Table 3015. Selected midwestern metropolitan statistical areas: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, 

Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2016-2017

Item 

All consumer 

units in the 

Midwest 

Chicago Detroit MinneapolisSt. Paul St. Louis 

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ................................................................ 27,896 3,749 1,957 1,633 1,161 

Consumer unit characteristics: 

 Income before taxes ................................................................................................ $69,473 $76,639 $80,928 $91,298 $76,108 

 Age of reference person ................................................................................................ 512 49.9 52.9 48.9 50.4 

 Average number in consumer unit: 

 People ................................................................................................................................ 2.4 2.5 2.4 2.4 2.3 

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

 Adults 65 and older ................................................................................................ .4 .4 .4 .3 .4 

 Earners ................................................................................................ 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.6 1.3 

 Vehicles ................................................................................................ 2.1 1.6 1.9 2.4 2.1 

 Percent homeowner ................................................................................................ 67 63 66 64 75 

Average annual expenditures ................................................................................................ $56,114 $60,582 $60,183 $70,487 $62,394 

 Food ................................................................................................................................ 7,157 8,170 7,397 8,571 7,300 

 Food at home ................................................................................................ 4,028 4,518 4,113 4,712 4,034 

 Cereals and bakery products ................................................................ 528 539 563 596 505 

 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ................................................................ 829 977 887 915 823 

 Dairy products ................................................................................................ 435 453 392 485 373 

 Fruits and vegetables ................................................................................................ 740 954 809 973 728 

 Other food at home ................................................................................................ 1,497 1,595 1,463 1,743 1,605 

 Food away from home ................................................................................................ 3,130 3,652 3,284 3,859 3,266 

 Alcoholic beverages ................................................................................................518 509 658 754 684 

 Housing ................................................................................................................................ 17,408 21,254 18,794 22,782 20,154 

 Shelter................................................................................................................................ 9,716 13,546 10,429 13,901 10,350 

 Owned dwellings ................................................................................................ 6,165 8,455 6,223 8,591 7,172 

 Rented dwellings ................................................................................................ 2,847 4,209 3,361 4,187 2,469 

 Other lodging ................................................................................................ 704 882 846 1,123 709 

 Utilities, fuels, and public services ................................................................ 3,748 3,755 4,131 3,554 4,222 

 Household operations ................................................................................................ 1,241 1,417 1,515 1,696 1,439 

 Housekeeping supplies ................................................................................................ 705 692 713 786 679 

 Household furnishings and equipment ................................................................ 1,999 1,844 2,006 2,845 3,465 

 Apparel and services ................................................................................................ 1,680 1,987 2,102 1,967 1,567 

 Transportation ................................................................................................ 9,058 7,717 10,426 9,409 9,958 

 Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ................................................................ 3,617 2,850 3,409 3,769 4,408 

 Gasoline, other fuels, and motor oil................................................................ 1,902 1,770 1,943 1,976 1,981 

 Other vehicle expenses ................................................................................................ 2,987 2,323 4,307 2,885 2,948 

 Public and other transportation ................................................................ 551 774 768 778 621 

 Healthcare ................................................................................................ 5,111 5,154 5,079 6,242 4,828 

 Entertainment ................................................................................................ 3,182 3,328 3,002 4,263 3,061 

 Personal care products and services ................................................................ 739 958 848 938 794 

 Reading ................................................................................................................................ 114 129 94 145 227 

 Education ................................................................................................ 1,256 1,673 1,531 1,526 927 

 Tobacco products and smoking supplies ................................................................397 216 551 367 363 

 Miscellaneous ................................................................................................ 969 1,034 977 1,155 1,577 

 Cash contributions ................................................................................................1,865 1,685 1,526 4,269 4,201 

 Personal insurance and pensions ................................................................ 6,660 6,768 7,199 8,099 6,754 

 Life and other personal insurance ................................................................ 404 303 546 461 393 

 Pensions and Social Security ................................................................ 6,255 6,465 6,653 7,638 6,361 

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