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Consumer Expenditures
in 2002
U.S. Department of Labor
Bureau of Labor Statistics
February 2004
Report 974

C

onsumer units 1 spent $40,677, on average, in 2002,
an increase of 2.9 percent over the previous year.
Spending rose 3.9 percent in 2001 and 2.8 percent in
2000. The increase in spending in 2002 was more than the
1.6-percent annual average rise in general price levels over
the year, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
This report shows the latest results from the Bureau of Labor
Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey.

not substantially different across regions: spending rose 2.0
percent in the Northeast, 2.5 percent in the Midwest, and 1.5
percent in the West, while it dropped 1.0 percent in the South.
However, there were larger differences across regions in the
changes in spending within the food component. Spending
on food at home dropped 3 percent in the Northeast, whereas
it rose 4.2 percent in the West. Even larger differences occurred in spending on food away from home, with spending
on that component rising 9.5 percent in the Northeast and
dropping 2.2 percent in the West.
Spending on housing, the largest component of total
spending, rose 2.1 percent in 2002, following an increase of
5.6 percent in 2001. Consumer units spent an average of
$13,283 on housing in 2002, accounting for almost a third of
total spending. Expenditures for shelter, which includes
spending on owned and rented dwellings and on other lodging, rose 3.0 percent in 2002, somewhat less than the 6.9percent increase a year earlier. Spending on fuels, utilities,
and public services dropped by 3.0 percent in 2002, following an 11.2-percent increase in 2001. Prices for fuels, utilities, and public services, as measured by the CPI, also decreased (–4.4 percent) in 2002. Spending on the other housing components in 2002 included increases of 4.4 percent for
household operations, 4.1 percent for housefurnishings and
equipment, and 7.1 percent for housekeeping supplies. Data
classified by the type of area show that spending on housing rose more for rural consumers (6.7 percent) than it did for
urban consumers (1.5 percent) in 2002. Despite the larger
increase, rural consumers still spent substantially less for
housing than did urban consumers—$9,780, compared with
$13,771.
The average amount spent on apparel and services in
2002 showed little change from the previous year, rising just
0.3 percentage point, from $1,743 to $1,749. Spending on
apparel and services dropped 6.1 percent in 2001. Spending
on the components of apparel and services in 2002 included
increases for women’s and girls’ apparel (4.0 percent), apparel for children under age 2 (1.5 percent), and footwear (3.6
percent). These increases, however, were offset somewhat
by decreases of 3.2 percent for men’s and boys’ clothing and
7.3 percent for other apparel products and services.
Transportation spending rose 1.7 percent in 2002, the second consecutive year of moderate increases. In 2001, spending on transportation rose 2.9 percent, following 2 years of

Developments in 2002
Changes in 2002 in the major components of spending—
food, housing, apparel and services, transportation, health
care, entertainment, and personal insurance and pensions—
ranged from an increase of 0.3 percent for apparel and services to 7.7 percent for health care. (See table A.) Spending
for entertainment and for personal insurance and pensions
rose 6.5 percent and 4.3 percent, respectively, whereas expenditures on food, housing, and transportation all rose by
less than the overall average of 2.9 percent.
There were no major changes from 2001 to 2002 in the
percent distribution (share of total expenditures 2) of each of
the components of spending. (See table B.) Expenditure
shares are relatively stable from year to year, and their stability makes the percent distribution more useful for identifying
long-term spending trends than are percent changes in expenditures from one year to the next. For example, despite
the 7.7-percent increase in health care in 2002, the share of
total expenditures allocated to that component rose just 0.3
percentage point—from 5.5 percent to 5.8 percent.
Food expenditures increased 1.0 percent in 2002, with
spending on food away from home increasing 1.8 percent
and spending on food at home rising just 0.4 percent. The
increase in spending on food away from home in 2002 was
less than the 4.6-percent rise a year earlier. The 2002 rise in
food-at-home spending resulted from increases in spending
for fruits and vegetables (5.7 percent) and other food at home
(1.9 percent) being offset somewhat by decreases in spending for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs (–3.6 percent), dairy
products (–1.2 percent), and cereals and bakery products (–0.4
percent). Data classified by region of residence of the consumer unit show that changes in overall food spending were
1
See the glossary at the end of this report for a definition of
consumer unit.
2
See the glossary at the end of this report for a definition of total
expenditures.

1

larger increases—5.8 percent in 2000 and 6.0 percent in 1999.
Spending on vehicle purchases, the largest transportation
subcomponent, rose 2.4 percent in 2002. That increase, together with a 4.0-percent rise in other vehicle expenses, offset decreases in spending on gasoline and motor oil (–3.4
percent) and public transportation (–2.7 percent). Other vehicle expenses include spending on items such as maintenance and repairs, vehicle finance charges, and rentals and
leases. Prices for motor fuels, as measured by the CPI, also
decreased in 2002 (–6.5 percent). Data classified by the race
of the reference person3 show that spending on transportation by blacks rose 5.1 percent in 2002, compared with an
increase of 1.5 percent for whites and others. An increase of
10.4 percent for vehicle purchases by blacks, as against 1.8
percent for vehicle purchases by whites and others, was
primarily responsible for the larger increase in the overall
component for blacks. A year earlier, the opposite was the
case: whites and others increased their spending on vehicle
purchases by 5.4 percent, whereas blacks decreased their
spending by 4.0 percent. Spending on vehicles is subject to
large changes from year to year because vehicles are expensive items that are typically purchased infrequently, so relatively small changes in the percentage of consumer units
making such purchases can affect the overall average. Despite the larger increases in spending by blacks, their level of
transportation expenditures ($5,447) remained well below that
of whites and others ($8,077).
Spending on health care rose 7.7 percent in 2002, following increases of 5.5 percent in 2000 and 5.6 percent in 2001.
As was the case in both of the earlier years, the increase in
2002 was due primarily to relatively large increases for health
insurance and drugs (both prescription and nonprescription). Spending for health insurance rose 10.1 percent in
2002 and spending on drugs rose 8.6 percent. Spending for
medical services and for medical supplies, the other two
health care components, rose 3.0 percent and 5.6 percent,
respectively. Data classified by the age of the reference
person show that, in 2002, spending on health care by consumer units whose reference person was under age 25 rose
20.8 percent, whereas increases for units with reference person 65 years or older was just 2.7 percent. However, despite
the larger increase for the younger group, the older group
still spent a substantially bigger share of their total expenditures on health care than did the younger group—12.8 percent, compared with 2.6 percent.
Spending on entertainment rose 6.5 percent in 2002, following an increase of 4.8 percent in 2001 and a decrease of
1.5 percent in 2000. Among the components of entertainment, fees and admissions rose 2.9 percent; televisions, radios, and sound equipment, 4.9 percent; pets, toys, and playground equipment, 9.4 percent; and other entertainment supplies, equipment, and services, 10.8 percent. This last component includes expensive items, such as motorized recre-

Consumer Expenditure Survey
Collection of Bracketed Income Data
In 2001, the Interview portion of the Consumer Expenditure Survey began to include information collected from respondents in the form of income ranges
or brackets, in addition to discrete income amounts, as
reported in the past. Respondents who are unable or
unwilling to provide a specific dollar amount may be
able or willing to estimate a range for their income. The
bracketed amounts should provide more reliable income estimates because they increase the percentage
of households providing income data. Also affected
are those few expenditure items derived from income
data, such as deductions for Social Security. As a result, amounts for those items are not strictly comparable with previous data.
ational vehicles and boats, that are purchased relatively infrequently, so relatively small changes in the percentage of
consumer units purchasing such items can affect the overall
average. Data classified by the size of the consumer unit
show that the largest increase (11.8 percent) was in spending by the largest consumer units—those with five or more
persons—and that this increase was due primarily to a large
rise in spending on the other entertainment supplies, equipment, and services component.
Expenditures and deductions for personal insurance and
pensions rose 4.3 percent in 2002, following an increase of
11.1 percent in 2001. (See the accompanying box for a caveat
on these estimates.) Personal insurance and pensions accounts for 9.6 percent of the total expenditures of all consumer units. Data classified by income quintile show that
consumer units in the highest income quintile allocate 15.1
percent of their total expenditures to personal insurance and
pensions, compared with just 2.7 percent allocated by consumer units in the lowest income quintile. (The lowest quintile
includes a larger proportion of retired persons, students,
and persons just starting their careers, and these groups
typically do not spend as much for personal insurance and
pensions.)
Expenditure levels for the remaining components were
not as high as those for the major components of spending.
Among the smaller components, the largest increase in 2002
was for spending on education, which rose 16.0 percent,
following a 2.5-percent increase a year earlier. Spending on
alcoholic beverages and on personal care products and services increased more than the overall average in 2002, rising
7.7 percent and 8.5 percent, respectively. Miscellaneous expenditures, which include spending on items such as legal
and accounting fees, funeral expenses, and other items not
easily categorized elsewhere, rose 5.6 percent. Spending on
tobacco products and supplies also grew more than the overall average, rising 3.9 percent in 2002. Cash contributions
increased 1.5 percent, whereas spending on reading decreased 1.4 percent.

