 1,822 

 Fuel oil and other fuels ................................ 128 3117 380 76 85 115 120 151 156 187 

 Telephone services ................................ 1,096 659 739 602 741 903 1,125 1,169 1,310 1,751 

 Residential phone service, 

 VOIP, and phone cards ................................435 283 385 333 389 438 473 448 434 518 

 Cellular phone service ................................ 661 376 354 269 351 465 652 720 876 1,233 

 Water and other public 

 services ................................................................ 574 351 406 342 401 499 594 599 699 860 

 Household operations ................................ 1,257 598 1,162 503 852 1,007 1,173 1,288 1,355 2,300 

 Personal services ................................ 176 355 3635 310 3263 3139 3100 3207 3117 249 

 Other household expenses ................................ 1,081 543 527 493 589 868 1,073 1,080 1,238 2,051 

 Housekeeping supplies ................................ 781 635 518 352 470 692 868 800 1,106 1,056 

 Laundry and cleaning supplies ................................ 163 160 118 77 107 183 186 171 187 197 

 Other household products ................................ 437 302 258 184 276 335 488 459 673 608 

 Postage and stationery ................................ 180 3173 142 91 87 175 194 170 246 251 

 Household furnishings and 

 equipment ................................................................ 1,641 1,019 936 513 753 1,182 1,402 1,591 2,250 3,281 

 Household textiles ................................ 103 222 339 68 74 53 125 93 164 139 

 Furniture ................................................................ 393 294 255 118 137 317 370 435 439 798 

 Floor coverings ................................ 16 34 335 35 5 15 14 12 20 29 

 Major appliances ................................ 257 77 122 99 140 215 241 240 407 453 

 Small appliances, 

 miscellaneous housewares ................................ 107 72 79 43 73 86 85 83 138 197 

 Miscellaneous household 

 equipment ................................................................ 765 351 407 180 324 496 566 727 1,081 1,665 

 Apparel and services ................................ 1,132 564 1,020 412 458 827 967 1,176 1,331 2,252 

 Men and boys ................................................................ 229 361 82 46 95 161 234 216 297 473 

 Men, 16 and over ................................ 202 346 366 35 83 148 199 184 272 414 

 Boys, 2 to 15 ................................................................ 28 314 315 11 12 13 35 31 25 59 

 Women and girls................................................................ 476 342 562 186 182 338 423 526 556 888 

 Women, 16 and over ................................ 445 341 537 183 168 314 395 481 512 835 

 Girls, 2 to 15 ................................................................ 31 ( 1 ) 325 33 313 24 29 45 44 53 

 Children under 2 ................................................................ 25 34 311 34 38 322 36 37 340 68 

 Footwear ................................................................211 385 3243 87 95 169 158 197 285 389 

 Other apparel products and 

 services ................................................................ 190 74 122 89 79 136 146 232 153 435 

 Transportation ................................................................ 7,168 3,493 3,451 2,416 3,446 5,269 6,820 8,082 8,979 13,984 

 Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ................................ 2,741 31,433 31,021 3661 1,064 2,016 2,870 2,924 3,632 5,542 

 Cars and trucks, new ................................ 1,641 31,111 3598 3270 3637 1,262 1,684 1,829 1,999 3,375 

 Cars and trucks, used ................................ 1,058 3323 3423 392 386 729 1,099 1,094 1,592 2,088 

 Other vehicles ................................................................ 41 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 341 325 386 ( 2 ) 341 379 

 Gasoline, other fuels, and motor 

 oil ................................................................ 1,277 777 698 573 761 1,048 1,342 1,446 1,640 2,081 

 Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,605 1,132 1,218 1,044 1,339 1,897 2,234 3,180 3,113 5,013 

 Vehicle finance charges ................................ 115 58 99 30 45 89 117 109 157 221 

See footnotes at end of table. 
Table 3253. Consumer units with reference person age 65 and over by income before taxes: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, 

Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2016-2017 — Continued 

Item 

Total 

65 years 

and older 

Less 

than 

$5,000 

$5,000 

to

$9,999 

$10,000 

to

$14,999 

$15,000 

to

$19,999 

$20,000 

to

$29,999 

$30,000 

to

$39,999 

$40,000 

to

$49,999 

$50,000 

to

$69,999 

$70,000 

and

more 

 Maintenance and repairs................................ 888 587 453 335 452 548 610 836 958 2,094 

