Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-21
Average U. S. Family?
u. S. Doto Tells Story

is a handler figure to work with.
A household, by government
definition, consists Of all persons
occupying the same dwelling
unit, whether a house, apart
ment or rented room. Since this
conforms to the popular idea Of
a family, we will refer to Gov
eminent households" as "fami-
lies"
Total personal income last
year. according to Commerce,
was $306.l billion. That figures
TO $6,377 per family. Total per-
sonal taxes and other Govern
ment levies were 1855 billion, or
$740 per family, leaving $5.637.
OF this, savings averaged 1854.
Stores Got Share
Therefore, after taxes and
savings. the average family had
1888. All this was spent-other-
wise it would have been included
in savings, eh?
Figures on how it was spent
are not as sharp as, say, the
digits on your next tax statement.
However, a new Census report
on retail trade in 1855 offers
some clues as to how much was
spent in stores. which. by Gov
eminent definition. includes auto
showrooms and saloons.
The report shows that a total
Of $185, 4S4, 100000 was spent in
retail establishments during the
year.
If we were a conclusion jumper,
we'd divide that total by 40 mill
lion and conclude the average
family spent $3.s64 in stores in
1855.
The average family spent q
lot. However, those retail sales
include sales to business, such
as flll-in supplies for contractors.
ONCE equipment, gifts to pros
poets and many odds and ends.
Who Buys Trucks?
The figures on sales are broken
down into categories by Census.
Some categorieS indicate average
family spending; others do not.
The data show that Americans
spent $43,63S 100000 in food
stores and $8,9l7. 100000 in eat
ing places. Some of this may
represent spending by business.
but that share is probably small
and it is safe to conclude that,
the average family spent $1.095
for food.
In the same time, a total Of
$38, 266. 900. 900 was spent in auto
establishments and $12,412, 000,-
900 at service stations. AT first
glance. it looks as If the aver
age family spent almost as
much for riding around in a
car as. it did for eating. But
auto retailers sell trucks and
IsaleSmen's cars to business, and
lgaS stations sell to truckers. So
how much the average family
spends on its car can only be
determined by guessing.
In fields where families, not
business, are almost the exclu-
sive buyers, the Census figures
throw light on the family
budget. Sales by categories in
dictate the average family spent
1854 in department stores last
year. $50 in variety stores and
500 in other general merchan-.
disc stores. In addition, it spent
SIT in women's ready-to-wear
stores. $42 in shoe stores and
$106 in other apparel stores.
The average spending per
family in drugstores came to
$109, and in furniture and APP
Ipliance stores. $210. Average
spending in retail lumberyards.
building supply establishments
and hardware stores was $287,
but here again considerable
business buying is included.
| The figures indicate the aver.
iage household spent a bit in
carousing. Averages we're STA in
liquor stores and 500 in drink
ing places, but nobody knows
how much of this was business
entertainment. In any event. the
average per family was no more
than 1892 per week. barely
enough for a bottle of gin.
released by Mcclure Newspaper