3
See the glossary at the end of this report for a definition of
reference person.

2

Table A. Average annual expenditures of all consumer units and percent changes, Consumer Expenditure Survey,
2000–2002
Percent change
2000

2001

2002

Number of consumer units (in thousands) .............

109,367

110,339

112,108

Income before taxes 1...............................................

$44,649

$47,507

$49,430

Averages: ...............................................................
Age of reference person ..................................
Number of persons in consumer unit ................
Number of earners ............................................
Number of vehicles ............................................
Percent homeowner ...............................................

48.2
2.5
1.4
1.9
66

48.1
2.5
1.4
1.9
66

48.1
2.5
1.4
2.0
66

Average annual expenditures ................................
Food ...................................................................
Food at home ................................................
Cereals and bakery products .................
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................
Dairy products ........................................
Fruits and vegetables .............................
Other food at home .................................
Food away from home .................................
Alcoholic beverages ..........................................
Housing ..............................................................
Shelter ..........................................................
Utilities, fuels, and public services ...............
Household operations ..................................
Housekeeping supplies ................................
Housefurnishings and equipment .................
Apparel and services ........................................
Transportation ...................................................
Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ....................
Gasoline and motor oil ..................................
Other vehicle expenses ...............................
Public transportation .....................................
Health care ........................................................
Entertainment .....................................................
Personal care products and services ...............
Reading ..............................................................
Education ...........................................................
Tobacco products and supplies ........................
Miscellaneous ....................................................
Cash contributions .............................................
Personal insurance and pensions .....................
Life and other personal insurance ...............
Pensions and Social Security 2.......................

$38,045
5,158
3,021
453
795
325
521
927
2,137
372
12,319
7,114
2,489
684
482
1,549
1,856
7,417
3,418
1,291
2,281
427
2,066
1,863
564
146
632
319
776
1,192
3,365
399
2,966

$39,518
5,321
3,086
452
828
332
522
952
2,235
349
13,011
7,602
2,767
676
509
1,458
1,743
7,633
3,579
1,279
2,375
400
2,182
1,953
485
141
648
308
750
1,258
3,737
410
3,326

$40,677
5,375
3,099
450
798
328
552
970
2,276
376
13,283
7,829
2,684
706
545
1,518
1,749
7,759
3,665
1,235
2,471
389
2,350
2,079
526
139
752
320
792
1,277
3,899
406
3,493

Item

1
2

Income values are derived from “complete income reporters” only.
See box on page 2.

3

2000–2001

2001–02

3.9
3.2
2.2
–.2
4.2
2.2
.2
2.7
4.6
–6.2
5.6
6.9
11.2
–1.2
5.6
–5.9
–6.1
2.9
4.7
–.9
4.1
–6.3
5.6
4.8
–14.0
–3.4
2.5
–3.4
–3.4
5.5
11.1
2.8
12.1

2.9
1.0
.4
–.4
–3.6
–1.2
5.7
1.9
1.8
7.7
2.1
3.0
–3.0
4.4
7.1
4.1
.3
1.7
2.4
–3.4
4.0
–2.7
7.7
6.5
8.5
–1.4
16.0
3.9
5.6
1.5
4.3
–1.0
5.0

Table B. Percent distribution of total annual expenditures by major category, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 1999–2002
Item
Average annual expenditures ........................................
Food ...........................................................................
Food at home ........................................................
Food away from home .........................................
Housing ......................................................................
Apparel and services ................................................
Transportation ...........................................................
Vehicles ................................................................
Gasoline and motor oil ..........................................
Other transportation .............................................
Health care ................................................................
Entertainment .............................................................
Personal insurance and pensions .............................
Life and other personal insurance .......................
Pensions and Social Security ...............................
Other expenditures 1....................................................

1999

2000

2001

2002

100.0
13.6
7.9
5.7
32.6
4.7
19.0
8.9
2.9
7.2
5.3
5.1
9.3
1.1
8.2
10.5

100.0
13.6
7.9
5.6
32.4
4.9
19.5
9.0
3.4
7.1
5.4
4.9
8.8
1.0
7.8
10.5

100.0
13.5
7.8
5.7
32.9
4.4
19.3
9.1
3.2
7.0
5.5
4.9
9.5
1.0
8.4
10.0

100.0
13.2
7.6
5.6
32.7
4.3
19.1
9.0
3.0
7.0
5.8
5.1
9.6
1.0
8.6
10.3

1
Includes expenditures for alcoholic beverages, personal care products and services, reading, education, and tobacco products and
supplies, as well as cash contributions and miscellaneous expenditures.

Brief description of the Consumer Expenditure
Survey
The current Consumer Expenditure Survey program was begun in 1980. Its principal objective is to collect information
on the buying habits of American consumers. Consumer expenditure data are used in a variety of research endeavors
by government, business, labor, and academic analysts. In
addition, the data are required for periodic revision of the
CPI.
The survey, which is conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau for the Bureau of Labor Statistics, consists of two components: A Diary or recordkeeping survey completed by participating consumer units for two consecutive 1-week periods and an Interview survey, in which expenditures of consumer units are obtained in five interviews conducted at 3month intervals. Results in this report are based on integrated data from both surveys.
Survey participants record dollar amounts for goods and
services purchased during the reporting period, regardless
of whether payment is made at the time of purchase. Expenditure amounts include all sales and excise taxes for all items
purchased by the consumer unit for itself or for others. Excluded from both surveys are all business-related expenditures and expenditures for which the consumer unit is reimbursed.
Each component of the survey queries an independent
sample of consumer units that is representative of the U.S.
population. For the Diary survey, about 7,500 consumer
units are sampled each year. Each consumer unit keeps a
diary for two 1-week periods, yielding approximately 15,000
diaries a year. The Interview sample, selected on a rotating
panel basis, surveys about 7,500 consumer units each quarter. Each consumer unit is interviewed once per quarter, for
five consecutive quarters. Data are collected on an ongoing
basis in 105 areas of the United States.
The Interview survey is designed to capture expenditure
data that respondents can reasonably recall for a period of 3

months or longer. In general, these include relatively large
expenditures, such as those for real property, automobiles,
and major appliances, or expenditures that occur on a regular
basis, such as those for rent, utility payments, or insurance
premiums. Including global estimates of spending for food,
it is estimated that about 95 percent of expenditures are covered in the Interview survey. Nonprescription drugs, household supplies, and personal care items are excluded. The
Interview survey also provides data on expenditures incurred
on leisure trips.
The Diary survey is designed to capture expenditures on
small, frequently purchased items that are normally difficult
for respondents to recall. Detailed records of expenses are
kept for food and beverages—both at home and in eating
places—and for tobacco, housekeeping supplies, nonprescription drugs, and personal care products and services.
Expenditures incurred by members of the consumer unit while
away from home overnight or longer are excluded from the
Diary survey. Although the Diary survey was designed to
collect information on expenditures that could not be recalled easily over a given period, respondents are asked to
report all expenses (except overnight travel) that the consumer unit incurs during the survey week.
Integrated data from the BLS Diary and Interview surveys provide a complete accounting of consumer expenditures and income that neither survey component alone is
designed to do. Data on some expenditure items are collected in only one of the components. For example, the Diary
does not collect data on expenditures for overnight travel or
information on reimbursements, whereas the Interview does.
Examples of expenditures for which reimbursements are excluded are medical care; automobile repair; and construction, repairs, alterations, and maintenance of property.
For items that are unique to one or the other survey, the
choice of which survey to use as the source of data is obvious. However, there is considerable overlap in coverage
between the surveys. Because of this, integrating the data

4

presents the problem of determining the appropriate survey
component from which to select expenditure items. When
data are available from both survey sources, the more reliable of the two (as determined by statistical methods) is
selected. As a result, some items are selected from the Interview survey, and others, from the Diary survey.
Population coverage and definitions of components of
the Consumer Expenditure Survey differ from those of the
CPI. Consumer expenditure data cover the total population,
whereas the CPI covers only the urban population. In addition, home ownership is treated differently in the two surveys. Actual expenditures of homeowners are reported in
the Consumer Expenditure Survey, whereas the CPI uses a
rental equivalence approach that attempts to measure the
change in the cost of obtaining, in the rental marketplace,
services equivalent to those provided by owner-occupied
homes.