 Vehicle insurance ................................ 1,050 3215 3507 3544 621 835 906 1,670 1,337 1,554 

 Vehicle rental, leases, 

 licenses, and other charges ................................ 552 273 159 135 220 425 601 565 661 1,144 

 Public and other transportation ................................ 545 150 514 139 282 308 375 532 594 1,349 

 Healthcare ................................................................ 6,310 3,823 4,138 3,096 4,208 5,538 7,234 6,715 7,600 9,369 

 Health insurance................................................................ 4,438 2,696 2,751 2,410 3,007 3,934 5,217 4,773 5,483 6,243 

 Medical services ................................................................ 912 659 513 231 536 768 952 898 972 1,728 

 Drugs ................................................................ 750 378 542 345 510 667 868 826 930 1,058 

 Medical supplies ................................................................ 210 89 332 110 155 170 197 218 215 340 

 Entertainment ................................................................ 2,495 1,407 1,674 1,023 1,342 1,837 2,456 2,149 3,084 4,842 

 Fees and admissions ................................ 517 196 363 92 132 271 376 478 741 1,311 

 Audio and visual equipment and 

 services ................................................................ 979 528 666 595 736 849 1,022 1,063 1,106 1,458 

 Pets, toys, hobbies, and 

 playground equipment ................................ 620 652 538 225 304 499 627 467 713 1,161 

 Pets ................................................................ 521 626 419 185 265 442 545 363 621 942 

 Toys, hobbies, and playground 

 equipment ................................................................ 98 327 3119 340 39 56 82 104 92 219 

 Other entertainment supplies, 

 equipment, and services ................................ 379 330 3107 3110 170 219 431 142 524 912 

 Personal care products and 

 services ................................................................652 377 522 268 409 551 646 680 707 1,127 

 Reading................................................................ 158 3196 3170 53 88 103 132 182 182 299 

 Education ................................................................ 369 3156 360 321 132 166 169 148 324 1,292 

 Tobacco products and smoking 

 supplies ................................................................209 183 145 154 192 182 211 249 249 245 

 Miscellaneous ................................................................ 936 490 344 323 483 698 926 640 1,128 2,016 

 Cash contributions ................................................................ 2,430 950 1,040 604 1,201 2,674 2,253 2,390 2,693 4,541 

 Personal insurance and pensions ................................ 3,036 262 456 410 331 1,638 1,819 2,207 3,054 9,963 

 Life and other personal 

 insurance ................................................................ 405 198 148 191 212 261 451 456 491 765 

 Pensions and Social Security ................................ 2,631 64 308 219 119 1,376 1,368 1,751 2,563 9,199 

Sources of income and personal 

 taxes: 

 Money income before taxes ................................ $48,570 $2,479 $8,133 $13,090 $17,514 $24,888 $34,810 $44,539 $59,012 $134,258 

 Wages and salaries ................................ 16,981 3216 3376 341 706 2,233 4,777 10,961 20,694 67,629 

 Self-employment income ................................ 2,810 3

-280 324 332 385 129 313 836 1,710 13,367 

 Social Security, private and 

 government retirement ................................24,333 1,754 6,438 11,489 15,988 21,337 28,046 29,534 32,431 37,268 

 Interest, dividends, rental 

 income, other property income ................................ 3,464 -107 271 89 226 566 1,161 2,162 3,093 14,155 

 Public assistance, 

 Supplemental Security 

 Income, Supplementary 

 Nutrition Assistance Program 

 (SNAP) ................................................................286 595 742 742 278 305 168 158 181 100 

 Unemployment and workers' 

 compensation, veterans' 

 benefits, and regular 

 contributions for support ................................ 507 381 347 142 123 204 312 592 802 1,357 

 Other income ................................................................ 189 3220 3234 256 108 113 333 3296 3102 381 

 Personal taxes (contains some 

 imputed values)................................................................ 4,537 -111 -96 -97 -82 74 351 907 2,167 22,578 

 Federal income taxes ................................ 3,687 32 3

-14 -25 12 105 349 691 1,618 18,246 

 State and local income taxes ................................805 -127 -90 -84 -127 -60 -29 177 505 4,217 

 Other taxes ................................................................ 45 313 37 312 33 29 31 339 44 115 

 Income after taxes ................................................................ 44,033 2,590 8,229 13,188 17,595 24,814 34,459 43,631 56,845 111,680 

