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

Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2017-2018

Item 

All consumer 

units in the 

Midwest 

Chicago Detroit MinneapolisSt. Paul St. Louis 

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ................................................................ 28,177 3,477 1,957 1,657 1,150 

Consumer unit characteristics: 

 Income before taxes ................................................................................................ $71,617 $82,422 $80,089 $93,986 $88,338 

 Age of reference person ................................................................................................ 512 50.1 52.5 47.5 50.2 

 Average number in consumer unit: 

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

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

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

 Earners ................................................................................................ 1.3 1.4 1.3 1.5 1.4 

 Vehicles ................................................................................................ 2.1 1.7 1.9 2.3 2.1 

 Percent homeowner ................................................................................................ 67 63 70 61 72 

Average annual expenditures ................................................................................................ $57,714 $63,726 $64,998 $72,382 $64,318 

 Food ................................................................................................................................ 7,378 8,481 7,998 8,403 7,511 

 Food at home ................................................................................................ 4,177 4,761 4,429 4,809 4,243 

 Cereals and bakery products ................................................................ 532 575 585 588 497 

 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ................................................................ 865 1,070 934 990 964 

 Dairy products ................................................................................................ 450 467 407 479 393 

 Fruits and vegetables ................................................................................................ 757 983 876 921 710 

 Other food at home ................................................................................................ 1,573 1,666 1,626 1,833 1,681 

 Food away from home ................................................................................................ 3,202 3,720 3,569 3,594 3,268 

 Alcoholic beverages ................................................................................................575 657 735 809 709 

 Housing ................................................................................................................................ 17,814 22,501 19,587 24,335 21,181 

 Shelter................................................................................................ 9,892 14,426 10,670 14,685 11,285 

 Owned dwellings ................................................................................................ 6,288 8,920 6,881 9,118 7,378 

 Rented dwellings ................................................................................................ 2,858 4,608 2,960 4,334 2,856 

 Other lodging ................................................................................................ 746 898 829 1,233 1,051 

 Utilities, fuels, and public services ................................................................ 3,825 3,892 4,052 3,559 4,477 

 Household operations ................................................................................................ 1,326 1,405 1,636 1,936 1,901 

 Housekeeping supplies ................................................................................................ 708 714 810 703 715 

 Household furnishings and equipment ................................................................ 2,063 2,063 2,419 3,451 2,803 

 Apparel and services ................................................................................................ 1,793 2,017 2,370 2,607 1,659 

 Transportation ................................................................................................ 9,415 8,443 12,541 9,318 9,687 

 Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ................................................................ 3,758 3,438 4,432 3,132 4,146 

 Gasoline, other fuels, and motor oil................................................................ 1,986 1,819 2,039 2,104 2,107 

 Other vehicle expenses ................................................................................................ 2,997 2,232 5,219 2,891 2,644 

 Public and other transportation ................................................................ 675 954 850 1,190 791 

 Healthcare ................................................................................................ 5,204 5,476 4,930 5,517 4,846 

 Entertainment ................................................................................................ 3,487 2,863 4,228 4,347 3,062 

 Personal care products and services ................................................................ 764 1,056 752 895 811 

 Reading ................................................................................................................................ 118 156 86 239 154 

 Education ................................................................................................ 1,238 1,968 1,171 1,864 1,130 

 Tobacco products and smoking supplies ................................................................400 186 513 449 423 

 Miscellaneous ................................................................................................ 893 1,003 1,333 980 1,953 

 Cash contributions ................................................................................................1,843 1,597 1,565 4,263 3,897 

 Personal insurance and pensions ................................................................ 6,790 7,322 7,190 8,355 7,294 

 Life and other personal insurance ................................................................ 468 409 439 513 608 

 Pensions and Social Security ................................................................ 6,323 6,913 6,751 7,843 6,685 

Source: Consumer Expenditure Survey, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, September, 2019