Table 2601. Generation of reference person: Shares of annual aggregate expenditures and sources of income, 

Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2018 

 (Aggregates in millions of dollars, unless otherwise indicated) 

Item Aggregate 

Birth year 

of 1981 

or later 

Birth year 

from 1965 

to 1980 

Birth year 

from 1946 

to 1964 

Birth year 

from 1928 

to 1945 

Birth year 

of 1927 

or earlier 

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ................................ 131,439 34,845 35,498 43,763 16,206 1,128 

Percent distribution of consumer units ................................ 100.0 26.5 27.0 33.3 12.3 .9 

Consumer unit characteristics (mean values): 

 Income before taxes ................................................................$78,635 $67,076 $106,506 $80,086 $41,710 $32,832 

 Income after taxes ................................................................ 67,241 58,628 88,794 67,950 39,185 30,565 

 Age of reference person ................................................................51.1 29.0 45.2 62.1 79.0 92.3 

 Average number in consumer unit: 

 People ................................................................................................ 2.5 2.6 3.1 2.1 1.7 1.3 

 Children under 18 ................................................................ .6 .9 1.1 .2 ( 1 ) ( 2 ) 

 Adults 65 and older ................................................................ .4 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) .6 1.4 1.3 

 Earners ................................................................................................ 1.3 1.5 1.7 1.2 .3 3

.1 

 Vehicles ................................................................................................ 1.9 1.6 2.1 2.1 1.6 1.0 

Percent distribution: 

 Reference person: 

 Men................................................................................................47 49 47 48 43 46 

 Women ................................................................................................ 53 51 53 52 57 54 

 Housing tenure: 

 Homeowner ................................................................................................ 63 37 64 77 81 64 

 With mortgage ................................................................ 37 29 52 39 19 8 

 Without mortgage ................................................................ 26 8 13 38 62 56 

 Renter ................................................................................................ 37 63 36 23 19 36 

 Race of reference person: 

 Black or African-American ................................................................ 13 14 15 13 8 8 

 White, Asian, and all other races ................................................................ 87 86 85 87 92 92 

 Hispanic or Latino origin of reference person: 

 Hispanic or Latino ................................................................ 13 18 19 9 5 5 

 Not Hispanic or Latino ................................................................ 87 82 81 91 95 95 

 Education of reference person: 

 Elementary (1-8) ................................................................ 3 2 3 3 5 9 

 High school (9-12) ................................................................ 30 26 27 30 41 43 

 College ................................................................................................ 67 72 70 66 54 49 

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

 At least one vehicle owned or leased ................................ 88 84 91 91 87 61 

Annual aggregate expenditures ................................................................ $8,043,521 22.9 33.0 34.6 9.1 .5 

 Food................................................................................................ 1,039,471 23.5 33.6 33.7 8.9 .3 

 Food at home ................................................................ 585,605 22.0 32.6 34.9 10.1 .3 

 Cereals and bakery products ................................................................ 74,683 21.5 33.0 34.1 10.9 .4 

 Cereals and cereal products................................................................ 23,301 23.7 34.7 32.2 9.2 .3 

 Bakery products ................................................................51,382 20.6 32.3 35.0 11.8 .4 

 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ................................................................ 126,032 21.7 33.1 35.4 9.5 .3 

 Beef ................................................................................................ 33,249 21.0 35.4 33.4 9.8 3

.3 

 Pork ................................................................................................ 23,605 21.8 32.1 35.8 9.9 .4 

 Other meats ................................................................ 16,979 19.5 33.1 36.9 10.1 3

.4 

 Poultry ................................................................................................ 23,651 25.5 34.9 32.0 7.4 3

.2 

 Fish and seafood ................................................................ 20,168 19.9 28.7 40.9 10.4 3

.2 

 Eggs ................................................................................................ 8,380 22.9 32.9 34.9 9.0 3

.2 

 Dairy products ................................................................ 58,917 22.2 32.8 34.1 10.6 .3 