See footnotes at end of table. 
Table 3253. Consumer units with reference person age 65 and over by income before taxes: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, 

Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2016-2017 — Continued 

Item 

Total 

65 years 

and older 

Less 

than 

$5,000 

$5,000 

to

$9,999 

$10,000 

to

$14,999 

$15,000 

to

$19,999 

$20,000 

to

$29,999 

$30,000 

to

$39,999 

$40,000 

to

$49,999 

$50,000 

to

$69,999 

$70,000 

and

more 

Addenda: 

 Net change in total assets and 

 liabilities................................................................ $10,945 $3,461 -$858 $1,078 $4,604 $8,595 $6,889 $16,592 $3,311 $31,060 

 Net change in total assets ................................13,565 4,790 5,455 2,169 4,317 9,773 9,315 18,613 7,174 37,091 

 Net change in total liabilities ................................ 2,620 1,329 6,312 1,091 -287 1,178 2,426 2,021 3,862 6,030 

 Other financial information: 

 Other money receipts ................................ 1,701 3193 3167 3123 415 1,080 1,712 1,029 290 5,718 

 Mortgage principal paid on 

 owned property................................ -1,441 -405 -626 -400 -524 -773 -1,049 -2,856 -1,641 -3,080 

 Estimated market value of 

 owned home ................................................................ 218,179 127,063 137,498 97,347 121,525 166,307 213,652 227,806 250,810 409,702 

 Estimated monthly rental value 

 of owned home ................................ 1,181 763 777 619 780 1,009 1,215 1,299 1,372 1,874 

 Gifts of goods and services, total ................................ 1,069 395 722 333 543 698 714 868 1,278 2,563 

 Food ................................................................ 70 316 318 27 74 37 79 89 71 117 

 Alcoholic beverages ................................ 7 31 ( 1 ) 33 36 32 5 313 39 15 

 Housing................................................................ 236 110 120 138 158 189 184 279 248 435 

 Housekeeping supplies ................................ 30 34 37 39 14 30 46 23 34 48 

 Household textiles ................................ 6 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 35 ( 1 ) 38 321 37 39 

 Appliances and miscellaneous 

 housewares ................................................................ 20 ( 2 ) 315 36 317 312 311 327 32 35 

 Major appliances ................................ 10 ( 2 ) 315 33 37 38 ( 2 ) 316 312 19 

 Small appliances and 

 miscellaneous housewares ................................ 10 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 32 311 34 311 311 20 16 

 Miscellaneous household 

 equipment ................................................................ 47 336 31 19 52 51 32 43 37 84 

 Other housing ................................................................ 133 69 97 105 70 96 87 165 138 259 

 Apparel and services ................................ 184 3139 3120 61 58 166 156 190 219 355 

 Males, 2 and over ................................ 50 316 346 20 24 29 60 50 64 87 

 Females, 2 and over ................................ 69 3119 330 318 18 67 58 101 75 118 

 Children under 2 ................................ 23 34 311 34 38 321 35 37 338 60 

 Other apparel products and 

 services ................................................................ 43 ( 2 ) 333 318 38 350 332 332 343 90 

 Jewelry and watches ................................ 13 ( 2 ) 32 36 34 330 33 315 35 25 

 All other apparel products 

 and services ................................ 30 ( 2 ) 331 312 35 321 329 317 338 65 

 Transportation ................................................................ 108 17 287 16 36 61 34 60 150 291 

 Healthcare ................................................................44 325 32 314 355 369 326 38 366 62 

 Entertainment ................................................................ 97 347 398 39 20 63 80 79 96 231 

 Toys, games, arts and crafts, 

 and tricycles ................................................................ 38 ( 2 ) 324 322 311 328 339 339 341 74 

 Other entertainment ................................ 59 347 74 17 9 35 42 40 55 156 

 Personal care products and 

 services ................................................................15 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 32 36 12 26 13 25 22 

 Reading ................................................................ 5 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 31 ( 1 ) 5 7 9 4 10 

 Education ................................................................193 33 323 35 3107 46 70 56 240 695 

 All other gifts ................................................................ 109 337 54 27 23 48 48 73 150 332 

1

 Value is too small to display. 

2

 No data reported. 

3

 Data are likely to have large sampling errors. 

Source: Consumer Expenditure Survey, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, September, 2018