composition of the consumer unit, number of earners, housing tenure, type of area (urban or rural), race, Hispanic origin,
region of residence, occupation, and education. (These are
the same classifications published in previous reports and
bulletins.)
Information on expenditures, income, and family characteristics of single persons, classified by either age and sex or
income and sex, is available. Tables that show consumer
expenditure data cross-tabulated by income before taxes and
age of the reference person, size of the consumer unit, or
region of residence also are available. These tables are not
presented in this report, but may be obtained from the BLS
Division of Consumer Expenditure Surveys.
Integrated Consumer Expenditure Survey data with more
detailed expenditure categories are published in biennial reports. The most recent is Consumer Expenditure Survey,
2000–2001, Report 969, September 2003. It contains tables
of average annual expenditures, income, and characteristics
for the same classifications that are shown in this report, but
in greater detail. Also included are tables showing average
annual data over a 2-year period for (1) Income before taxes,
cross-tabulated by age, consumer unit size, or region; (2)
single consumers by sex cross-tabulated by either income or
age; and (3) selected Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs).
Also published in 2003 was Consumer Expenditure Survey
Anthology, 2003, Report 967, which includes analyses of
expenditure data as they apply to various topics of interest,
as well as methodological and research articles pertaining to
various survey topics. This anthology was the first in a
series to be published biennially.
Tables with the same level of detail as shown in the 2-year
report can be accessed through the Internet (http://
www.bls.gov/cex). Data are available for 1984–2002. Beginning with the 2000 data, estimates of standard error for integrated Diary and Interview survey data became available on
the Internet. Other survey information, including answers to
frequently asked questions, a glossary of terms, and order
forms for survey products, also is available on the Internet.

Interpreting the data
Expenditures are averages for consumer units with specified
characteristics, regardless of whether a particular unit incurred an expense for a specific item during the recordkeeping
period. The average expenditure for an item may be considerably lower than the expenditure by those consumer units
that purchased the item. The less frequently an item is purchased, the greater is the difference between the average for
all consumer units and the average for those purchasing the
item. Also, an individual consumer unit may spend more or
less than the average, depending on its particular characteristics. Factors such as income, age of family members, geographic location, taste, and personal preference also influence expenditures. Furthermore, even within groups with
similar characteristics, the distribution of expenditures varies substantially. These points should be considered in relating reported averages to individual circumstances.
Users of these survey data should also keep in mind that
prices for many goods and services have risen since the
survey was conducted. For example, rent as measured by
the CPI rose 3.6 percent between 2002 (annual average index) and October 2003.
In addition, sample surveys are subject to two types of
errors—sampling and nonsampling. Sampling errors occur
because the data are collected from a representative sample
rather than from the entire population. Nonsampling errors
result from the inability or unwillingness of respondents to
provide correct information, from differences in interviewers’ abilities, from mistakes in recording or coding, or from
other processing errors.

Other available data
The 2002 Diary and Interview microdata—that is, data on
individual consumer units—are available on CD-ROM. The
Interview files contain expenditure data in two different formats: MTAB files, which present monthly values in an item
coding framework based on the CPI pricing scheme, and
EXPN files that organize expenditures by the section of the
Interview questionnaire in which they are collected. Expenditure values on EXPN files cover different periods, depending on the specific question asked; the files also contain
relevant nonexpenditure information not found on the MTAB
files. Currently available on CD-ROM are microdata files
back to 1990 and for selected earlier years.
Consumer Expenditure Survey data also are available via
the BLS fax-on-demand service,which provides information
and data that may be accessed from a touch-tone telephone
24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by dialing (202) 691–6325.

Tables and data
Tables in this report include integrated data from both the
Diary and Interview components of the Consumer Expenditure Survey, enabling data users to associate the full range
of expenditures with consumers’ demographic characteristics. Tables show data classified by income quintile, income
class, age of the reference person, size of the consumer unit,

5

Voice prompts explain how to obtain the information. Data
available from the fax-on-demand service are for the most
recent published year. Additional data are presented in articles in the Monthly Labor Review.
For more detailed information on the availability of current and earlier data, contact the Division of Consumer Expenditure Surveys, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room 3985, 2
Massachusetts Avenue, NE., Washington, DC 20212-0001.

Telephone: (202) 691–6900. E-mail: (cexinfo@bls.gov).
Internet: (http://www.bls.gov/cex).
Material in this publication is in the public domain and,
with appropriate credit, may be reproduced without permission. Information in this report is available upon request to
sensory–impaired individuals: Voice phone: (202) 691–5200,
Federal Relay Service: 1–800-877–8339.

Glossary

Consumer unit. A consumer unit is defined as members of a
household related by blood, marriage, adoption, or some
other legal arrangement; a single person living alone or sharing a household with others, but who is financially independent; or two or more persons living together who share responsibility for at least 2 out of 3 major types of expenses—
food, housing, and other expenses. Students living in university-sponsored housing also are included in the sample
as separate consumer units.

Income. The combined income earned by all consumer unit
members 14 years or older during the 12 months preceding
the interview. The components of income are wages and
salaries; self-employment income; Social Security and private and government retirement income; interest, dividends,
and rental and other property income; unemployment and
workers’ compensation and veterans’ benefits; public assistance, Supplemental Security Income, and Food Stamps; rent
or meals or both as pay; and regular contributions for support, such as alimony and child support.

Reference person. The first member mentioned by the respondent when asked to “Start with the name of the person
or one of the persons who owns or rents the home.” It is
with respect to this person that the relationship of other
consumer unit members is determined.

Complete income reporter. In general, a consumer unit that
provides values for at least one of the major sources of its
income, such as wages and salaries, self-employment income,
and Social Security income. Even complete income reporters
may not provide a full accounting of all income from all
sources.

Total expenditures. The transaction costs, including excise
and sales taxes, of goods and services acquired during the
interview period. Estimates include expenditures for gifts
and contributions, as well as payments for pensions and
personal insurance.

Quintiles of income before taxes. Complete income reporters are ranked in ascending order of income and divided into
five equal groups. Incomplete income reporters are not ranked
and are shown separately in the quintiles of income tables.

6

Table 1. Quintiles of income before taxes: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2002
Complete reporting of income
Item

All
Total
consumer
complete
units
reporting

Lowest
20
percent

Second
20
percent

Third
20
percent

Fourth
20
percent

Highest
20
percent

Incomplete
reporting
of
income

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ....
Lower limit .....................................................

112,108
n.a.

92,388
n.a.

18,456
n.a.

18,474
$14,599

18,474
$28,344

18,487
$46,507

18,498
$74,392

19,719
n.a.

Consumer unit characteristics:
Income before taxes 1 .................................
Age of reference person ..............................

$49,430
48.1

$49,430
48.1

$8,316
50.3

$21,162
51.5

$36,989
47.8

$59,177 $121,367
45.3
45.5

(1)
48.1

Average number in consumer unit:
Persons .....................................................
Children under 18 ......................................
Persons 65 and over .................................
Earners ......................................................
Vehicles .....................................................
Percent homeowner ....................................

2.5
.7
.3
1.4
2.0
66

2.5
.7
.3
1.4
2.0
66

1.7
.4
.4
.7
1.0
42

2.2
.5
.5
1.0
1.5
56

2.5
.6
.3
1.4
2.0
65

2.8
.8
.2
1.8
2.5
77

3.2
.9
.1
2.1
2.9
89

2.6
.7
.3
1.3
1.8
69

Average annual expenditures ........................
Food ............................................................
Food at home ............................................
Cereals and bakery products ..................
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................
Dairy products .........................................
Fruits and vegetables ..............................
Other food at home .................................
Food away from home ...............................

$40,677
5,375
3,099
450
798
328
552
970
2,276

$42,557
5,612
3,217
471
815
345
568
1,018
2,395

$19,061
3,186
2,144
323
575
229
381
636
1,042

$27,140
4,140
2,677
393
700
288
482
814
1,464

$36,881
5,071
3,073
440
779
331
536
986
1,998

$50,432
6,574
3,660
528
928
392
633
1,178
2,914

$79,199
9,083
4,528
668
1,091
482
809
1,478
4,554

$33,201
4,771
2,799
399
758
288
511
842
1,973

Alcoholic beverages ....................................
Housing .......................................................
Shelter .......................................................
Owned dwellings .....................................
Rented dwellings .....................................
Other lodging ...........................................
Utilities, fuels, and public services .............
Household operations ...............................
Housekeeping supplies .............................
Household furnishings and equipment ......
Apparel and services ...................................