 Fresh milk and cream ................................................................ 19,225 22.8 33.5 33.5 10.0 .3 

 Other dairy products ................................................................ 39,692 21.9 32.5 34.4 11.0 .3 

 Fruits and vegetables................................................................ 112,519 22.0 31.8 35.2 10.6 .3 

 Fresh fruits ................................................................ 41,670 21.7 31.0 36.0 10.9 .4 

 Fresh vegetables ................................................................ 37,063 21.8 32.9 35.1 9.9 .3 

 Processed fruits ................................................................14,951 23.2 30.2 34.3 12.0 3

.3 

 Processed vegetables ................................................................ 18,835 22.2 32.7 34.6 10.1 .4 

 Other food at home ................................................................ 213,454 22.2 32.6 35.0 9.9 .3 

 Sugar and other sweets ................................................................ 19,743 19.3 32.9 35.7 11.8 .3 

 Fats and oils ................................................................ 15,452 20.3 32.5 35.9 11.0 3

.3 

See footnotes at end of table. 
Table 2601. Generation of reference person: Shares of annual aggregate expenditures and sources of income, 

Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2018 — Continued 

 (Aggregates in millions of dollars, unless otherwise indicated) 

Item Aggregate 

Birth year 

of 1981 

or later 

Birth year 

from 1965 

to 1980 

Birth year 

from 1946 

to 1964 

Birth year 

from 1928 

to 1945 

Birth year 

of 1927 

or earlier 

 Miscellaneous foods ................................................................ 113,442 24.1 32.3 34.1 9.3 .3 

 Nonalcoholic beverages ................................................................ 57,406 20.8 32.9 36.0 10.1 .2 

 Food prepared by consumer unit on 

 out-of-town trips ................................................................7,412 17.0 34.5 38.5 9.9 3

.1 

 Food away from home ................................................................ 453,865 25.5 34.8 32.2 7.3 .2 

 Alcoholic beverages ................................................................ 76,468 25.4 32.2 35.8 6.5 3

.1 

 Housing ................................................................................................ 2,640,250 24.2 32.3 33.2 9.5 .8 

 Shelter ................................................................................................ 1,544,072 25.8 32.6 31.6 9.1 .9 

 Owned dwellings ................................................................877,720 16.3 34.9 38.5 9.9 .4 

 Mortgage interest and charges ................................ 364,770 21.2 42.1 32.2 4.4 3

.1 

 Property taxes ................................................................289,139 13.1 33.5 40.7 12.0 .7 

 Maintenance, repairs, insurance, other 

 expenses ................................................................ 223,811 12.3 24.8 45.9 16.3 .7 

 Rented dwellings ................................................................558,452 43.0 29.2 18.6 7.5 1.7 

 Other lodging ................................................................ 107,901 13.7 32.3 43.2 10.5 3

.3 

 Utilities, fuels, and public services ................................ 532,153 20.8 31.7 35.9 11.0 .5 

 Natural gas ................................................................ 53,888 18.6 30.7 37.4 12.6 .7 

 Electricity ................................................................................................ 196,651 21.4 30.6 35.9 11.6 .6 

 Fuel oil and other fuels ................................................................ 15,964 8.7 25.2 45.1 19.7 31.3 

 Telephone services ................................................................ 184,982 22.7 34.0 34.3 8.6 .4 

 Residential phone service, VOIP, and phone 

 cards ................................................................................................ 28,853 8.4 22.4 44.5 23.1 1.5 

 Cellular phone service ................................................................ 156,129 25.3 36.2 32.5 5.9 .2 

 Water and other public services ................................ 80,668 19.3 31.4 36.4 12.4 .6 

 Household operations ................................................................ 200,080 26.5 33.6 28.1 10.4 1.4 

 Personal services ................................................................62,046 45.7 42.1 5.2 34.1 32.9 

 Other household expenses ................................................................ 138,034 17.9 29.7 38.5 13.3 .7 

