Table 21. Selected northeastern metropolitan statistical areas: Average annual

expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2008-2009

Item

All consumer

units in the

Northeast

New York Philadelphia Boston

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ....... 22,379 8,751 2,600 2,837 

Consumer unit characteristics:

Income before taxes ...................................... $71,085 $81,509 $76,612 $75,729 

Age of reference person ................................. 51.1 50.8 51.1 50.0 

Average number in consumer unit:

Persons ........................................................ 2.4 2.5 2.5 2.4 

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

Persons 65 and older ................................... .3 .3 .4 .3 

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

Vehicles ........................................................ 1.7 1.4 1.7 1.7 

Percent homeowner ....................................... 65 58 69 66 

Average annual expenditures ........................... $54,399 $60,273 $56,790 $59,227 

Food ............................................................... 6,967 7,420 6,460 8,167 

Food at home ............................................... 4,032 4,066 3,805 4,905 

Cereals and bakery products ..................... 571 558 526 699 

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................... 919 987 889 1,107 

Dairy products ............................................ 448 449 438 533 

Fruits and vegetables ................................. 738 799 681 861 

Other food at home .................................... 1,355 1,273 1,271 1,704 

Food away from home .................................. 2,935 3,354 2,655 3,262 

Alcoholic beverages ....................................... 462 498 455 641 

Housing .......................................................... 19,434 23,624 21,135 20,802 

Shelter .......................................................... 11,984 15,482 13,597 12,857 

Owned dwellings ........................................ 7,700 9,449 9,319 8,403 

Rented dwellings ........................................ 3,288 4,859 2,965 3,372 

Other lodging .............................................. 995 1,173 1,313 1,081 

Utilities, fuels, and public services ................ 4,106 4,309 4,444 4,248 

Household operations .................................. 1,186 1,548 1,021 1,460 

Housekeeping supplies ................................ 652 643 694 598 

Household furnishings and equipment ......... 1,505 1,642 1,379 1,639 

Apparel and services ...................................... 1,878 2,292 1,824 1,910 

Transportation ................................................ 8,510 8,495 8,202 8,591 

Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................... 2,721 2,321 2,037 2,818 

Gasoline and motor oil ................................. 2,086 1,943 2,240 2,125 

Other vehicle expenses ................................ 2,979 3,137 3,156 2,913 

Public transportation ..................................... 723 1,093 769 735 

Healthcare ...................................................... 3,083 3,027 3,036 3,453 

Entertainment ................................................. 2,863 2,828 2,873 3,083 

Personal care products and services ............. 620 686 655 657 

Reading .......................................................... 141 110 142 203 

Education ....................................................... 1,648 2,043 2,252 2,184 

Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....... 382 223 396 474 

Miscellaneous ................................................. 886 920 879 908 

Cash contributions .......................................... 1,527 1,515 2,171 1,337 

Personal insurance and pensions .................. 6,000 6,591 6,309 6,817 

Life and other personal insurance ................ 367 415 317 327 

Pensions and Social Security ....................... 5,632 6,176 5,992 6,490 

Source: Consumer Expenditure Survey, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, October, 2010