376
13,283
7,829
5,165
2,160
505
2,684
706
545
1,518
1,749

415
13,481
7,854
5,148
2,197
509
2,683
736
606
1,602
1,872

172
6,640
3,891
1,422
2,241
228
1,661
237
306
544
953

234
9,117
5,161
2,355
2,589
216
2,209
415
428
904
1,168

389
11,743
6,771
3,810
2,647
313
2,585
610
501
1,277
1,526

465
15,340
8,743
6,159
2,108
476
3,106
768
929
1,795
2,094

814
24,541
14,690
11,980
1,400
1,309
3,851
1,650
865
3,484
3,617

275
12,619
7,716
5,244
1,986
485
2,691
563
395
1,254
1,416

Transportation .............................................
Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................
Gasoline and motor oil ..............................
Other vehicle expenses .............................
Public transportation ..................................

7,759
3,665
1,235
2,471
389

7,984
3,778
1,252
2,550
404

3,285
1,603
581
938
162

5,013
2,322
907
1,570
215

7,472
3,588
1,245
2,336
303

10,369
5,083
1,569
3,244
472

13,769
6,288
1,957
4,657
866

6,727
3,134
1,154
2,120
320

Health care ..................................................
Entertainment ..............................................
Personal care products and services ..........
Reading .......................................................
Education ....................................................
Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....
Miscellaneous ..............................................
Cash contributions .......................................

2,350
2,079
526
139
752
320
792
1,277

2,410
2,167
562
145
771
334
846
1,366

1,402
813
306
69
663
238
373
449

2,183
1,103
417
97
364
331
625
862

2,506
1,644
493
120
437
390
756
1,121

2,692
2,659
644
168
662
410
1,020
1,558

3,262
4,608
947
271
1,729
299
1,456
2,834

2,095
1,745
433
107
676
260
572
862

Personal insurance and pensions ...............
Life and other personal insurance .............
Pensions and Social Security ....................

3,899
406
3,493

4,593
425
4,169

512
159
353

1,484
243
1,242

3,213
340
2,873

5,776
477
5,298

11,967
903
11,064

644
320
324

1 Components of income and taxes are derived from "complete income reporters" only; see glossary.
n.a. Not applicable.

Table 2. Income before taxes: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2002
Complete reporting of income
Total
complete
reporting

Less
than
$5,000

$5,000
to
$9,999

Number of consumer units (in thousands)

92,388

3,882

7,051

Consumer unit characteristics:
Income before taxes 1 ............................
Age of reference person .........................

$49,430
48.1

$1,613
38.9

Average number in consumer unit:
Persons ................................................
Children under 18 .................................
Persons 65 and over ............................
Earners .................................................
Vehicles ................................................
Percent homeowner ...............................

2.5
.7
.3
1.4
2.0
66

1.7
.4
.2
.9
1.0
30

Item

Average annual expenditures ...................
Food .......................................................
Food at home .......................................
Cereals and bakery products ..............
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .............
Dairy products ....................................
Fruits and vegetables .........................
Other food at home .............................
Food away from home ..........................

$10,000 $15,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000
to
to
to
to
to
to
$14,999 $19,999 $29,999 $39,999 $49,999 $69,999
13,521

20,947

$7,725 $12,426 $17,328 $24,495 $34,423 $44,443 $58,933
51.1
55.9
53.0
50.4
47.7
46.4
45.3

$115,629
45.4

1.7
.4
.4
.6
.9
39

8,007

1.8
.4
.5
.7
1.2
51

7,068

2.1
.5
.5
.9
1.4
54

12,312

2.3
.6
.5
1.0
1.6
58

10,727

2.5
.6
.3
1.3
2.0
64

8,873

$70,000
and
over

2.6
.7
.2
1.5
2.1
69

2.8
.8
.2
1.8
2.5
78

3.1
.9
.1
2.0
2.9
88

$42,557 $19,699 $16,488 $20,918 $25,015 $28,836 $35,095 $41,787 $50,406
5,612
3,485
2,865
3,238
3,768
4,349
4,881
5,502
6,548
3,217
2,206
1,838
2,317
2,483
2,768
3,006
3,241
3,555
471
321
272
347
383
403
431
454
519
815
612
478
640
615
729
782
807
896
345
227
215
233
275
294
315
371
377
568
386
311
418
447
502
527
559
612
1,018
660
562
678
762
840
951
1,050
1,151
2,395
1,278
1,027
922
1,286
1,581
1,875
2,261
2,994

$76,627
8,874
4,524
666
1,099
481
807
1,471
4,350

Alcoholic beverages ...............................
Housing ..................................................
Shelter ..................................................
Owned dwellings ................................
Rented dwellings ................................
Other lodging ......................................
Utilities, fuels, and public services ........
Household operations ...........................
Housekeeping supplies ........................
Household furnishings and equipment
Apparel and services ..............................

415
13,481
7,854
5,148
2,197
509
2,683
736
606
1,602
1,872

197
6,776
4,124
1,506
2,181
437
1,451
188
377
636
1,349

174
6,073
3,536
1,164
2,202
169
1,558
201
284
494
713

155
7,100
4,066
1,588
2,305
173
1,889
304
294
547
994

192
8,540
4,954
2,165
2,583
206
2,068
314
411
792
1,131

275
9,595
5,368
2,511
2,640
217
2,316
477
432
1,001
1,176

346
11,240
6,451
3,547
2,601
304
2,526
575
490
1,198
1,497

433
13,159
7,671
4,720
2,604
346
2,749
688
523
1,529
1,692

453
15,276
8,581
6,047
2,082
452
3,126
753
1,046
1,770
2,043

780
23,695
14,212
11,502
1,461
1,249
3,782
1,571
847
3,283
3,469

Transportation ........................................
Vehicle purchases (net outlay) .............
Gasoline and motor oil ..........................
Other vehicle expenses ........................
Public transportation .............................

7,984
3,778
1,252
2,550
404

2,975
1,253
604
934
183

2,591
1,153
499
781
158

3,951
2,053
649
1,085
165

4,752
2,416
796
1,365
176

5,275
2,323
987
1,734
231

7,041
3,343
1,261
2,172
264

8,651
4,292
1,289
2,688
382

10,555
5,191
1,592
3,302
471

13,487
6,198
1,927
4,527
834

Health care .............................................
Entertainment .........................................
Personal care products and services .....
Reading ..................................................
Education ................................................
Tobacco products and smoking supplies
Miscellaneous .........................................
Cash contributions ..................................

2,410
2,167
562
145
771
334
846
1,366

1,060
867
300
61
1,394
191
391
350

1,139
721
252
58
552
244
318
437

1,854
859
351
86
377
249
407
507

2,118
1,002
386
83
448
298
501
800

2,289
1,187
432
106
311
364
675
981

2,379
1,561
464
109
388
390
808
1,093

2,598
1,924
551
140
536
401
778
1,182

2,672
2,641
655
170
619
422
1,035
1,560

3,230
4,457
915
262
1,653
302
1,417
2,704

Personal insurance and pensions ..........
Life and other personal insurance ........
Pensions and Social Security ...............

4,593
425
4,169

302
125
177

350
134
216

790
213
577

995
211
784

1,822
259
1,563

2,898
324
2,574

4,239
385
3,854

5,756
469
5,287

11,382
867
10,515

1

Components of income and taxes are derived from "complete income reporters" only; see glossary.

Table 3. Age of reference person: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2002

Item

All
consumer
units

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ....

112,108

Consumer unit characteristics:
Income before taxes 1 .................................
Age of reference person ..............................

$49,430 $20,773 $49,133 $61,532 $64,974 $53,162 $29,711 $35,118 $23,890
48.1
21.3
29.8
39.7
49.2
59.1
75.0
69.4
80.8

Average number in consumer unit:
Persons .....................................................
Children under 18 ......................................
Persons 65 and over .................................
Earners ......................................................
Vehicles .....................................................
Percent homeowner ....................................
Average annual expenditures ........................
Food ............................................................
Food at home ............................................
Cereals and bakery products ..................
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................
Dairy products .........................................
Fruits and vegetables ..............................
Other food at home .................................
Food away from home ...............................