 Housekeeping supplies ................................................................ 98,029 18.1 32.8 37.2 11.5 .4 

 Laundry and cleaning supplies ................................................................ 24,108 19.9 36.3 33.2 10.3 3

.3 

 Other household products ................................................................ 56,598 17.5 32.4 38.1 11.5 .5 

 Postage and stationery ................................................................ 17,323 17.4 29.2 39.9 13.4 3

.2 

 Household furnishings and equipment ................................265,917 22.2 30.8 39.5 7.4 .2 

 Household textiles ................................................................14,576 18.1 24.3 47.8 9.8 ( 1 ) 

 Furniture ................................................................................................ 68,141 26.8 31.3 36.2 5.6 3

.1 

 Floor coverings ................................................................ 3,327 20.9 25.8 47.5 5.8 ( 1 ) 

 Major appliances ................................................................ 39,911 19.6 31.6 38.4 10.1 3

.3 

 Small appliances, miscellaneous housewares ................................ 15,545 21.9 28.4 40.3 9.3 3

.1 

 Miscellaneous household equipment ................................124,416 21.0 31.4 40.3 7.1 .2 

 Apparel and services ................................................................244,915 28.0 34.0 31.6 6.4 .1 

 Men and boys ................................................................ 55,134 29.5 33.5 32.5 4.4 ( 1 ) 

 Men, 16 and over ................................................................44,202 29.7 29.1 36.2 5.0 3

.1 

 Boys, 2 to 15 ................................................................ 10,932 29.0 51.2 17.7 2.1 ( 2 ) 

 Women and girls ................................................................ 99,043 23.9 35.9 32.9 7.2 3

.1 

 Women, 16 and over................................................................ 83,668 23.0 32.7 35.9 8.4 3

.1 

 Girls, 2 to 15 ................................................................ 15,376 29.1 52.9 16.8 1.1 ( 2 ) 

 Children under 2 ................................................................ 10,242 54.0 22.6 21.6 31.8 ( 1 ) 

 Footwear ................................................................................................ 51,372 29.9 33.9 28.7 7.2 3

.2 

 Other apparel products and services ................................ 29,124 26.2 32.8 33.7 7.1 .2 

 Transportation ................................................................................................ 1,282,692 25.6 32.6 34.3 7.3 .1 

 Vehicle purchases (net outlay)................................................................ 522,435 28.6 31.0 34.6 5.8 ( 1 ) 

 Cars and trucks, new ................................................................ 239,926 25.4 29.7 37.6 7.3 ( 2 ) 

 Cars and trucks, used ................................................................ 273,899 31.2 32.0 32.2 4.6 3

.1 

 Other vehicles ................................................................ 8,610 35.8 35.9 27.7 3

.6 ( 2

 ) 

 Gasoline, other fuels, and motor oil ................................ 277,165 25.8 33.8 33.4 6.9 .2 

 Other vehicle expenses ................................................................ 375,532 22.5 33.5 34.3 9.6 .2 

 Vehicle finance charges ................................................................ 29,143 28.6 33.9 33.5 4.0 ( 1 ) 

 Maintenance and repairs ................................................................ 116,921 21.3 30.8 37.8 10.0 .1 

 Vehicle insurance ................................................................128,054 21.9 34.5 31.8 11.5 3

.2 

 Vehicle rental, leases, licenses, and other 

 charges ................................................................................................ 101,413 22.8 35.0 33.7 8.2 .3 

 Public and other transportation ................................................................ 107,561 21.5 34.3 35.6 8.1 .5 

 Healthcare ................................................................................................ 652,982 15.1 26.0 40.4 17.5 1.0 

 Health insurance ................................................................ 447,507 15.2 25.8 40.3 17.5 1.1 

 Medical services ................................................................ 119,426 16.6 28.6 39.2 15.2 .5 

 Drugs ................................................................................................ 63,492 11.9 23.4 43.1 20.5 1.1 

