Table 21. Selected northeastern metropolitan statistical areas: Average annual expenditures and

characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2004-2005

Item

All consumer

units in the

Northeast

New York Philadelphia Boston Pittsburgh

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ....... 22,184 7,687 2,620 2,876 1,154 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ...................................... $62,002 $74,851 $61,496 $67,927 $52,637 

Age of reference person ................................. 50.2 50.6 49.3 48.8 52.9 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ........................................................ 2.4 2.6 2.5 2.4 2.3 

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

Persons 65 and over .................................... .3 .3 .3 .3 .4 

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

Vehicles ........................................................ 1.7 1.4 1.5 1.8 1.9 

Percent homeowner ....................................... 65 58 70 64 73 

Average annual expenditures ........................... $47,005 $54,121 $47,289 $51,679 $39,891 

Food ............................................................... 6,430 7,283 6,481 7,223 5,205 

Food at home ............................................... 3,640 4,014 3,620 3,977 2,785 

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 515 568 522 579 399 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 946 1,109 963 998 681 

Dairy products ............................................ 421 462 408 410 331 

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 645 766 611 686 460 

Other food at home .................................... 1,114 1,111 1,116 1,304 915 

Food away from home .................................. 2,790 3,269 2,861 3,247 2,420 

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 532 553 567 834 387 

Housing .......................................................... 16,121 20,065 15,915 17,805 12,031 

Shelter .......................................................... 9,887 13,271 9,289 11,364 6,429 

Owned dwellings ........................................ 6,571 8,277 6,344 7,882 4,454 

Rented dwellings ........................................ 2,726 4,245 2,470 2,899 1,524 

Other lodging .............................................. 590 749 475 583 451 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 3,257 3,528 3,600 3,169 3,103 

Household operations .................................. 779 957 687 917 563 

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 620 579 628 684 549 

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,577 1,730 1,709 1,670 1,386 

Apparel and services ...................................... 2,106 2,858 2,279 1,929 1,747 

Transportation ................................................ 7,646 7,581 8,084 8,586 7,456 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 3,031 2,316 3,802 3,759 3,307 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 1,572 1,495 1,477 1,747 1,538 

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,405 2,716 2,310 2,502 2,218 

Public transportation ..................................... 637 1,054 495 579 393 

Healthcare ...................................................... 2,476 2,412 2,254 2,624 2,528 

Entertainment ................................................. 2,137 2,330 1,895 2,347 2,102 

Personal care products and services ............. 586 687 643 591 479 

Reading .......................................................... 146 144 132 195 144 

Education ....................................................... 1,256 1,643 1,235 1,744 879 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 314 265 275 287 465 

Miscellaneous ................................................. 793 1,064 729 599 662 

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,241 1,168 1,227 1,063 1,817 

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 5,223 6,068 5,573 5,851 3,989 

Life and other personal insurance ................ 371 422 350 393 378 

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 4,851 5,646 5,222 5,458 3,611