2.5
.7
.3
1.4
2.0
66

Under
25

8,737

1.9
.4
(2)
1.3
1.1
15

25-34

35-44

45-54

55-64

65 and
over

65-74

75 and
over

18,988

24,394

22,691

15,314

21,983

11,216

10,767

2.9
1.1
(2)
1.5
1.8
49

3.2
1.3
(2)
1.7
2.2
68

2.7
.6
(2)
1.8
2.4
76

2.1
.2
.1
1.3
2.2
81

1.7
.1
1.4
.5
1.5
80

1.9
.1
1.4
.6
1.9
84

1.5
(2)
1.3
.3
1.2
77

$40,677 $24,229 $40,318 $48,330 $48,748 $44,330 $28,105 $32,243 $23,759
5,375
3,621
5,471
6,314
6,228
5,559
3,910
4,479
3,302
3,099
1,926
3,093
3,601
3,528
3,114
2,548
2,877
2,195
450
287
442
542
500
423
386
418
352
798
460
817
918
929
807
641
745
529
328
200
324
392
367
325
274
301
244
552
338
522
597
627
591
510
556
461
970
640
988
1,153
1,106
967
738
858
609
2,276
1,696
2,378
2,712
2,700
2,445
1,362
1,602
1,107

Alcoholic beverages ....................................
Housing .......................................................
Shelter .......................................................
Owned dwellings .....................................
Rented dwellings .....................................
Other lodging ...........................................
Utilities, fuels, and public services .............
Household operations ...............................
Housekeeping supplies .............................
Household furnishings and equipment ......
Apparel and services ...................................

376
13,283
7,829
5,165
2,160
505
2,684
706
545
1,518
1,749

394
7,436
4,851
830
3,644
377
1,348
198
226
812
1,365

395
13,727
8,470
4,701
3,476
293
2,503
895
389
1,469
1,989

367
16,350
9,902
7,105
2,351
446
3,026
1,010
589
1,823
2,101

465
15,476
9,223
6,787
1,733
704
3,106
613
633
1,900
2,029

420
13,831
7,667
5,595
1,303
770
2,953
561
838
1,811
1,791

237
9,176
4,834
3,162
1,259
413
2,371
602
466
903
972

324
10,052
5,299
3,849
905
545
2,590
486
547
1,131
1,252

144
8,257
4,350
2,447
1,627
275
2,142
723
379
663
674

Transportation .............................................
Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................
Gasoline and motor oil ..............................
Other vehicle expenses .............................
Public transportation ..................................

7,759
3,665
1,235
2,471
389

5,102
2,635
903
1,339
225

8,423
4,269
1,257
2,505
392

9,400
4,592
1,473
2,935
400

9,173
4,203
1,495
3,055
421

8,449
3,882
1,292
2,735
540

4,481
1,818
777
1,586
300

5,731
2,430
970
1,945
386

3,178
1,180
575
1,212
211

Health care ..................................................
Entertainment ..............................................
Personal care products and services ..........
Reading .......................................................
Education ....................................................
Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....
Miscellaneous ..............................................
Cash contributions .......................................

2,350
2,079
526
139
752
320
792
1,277

640
1,212
329
57
1,664
286
422
319

1,417
2,027
488
103
571
315
678
743

1,980
2,685
615
135
738
376
841
1,247

2,550
2,565
588
167
1,208
415
989
1,571

3,007
2,297
557
181
589
361
930
1,520

3,586
1,139
451
147
202
152
686
1,679

3,588
1,371
509
161
289
220
794
1,620

3,584
896
390
134
112
81
572
1,740

Personal insurance and pensions ...............
Life and other personal insurance .............
Pensions and Social Security ....................

3,899
406
3,493

1,382
51
1,331

3,972
230
3,742

5,183
409
4,774

5,323
559
4,764

4,838
595
4,243

1,286
407
880

1,853
521
1,332

696
287
409

1
2

Components of income and taxes are derived from "complete income reporters" only; see glossary.
Value less than 0.05.

Table 4. Size of consumer unit: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey,
2002
Two or more persons
Item

All
consumer
units

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ......

112,108

Consumer unit characteristics:
Income before taxes 1 ...................................
Age of reference person ...............................

$49,430
48.1

Average number in consumer unit:
Persons .......................................................
Children under 18 .......................................
Persons 65 and over ...................................
Earners .......................................................
Vehicles ......................................................
Percent homeowner ......................................

2.5
.7
.3
1.4
2.0
66

Average annual expenditures .........................
Food ..............................................................
Food at home ..............................................
Cereals and bakery products ....................
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ...................
Dairy products ...........................................
Fruits and vegetables ................................
Other food at home ...................................
Food away from home ................................

$40,677
5,375
3,099
450
798
328
552
970
2,276

Alcoholic beverages ......................................
Housing .........................................................
Shelter .........................................................
Owned dwellings .......................................
Rented dwellings .......................................
Other lodging ............................................
Utilities, fuels, and public services ..............
Household operations .................................
Housekeeping supplies ...............................
Household furnishings and equipment ........
Apparel and services ....................................

Total
two or
more
persons

Two
persons

Three
persons

Four
persons

Five or
more
persons

33,055

79,053

34,849

17,308

15,822

11,074

$27,042
51.3

$59,020
46.7

$52,694
52.7

$60,077
43.8

$67,755
41.0

$64,954
40.7

3.1
.9
.3
1.7
2.3
73

2.0
.1
.5
1.2
2.2
74

3.0
.8
.2
1.8
2.3
69

4.0
1.6
.1
2.0
2.5
74

5.6
2.8
.1
2.3
2.6
71

$24,190
2,913
1,558
225
359
166
292
515
1,356

$47,508
6,367
3,718
541
975
394
656
1,152
2,649

$41,797
5,318
2,943
413
767
307
547
910
2,375

$48,098
6,361
3,733
523
986
398
650
1,176
2,628

$54,033
7,445
4,431
660
1,148
480
754
1,389
3,014

$55,501
8,302
5,247
821
1,400
552
893
1,580
3,055

376
13,283
7,829
5,165
2,160
505
2,684
706
545
1,518
1,749

285
8,619
5,465
2,605
2,538
322
1,712
400
270
772
921

413
15,224
8,818
6,235
2,002
581
3,091
834
656
1,826
2,086

453
13,380
7,728
5,225
1,839
664
2,736
513
677
1,725
1,559

399
15,183
8,847
6,121
2,234
492
3,114
977
551
1,695
2,247

389
17,636
10,299
7,809
1,957
532
3,418
1,267
676
1,976
2,380

334
17,660
10,088
7,344
2,214
529
3,702
998
722
2,151
3,150

Transportation ...............................................
Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ....................
Gasoline and motor oil ................................
Other vehicle expenses ..............................
Public transportation ...................................

7,759
3,665
1,235
2,471
389

3,890
1,662
646
1,306
276

9,377
4,502
1,481
2,957
436

8,110
3,805
1,257
2,591
458

10,003
4,994
1,512
3,099
397

10,685
5,177
1,713
3,318
476

10,510
4,966
1,809
3,366
369

Health care ....................................................
Entertainment ................................................
Personal care products and services ............
Reading .........................................................
Education ......................................................
Tobacco products and smoking supplies ......
Miscellaneous ...............................................
Cash contributions ........................................

2,350
2,079
526
139
752
320
792
1,277

1,522
1,193
310
108
562
210
602
998

2,696
2,448
614
151
831
367
872
1,394

3,010
2,115
557
162
491
327
797
1,516

2,496
2,308
611
143
935
418
859
1,203

2,472
2,928
682
150
1,156
352
926
1,242

2,340
3,038
706
132
1,279
434
1,049
1,523

Personal insurance and pensions .................
Life and other personal insurance ...............
Pensions and Social Security .....................

3,899
406
3,493

2,055
183
1,872

4,670
499
4,170

4,002
492
3,510

4,932
499
4,433

5,590
520
5,071

5,043
493
4,550

1
2

One
person

1.0
(2)
.3
.6
1.0
51

Components of income and taxes are derived from "complete income reporters" only; see glossary.
Value less than 0.05.

Table 5. Composition of consumer unit: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2002
Husband and wife consumer units

Item

Husband and wife with children
Total
Total
husband Husband
and wife and wife husband Oldest
Oldest
Oldest
and wife
consumer
child
child
child 18
only
with
units
under 6 6 to 17 or over
children

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ...

56,265

Consumer unit characteristics:
Income before taxes 1 ................................
Age of reference person ............................

$67,155
48.4

Average number in consumer unit:
Persons ....................................................
Children under 18 ....................................
Persons 65 and over ................................
Earners ....................................................
Vehicles ...................................................
Percent homeowner ...................................

3.2
.9
.3
1.7
2.6
82

Average annual expenditures ......................
Food ...........................................................
Food at home ...........................................
Cereals and bakery products .................
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ................
Dairy products ........................................
Fruits and vegetables ............................
Other food at home ................................
Food away from home .............................

$52,334
6,881
3,987
579
1,025
426
714
1,242
2,894

Alcoholic beverages ...................................
Housing ......................................................
Shelter .....................................................
Owned dwellings ....................................
Rented dwellings ...................................
Other lodging .........................................
Utilities, fuels, and public services ...........
Household operations ..............................
Housekeeping supplies ............................
Household furnishings and equipment ....
Apparel and services .................................