See footnotes at end of table. 
Table 2601. Generation of reference person: Shares of annual aggregate expenditures and sources of income, 

Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2018 — Continued 

 (Aggregates in millions of dollars, unless otherwise indicated) 

Item Aggregate 

Birth year 

of 1981 

or later 

Birth year 

from 1965 

to 1980 

Birth year 

from 1946 

to 1964 

Birth year 

from 1928 

to 1945 

Birth year 

of 1927 

or earlier 

 Medical supplies ................................................................ 22,556 14.0 24.3 41.6 19.1 31.0 

 Entertainment ................................................................................................ 423,720 19.6 32.9 39.4 7.8 .3 

 Fees and admissions ................................................................ 100,636 22.0 41.0 30.3 6.5 .2 

 Audio and visual equipment and services ................................ 135,311 20.5 30.6 36.5 11.7 .6 

 Pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment ................................ 107,134 21.3 33.9 37.9 6.7 3

.1 

 Pets ................................................................................................ 86,945 19.1 34.0 39.6 7.2 3

.1 

 Toys, hobbies, and playground equipment ................................ 20,189 30.9 33.5 30.8 4.8 ( 1 ) 

 Other entertainment supplies, equipment, and 

 services ................................................................................................ 80,639 12.9 24.9 57.7 4.4 ( 1 ) 

 Personal care products and services ................................ 100,865 23.0 32.9 33.7 9.9 .5 

 Reading ................................................................................................ 14,178 15.8 26.1 40.2 17.0 31.0 

 Education ................................................................................................ 184,932 24.6 41.4 31.3 2.7 ( 1 ) 

 Tobacco products and smoking supplies ................................ 45,556 25.3 32.0 37.8 4.8 ( 1 ) 

 Miscellaneous ................................................................................................ 130,444 17.9 30.7 38.0 12.7 .7 

 Cash contributions ................................................................ 248,127 12.5 28.4 39.7 18.3 1.1 

 Personal insurance and pensions ................................................................ 958,921 23.1 39.1 32.9 4.8 .1 

 Life and other personal insurance ................................ 61,099 11.6 30.6 44.2 13.4 3

.3 

 Pensions and Social Security ................................................................ 897,823 23.9 39.7 32.1 4.2 ( 1 ) 

Sources of income and personal taxes: 

 Money income before taxes ................................................................ $10,335,717 22.6 36.6 33.9 6.5 .4 

 Wages and salaries ................................................................ 8,090,941 26.5 41.3 30.4 1.8 ( 1 ) 

 Self-employment income ................................................................ 687,710 16.0 42.5 37.2 4.2 3

.1 

 Social Security, private and government 

 retirement ................................................................................................ 1,138,817 1.6 4.9 52.8 38.3 2.4 

 Interest, dividends, rental income, other 

 property income ................................................................255,147 7.5 19.0 51.0 20.1 2.3 

 Public assistance, Supplemental Security 

 Income, Supplementary Nutrition Assistance 

 Program (SNAP) ................................................................ 59,199 30.4 29.9 33.8 5.7 3

.3 

 Unemployment and workers' compensation, 

 veterans' benefits, and regular contributions 

 for support ................................................................................................ 62,650 19.1 27.2 42.8 10.4 3

.6 

 Other income ................................................................ 41,253 45.3 23.5 23.8 6.1 31.3 

 Personal taxes (contains some imputed values) ................................ 1,497,670 19.7 42.0 35.5 2.7 .2 

 Federal income taxes ................................................................ 1,187,149 18.9 42.0 36.0 2.9 .2 

 State and local income taxes ................................................................ 300,289 22.9 41.7 33.3 2.0 .2 

 Other taxes ................................................................................................ 10,232 14.0 44.1 33.3 8.2 3

.3 

 Income after taxes ................................................................8,838,047 23.1 35.7 33.6 7.2 .4 

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, 2019