441
16,649
9,578
7,411
1,451
715
3,271
943
754
2,104
2,218

479
14,422
8,110
6,114
1,157
840
2,915
553
817
2,027
1,633

432
18,460
10,795
8,536
1,611
648
3,478
1,264
712
2,212
2,643

340
19,141
11,269
8,506
2,384
379
2,979
2,320
552
2,021
2,630

436
18,619
10,912
8,728
1,600
584
3,491
1,221
724
2,271
2,689

Transportation ............................................
Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ................
Gasoline and motor oil .............................
Other vehicle expenses ...........................
Public transportation ................................

10,199
4,795
1,621
3,287
496

8,592
3,898
1,345
2,818
531

11,425
5,513
1,807
3,649
455

10,467
5,391
1,494
3,176
406

Health care ................................................
Entertainment ............................................
Personal care products and services .........
Reading .....................................................
Education ...................................................
Tobacco products and smoking supplies ...
Miscellaneous ............................................
Cash contributions .....................................

3,110
2,762
662
174
952
336
921
1,646

3,614
2,265
608
192
490
286
865
1,909

2,716
3,213
711
166
1,366
344
949
1,481

Personal insurance and pensions ..............
Life and other personal insurance ...........
Pensions and Social Security ..................

5,384
605
4,779

4,524
634
3,891

6,144
592
5,552

1

23,118

8,036

4,357

6,730

49,112

$58,967 $73,918 $67,587 $72,720 $81,042
56.9
41.6
32.2
39.8
51.3

$65,866
48.1

$26,966
37.2

$32,469
49.2

2.0
n.a.
.6
1.2
2.4
86

28,790

3.9
1.6
.1
2.0
2.7
80

5,547

3.5
1.5
(2)
1.7
2.2
69

15,206

4.1
2.1
(2)
1.9
2.6
81

3.9
.6
.2
2.6
3.3
87

5.0
1.5
.5
2.4
2.7
76

$45,557 $57,835 $52,779 $58,104 $60,860
5,676
7,785
6,348
8,041
8,324
3,160
4,528
3,940
4,664
4,690
442
676
560
708
697
813
1,146
942
1,163
1,263
329
497
454
517
487
602
779
711
789
808
974
1,431
1,274
1,487
1,434
2,516
3,257
2,408
3,376
3,634

$52,484
7,661
5,030
711
1,409
506
914
1,491
2,630

$30,185
4,745
3,057
461
832
318
498
948
1,688

$28,627
3,659
2,033
292
520
212
364
645
1,625

490
17,697
10,247
8,196
1,097
954
3,797
615
804
2,234
2,565

295
16,506
9,323
6,860
1,962
501
3,787
891
687
1,819
2,636

146
11,022
6,513
3,102
3,280
131
2,471
814
337
886
1,885

331
9,716
6,007
2,874
2,818
314
2,042
419
324
925
1,172

11,203
5,512
1,761
3,491
439

12,506
5,600
2,112
4,274
521

10,629
4,806
1,852
3,400
571

5,549
2,833
912
1,645
159

5,266
2,484
837
1,647
298

2,233
2,425
549
132
336
275
913
1,037

2,676
3,593
757
169
1,246
318
827
1,399

3,127
3,037
736
184
2,303
440
1,205
1,941

3,027
2,447
641
130
675
548
1,034
1,335

1,252
1,362
428
72
454
262
569
374

1,629
1,391
379
107
563
311
675
979

5,952
424
5,528

6,129
609
5,520

6,304
675
5,629

4,920
539
4,381

2,066
182
1,883

2,448
209
2,239

Components of income and taxes are derived from "complete income reporters" only; see glossary.
Value less than 0.05.
n.a. Not applicable.
2

One
Single
Other
parent,
person
husband
at least and other
and wife one child consumer
units
consumer under 18
units

2.9
1.8
(2)
1.0
1.2
40

1.6
.2
.3
1.0
1.3
52

Table 6. Number of earners in consumer unit: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure
Survey, 2002

Item

Single consumers
All
consumer
One
units
No earner
earner

Consumer units of two or more persons
No earner

One
earner

Two
earners

Three or
more

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ....

112,108

12,289

20,766

9,448

22,535

36,558

10,512

Consumer unit characteristics:
Income before taxes 1 .................................
Age of reference person ..............................

$49,430
48.1

$14,653
67.3

$33,475
41.8

$25,671
64.7

$44,393
46.9

$70,448
42.3

$79,070
45.8

Average number in consumer unit:
Persons .....................................................
Children under 18 ......................................
Persons 65 and over .................................
Earners ......................................................
Vehicles .....................................................
Percent homeowner ....................................

2.5
.7
.3
1.4
2.0
66

1.0
n.a.
.7
n.a.
.8
61

1.0
n.a.
.1
1.0
1.2
45

2.3
.4
1.2
n.a.
1.8
78

2.9
1.0
.3
1.0
2.0
66

3.1
.9
.1
2.0
2.5
74

4.4
1.1
.1
3.3
3.2
78

Average annual expenditures ........................
Food ............................................................
Food at home ............................................
Cereals and bakery products ..................
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .................
Dairy products .........................................
Fruits and vegetables ..............................
Other food at home .................................
Food away from home ...............................

$40,677
5,375
3,099
450
798
328
552
970
2,276

$17,607
2,383
1,620
240
387
175
314
504
763

$28,077
3,223
1,521
216
344
161
279
522
1,702

$29,721
4,542
2,959
460
738
316
563
882
1,584

$39,923
5,650
3,546
525
931
386
641
1,063
2,103

$52,991
6,729
3,704
525
967
392
635
1,184
3,025

$60,844
8,381
4,884
711
1,328
494
859
1,493
3,497

Alcoholic beverages ....................................
Housing .......................................................
Shelter .......................................................
Owned dwellings .....................................
Rented dwellings .....................................
Other lodging ...........................................
Utilities, fuels, and public services .............
Household operations ...............................
Housekeeping supplies .............................
Household furnishings and equipment ......
Apparel and services ...................................

376
13,283
7,829
5,165
2,160
505
2,684
706
545
1,518
1,749

113
7,030
3,973
1,890
1,903
180
1,666
608
272
511
612

385
9,559
6,349
3,028
2,914
406
1,739
277
268
926
1,103

208
9,825
5,113
3,278
1,293
542
2,553
505
541
1,113
1,037

320
13,324
7,700
4,995
2,229
476
2,865
681
551
1,526
1,839

491
17,101
10,074
7,384
2,084
606
3,169
1,069
710
2,079
2,351

528
17,640
10,175
7,560
1,864
752
3,788
636
798
2,243
2,665

Transportation .............................................
Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..................
Gasoline and motor oil ..............................
Other vehicle expenses .............................
Public transportation ..................................

7,759
3,665
1,235
2,471
389

2,173
816
395
799
164

4,906
2,163
795
1,606
342

5,330
2,382
906
1,664
377

7,576
3,699
1,214
2,333
330

10,384
4,960
1,607
3,330
487

13,372
6,538
2,133
4,159
541

Health care ..................................................
Entertainment ..............................................
Personal care products and services ..........
Reading .......................................................
Education ....................................................
Tobacco products and smoking supplies ....
Miscellaneous ..............................................
Cash contributions .......................................

2,350
2,079
526
139
752
320
792
1,277

2,064
701
286
97
269
142
439
938

1,201
1,484
325
114
736
250
698
1,034

3,827
1,265
458
140
251
210
608
1,471

2,544
2,037
565
133
576
324
731
1,235

2,498
2,801
654
162
858
387
975
1,398

2,693
3,172
722
164
1,806
529
1,052
1,649

Personal insurance and pensions ...............
Life and other personal insurance .............
Pensions and Social Security ....................

3,899
406
3,493

361
171
189

3,058
190
2,868

550
415
135

3,070
452
2,618

6,202
534
5,668

6,470
556
5,914

1 Components of income and taxes are derived from "complete income reporters" only; see glossary.
n.a. Not applicable.

Table 7. Housing tenure, type of area, race of reference person, and Hispanic origin of reference person: Average annual
expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2002
Housing tenure
Item

All
consumer
units

Type of area

Race of reference
person

Homeowner

Renter

Urban

Rural

White
and
other

Black

74,419

37,689

98,386

13,722

98,553

13,554

Hispanic origin of
reference person

Hispanic

NonHispanic

Number of consumer units (in thousands) ...

112,108

10,500 101,608

Consumer unit characteristics:
Income before taxes 1 ................................
Age of reference person ............................

$49,430
48.1

Average number in consumer unit:
Persons ....................................................
Children under 18 ....................................
Persons 65 and over ................................
Earners ....................................................
Vehicles ...................................................
Percent homeowner ...................................

2.5
.7
.3
1.4
2.0
66

Average annual expenditures ......................
Food ...........................................................
Food at home ...........................................
Cereals and bakery products .................
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ................
Dairy products ........................................
Fruits and vegetables ............................
Other food at home ................................
Food away from home .............................

$40,677
5,375
3,099
450
798
328
552
970
2,276

Alcoholic beverages ...................................
Housing ......................................................
Shelter .....................................................
Owned dwellings ....................................
Rented dwellings ...................................
Other lodging .........................................
Utilities, fuels, and public services ...........
Household operations ..............................
Housekeeping supplies ............................
Household furnishings and equipment ....
Apparel and services .................................

376
13,283
7,829
5,165
2,160
505
2,684
706
545
1,518
1,749

402
15,058
8,458
7,752
67
639
3,155
876
674
1,896
1,942

324
9,777
6,588
56
6,293
239
1,755
370
291
773
1,369

395
13,771
8,277
5,389
2,358
530
2,701
751
511
1,532
1,814

241
9,780
4,622
3,559
739
324
2,565
381
790
1,422
1,292

402
13,633
8,043
5,432
2,065
546
2,673
733
578
1,606
1,756

190
10,756
6,279
3,223
2,852
204
2,768
509
313
887
1,704

301
11,841
7,372
3,567
3,645
161
2,413
407
471
1,179
2,097

383
13,431
7,877
5,330
2,006
540
2,712
737
552
1,553
1,716

Transportation ............................................
Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ................
Gasoline and motor oil .............................
Other vehicle expenses ...........................
Public transportation ................................

7,759
3,665
1,235
2,471
389

8,972
4,238
1,413
2,886
435

5,365
2,533
883
1,651
298

7,787
3,647
1,211
2,510
420

7,562
3,796
1,411
2,187
168

8,077
3,836
1,278
2,553
411

5,447
2,420
925
1,875
228

6,769
3,130
1,261
2,062
317

7,861
3,720
1,232
2,513
396

Health care ................................................
Entertainment ............................................
Personal care products and services .........
Reading .....................................................
Education ...................................................
Tobacco products and smoking supplies ...
Miscellaneous ............................................
Cash contributions .....................................

2,350
2,079
526
139
752
320
792
1,277

2,921
2,501
598
166
774
307
895
1,588

1,223
1,246
384
84
708
347
589
663

2,315
2,124
541
145
806
307
808
1,300

2,606
1,755
418
95
363
419
683
1,112

2,490
2,211
531
148
792
336
818
1,327

1,339
1,124
488
67
463
210
606
917

1,366
1,409
492
60
488
186
628
612

2,452
2,148
529
147
779
334
809
1,346

Personal insurance and pensions ..............
Life and other personal insurance ...........
Pensions and Social Security ..................

3,899
406
3,493

4,773
524
4,249

2,171
173
1,998

4,023
407
3,616

3,003
398
2,605

4,072
419
3,653

2,640
312
2,328

2,827
196
2,631

4,009
428
3,581

$59,345 $30,386 $50,985 $38,376 $51,177 $35,944 $37,360 $50,742
52.0
40.4
47.6
51.3
48.4
45.6
42.2
48.7

2.6
.7
.4
1.4
2.3
100

2.2
.6
.1
1.2
1.2
n.a.

2.5
.7
.3
1.4
1.9
64

2.5
.6
.4
1.4
2.5
82

2.5
.6
.3
1.4
2.1
69

2.7
.9
.2
1.3
1.3
48

3.3
1.1
.2
1.6
1.7
48

2.4
.6
.3
1.3
2.0
68

$46,908 $28,372 $41,600 $34,067 $42,135 $30,136 $34,742 $41,295
6,009
4,123
5,465
4,739
5,542
4,186
5,666
5,349
3,454
2,397
3,129
2,884
3,159
2,669
3,643
3,047
501
350
455
414
459
390
498
446
881
636
804
756
789
862
1,057
774
370
247
330
317
342
232
385
323
613
432
562
485
565
460
720
536
1,090
732
978
913
1,004
725
982
968
2,555
1,725
2,336
1,855
2,383
1,517
2,023
2,302

1 Components of income and taxes are derived from "complete income reporters" only; see glossary.
n.a. Not applicable.

Table 8. Region of residence: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2002

Item

All
consumer
units

Northeast

Midwest

South

West

Number of consumer units (in thousands) .............

112,108

21,313

25,883

40,004

24,907

Consumer unit characteristics:
Income before taxes 1 .........................................
Age of reference person ......................................

$49,430
48.1

$53,983
49.1

$49,197
48.4

$45,641
48.1

$52,016
46.8

Average number in consumer unit:
Persons .............................................................
Children under 18 ..............................................
Persons 65 and over .........................................
Earners ..............................................................
Vehicles .............................................................
Percent homeowner ............................................

2.5
.7
.3
1.4
2.0
66

2.5
.6
.3
1.3
1.7
64

2.5
.7
.3
1.4
2.2
70

2.5
.6
.3
1.3
1.9
68

2.6
.7
.3
1.4
2.1
62

Average annual expenditures ................................
Food ....................................................................
Food at home ....................................................
Cereals and bakery products ...........................
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..........................
Dairy products .................................................
Fruits and vegetables ......................................
Other food at home ..........................................
Food away from home .......................................

$40,677
5,375
3,099
450
798
328
552
970
2,276

$42,390
5,813
3,296
498
878
348
605
967
2,517

$40,601
5,180
2,932
435
706
320
490
981
2,247

$37,281
5,102
2,961
421
809
300
511
919
2,141

$44,728
5,630
3,317
469
807
365
635
1,041
2,314

Alcoholic beverages ............................................
Housing ...............................................................
Shelter ...............................................................
Owned dwellings .............................................
Rented dwellings .............................................
Other lodging ...................................................
Utilities, fuels, and public services .....................
Household operations ........................................
Housekeeping supplies .....................................
Household furnishings and equipment ..............
Apparel and services ...........................................

376
13,283
7,829
5,165
2,160
505
2,684
706
545
1,518
1,749

458
14,558
8,962
5,793
2,567
602
2,750
804
498
1,544
1,965

410
12,641
7,097
4,944
1,657
496
2,682
570
709
1,583
1,728

282
11,766
6,478
4,322
1,744
412
2,775
690
489
1,333
1,592

420
15,297
9,792
6,211
3,003
578
2,485
787
506
1,727
1,836

Transportation .....................................................
Vehicle purchases (net outlay) ..........................
Gasoline and motor oil .......................................
Other vehicle expenses .....................................
Public transportation ..........................................

7,759
3,665
1,235
2,471
389

7,185
3,036
1,081
2,456
612

8,133
4,034
1,269
2,487
342

7,393
3,591
1,238
2,299
265

8,449
3,937
1,325
2,742
445

Health care ..........................................................
Entertainment ......................................................
Personal care products and services ..................
Reading ...............................................................
Education .............................................................
Tobacco products and smoking supplies ............
Miscellaneous ......................................................
Cash contributions ...............................................

2,350
2,079
526
139
752
320
792
1,277

2,207
2,287
518
165
1,062
315
733
1,199

2,383
2,143
517
149
718
396
776
1,363

2,431
1,705
509
103
487
321
764
1,193

2,310
2,436
569
162
947
247
905
1,389

Personal insurance and pensions .......................
Life and other personal insurance .....................
Pensions and Social Security ............................

3,899
406
3,493

3,924
460
3,464

4,065
448
3,617

3,632
389
3,243

4,132
345
3,787

1

Components of income and taxes are derived from "complete income reporters" only; see glossary.

Table 9. Occupation of reference person: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2002
Wage and salary earners
Item

SelfTotal
Technical,
Operators,
Managers
Construction
employed
wage and
sales and Service
fabricators
and
workers and
workers
salary
clerical
and
workers
professionals
mechanics
earners
workers
laborers

Number of consumer units (in
thousands) ..................................

5,106

74,695

27,104

Consumer unit characteristics:
Income before taxes 1 ....................
Age of reference person .................

$54,787
52.2

$57,422
41.9

$80,469
43.1

Average number in consumer unit:
Persons ........................................
Children under 18 .........................
Persons 65 and over ....................
Earners .........................................
Vehicles ........................................
Percent homeowner .......................

2.5
.6
.4
1.7
2.3
79

2.7
.8
.1
1.7
2.1
64

2.6
.7
.1
1.7
2.2
73

Average annual expenditures ...........
Food ...............................................
Food at home ...............................
Cereals and bakery products .....
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ....
Dairy products ............................
Fruits and vegetables .................
Other food at home ....................
Food away from home ..................

$46,880
5,906
3,063
433
766
322
535
1,007
2,842

$45,296
5,835
3,244
467
839
340
568
1,030
2,591

$57,200
6,797
3,526
516
851
377
648
1,134
3,271

Alcoholic beverages .......................
Housing ..........................................
Shelter ..........................................
Owned dwellings ........................
Rented dwellings ........................
Other lodging ..............................
Utilities, fuels, and public services
Household operations ..................
Housekeeping supplies ................
Household furnishings and
equipment ...................................
Apparel and services ......................

500
15,193
8,999
6,597
1,485
917
3,059
938
539

436
14,621
8,783
5,830
2,427
526
2,784
758
578

554
18,644
11,418
8,268
2,321
829
3,166
1,127
644

374
13,717
8,296
5,303
2,553
440
2,658
700
511

1,658
1,788

1,718
2,004

2,290
2,532

Transportation ................................
Vehicle purchases (net outlay) .....
Gasoline and motor oil .................
Other vehicle expenses ................
Public transportation .....................

7,102
2,576
1,334
2,693
498

8,959
4,332
1,387
2,822
418

Health care .....................................
Entertainment .................................
Personal care products and
services ......................................
Reading ..........................................
Education .......................................
Tobacco products and smoking
supplies ......................................
Miscellaneous .................................
Cash contributions ..........................

3,628
2,441

Personal insurance and pensions ..
Life and other personal insurance
Pensions and Social Security .......
1

20,964

Retired

All other,
including
not
reporting

10,704

4,885

11,038

19,204

13,102

$49,363 $35,108
40.7
41.3

$50,401
41.0

$40,214
42.4

$26,399
72.5

$32,298
45.8

2.7
.8
.1
1.7
1.8
49

2.8
.9
.1
1.8
2.5
67

2.9
.9
.1
1.8
2.2
59

1.7
.1
1.1
.2
1.6
81

2.7
.8
.2
.7
1.6
56

$42,069 $34,515
5,497
5,114
3,035
3,127
438
453
798
847
318
315
510
542
971
971
2,462
1,986

$40,711
5,480
3,261
450
937
335
535
1,003
2,219

$34,601
4,939
3,038
418
834
316
521
949
1,902

$27,535
3,798
2,519
384
616
277
501
740
1,279

$31,099
4,810
3,122
458
843
338
539
945
1,689

323
11,053
6,531
3,364
2,814
353
2,442
406
452

428
12,640
7,524
5,198
2,050
276
2,694
531
452

369
10,782
5,978
3,515
2,239
224
2,461
403
716

208
9,307
4,871
3,217
1,219
435
2,382
616
477

224
10,731
6,274
3,672
2,280
323
2,410
449
459

1,551
1,906

1,222
1,618

1,439
1,447

1,224
1,507

962
899

1,138
1,515

10,494
4,854
1,519
3,460
661

8,491
4,183
1,320
2,625
362

7,507
3,905
1,180
2,207
215

9,025
4,458
1,539
2,779
247

7,458
3,691
1,322
2,245
200

4,468
1,793
779
1,553
343

5,997
3,029
1,000
1,722
246

2,058
2,366

2,538
3,178

1,955
2,200

1,559
1,659

1,786
2,001

1,679
1,532

3,482
1,254

1,859
1,499

561
177
855

563
142
914

713
211
1,319

545
127
861

442
83
634

435
90
501

398
82
472

435
146
177

434
92
632

315
1,144
1,750

354
843
1,278

251
1,106
1,792

354
730
1,069

377
654
742

582
895
1,298

482
570
928

163
657
1,546

363
565
692

5,518
544
4,974

4,923
429
4,494

7,071
602
6,470

4,244
370
3,873

2,751
278
2,473

4,103
366
3,737

3,404
290
3,114

995
383
612

1,686
256
1,430

2.6
.7
.1
1.7
2.0
60

Components of income and taxes are derived from "complete income reporters" only; see glossary.

Table 10. Education of reference person: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2002
Less than college graduate
High
Less than
school
High
graduate Associate
high
school
with
school
degree
graduate
some
graduate
college

All
consumer
units

Total

Number of consumer units (in thousands)

112,108

82,690

17,075

31,961

23,260

Consumer unit characteristics:
Income before taxes 1 ............................
Age of reference person .........................

$49,430 $39,402
48.1
48.7

$25,564
54.9

$39,618
49.7

$42,598
43.9

2.5
.7
.3
1.3
1.9
63

2.6
.7
.5
1.1
1.4
57

2.5
.7
.3
1.3
2.0
67

2.4
.6
.2
1.4
1.9
59

$40,677 $34,631
5,375
4,830
3,099
2,925
450
424
798
790
328
306
552
497
970
908
2,276
1,905

$24,930
4,140
2,896
405
843
298
523
827
1,245

$33,708
4,708
2,917
422
800
303
487
905
1,791

$38,654
5,112
2,868
423
732
305
480
928
2,244

Item

Average number in consumer unit:
Persons ................................................
Children under 18 .................................
Persons 65 and over ............................
Earners .................................................
Vehicles ................................................
Percent homeowner ...............................
Average annual expenditures ...................
Food .......................................................
Food at home .......................................
Cereals and bakery products ..............
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs .............
Dairy products ....................................
Fruits and vegetables .........................
Other food at home .............................
Food away from home ..........................

2.5
.7
.3
1.4
2.0
66

College graduate

10,395

Total

Master’s,
Bachelor’s
professional,
degree
doctorate

29,417

19,082

10,335

$54,860 $77,820
46.1
46.4

$69,408
45.0

$92,783
49.1

2.5
.6
.2
1.5
2.1
75

2.5
.6
.2
1.5
2.1
72

2.5
.6
.2
1.5
2.1
80

$44,406 $57,384
5,690
6,779
3,134
3,535
462
516
808
819
327
385
531
690
1,006
1,126
2,556
3,244

$53,732
6,565
3,439
499
808
375
646
1,111
3,126

$64,118
7,171
3,709
546
838
404
768
1,153
3,462

2.6
.7
.2
1.5
2.3
73

Alcoholic beverages ...............................
Housing ..................................................
Shelter ..................................................
Owned dwellings ................................
Rented dwellings ................................
Other lodging ......................................
Utilities, fuels, and public services ........
Household operations ...........................
Housekeeping supplies ........................
Household furnishings and equipment
Apparel and services ..............................

376
13,283
7,829
5,165
2,160
505
2,684
706
545
1,518
1,749

303
11,194
6,417
3,966
2,128
323
2,533
518
502
1,224
1,486

185
8,288
4,597
2,194
2,279
124
2,211
260
402
819
1,226

273
10,800
6,180
3,902
1,987
290
2,597
427
440
1,156
1,392

372
12,336
7,290
4,510
2,315
465
2,515
713
465
1,353
1,630

433
14,644
8,183
5,858
1,893
433
2,902
789
956
1,814
1,890

561
19,111
11,800
8,534
2,250
1,015
3,111
1,232
653
2,315
2,435

538
17,759
10,867
7,711
2,369
787
3,018
1,088
624
2,162
2,311

604
21,607
13,521
10,055
2,030
1,436
3,282
1,499
708
2,598
2,661

Transportation ........................................
Vehicle purchases (net outlay) .............
Gasoline and motor oil ..........................
Other vehicle expenses ........................
Public transportation .............................

7,759
3,665
1,235
2,471
389

6,947
3,339
1,180
2,180
248

4,826
2,375
902
1,396
154

6,983
3,351
1,212
2,201
218

7,743
3,848
1,229
2,369
297

8,546
3,744
1,430
2,983
389

10,035
4,581
1,390
3,282
782

9,678
4,507
1,355
3,170
645

10,694
4,718
1,453
3,489
1,033

Health care .............................................
Entertainment .........................................
Personal care products and services .....
Reading ..................................................
Education ................................................
Tobacco products and smoking supplies
Miscellaneous .........................................
Cash contributions ..................................

2,350
2,079
526
139
752
320
792
1,277

2,147
1,683
464
102
505
375
696
959

1,797
872
350
55
120
354
495
607

2,208
1,588
453
96
306
441
624
951

2,149
2,071
530
127
953
340
881
1,046

2,535
2,433
535
138
746
289
839
1,373

2,914
3,176
691
242
1,442
167
1,060
2,170

2,740
3,021
674
204
1,278
186
932
2,012

3,234
3,462
724
311
1,746
130
1,295
2,462

Personal insurance and pensions ..........
Life and other personal insurance ........
Pensions and Social Security ...............

3,899
406
3,493

2,937
331
2,607

1,614
204
1,410

2,886
336
2,551

3,364
366
2,999

4,314
444
3,870

6,600
618
5,982

5,834
532
5,301

8,017
778
7,239

1

Components of income and taxes are derived from "complete income reporters" only; see glossary.