Media and entertainment spending patterns in the United States reveal intriguing age-related disparities. A late-2024 study found that Americans spent an average of ***** U.S. dollars annually on digital media and entertainment, a slight decrease from two years prior. Notably, consumers aged 35 to 54 outspent other age groups, allocating ***** U.S. dollars per year to digital media consumption. Generational differences in media spending The rise of digital platforms has transformed how different age groups consume media. While ** percent of the general population spent less than 1,000 U.S. dollars on media and entertainment annually, this figure rose to ** percent for those aged 55 and older. Interestingly, it is not the youngest age group that was ready to spend more on media subscriptions, services and products, but millennials - their annual expenses were more likely to reach up to ***** U.S. dollars. This disparity suggests that younger and older generations may be more frugal with their entertainment choices. Consumption follows similar age patterns The spending behavior is a direct result of how different generations consume media. Data on time spent with media types in the United States clearly suggest that millennials favor the more expensive ones - they devote more of their weekly hours to TV connected devices and video on a computer, as well as apps on tablets and internet on a computer. These media are the ones hosting the majority of subscription services - hence the increased spending outcomes. Younger and older generations in this case seem to spend more of their time with free entertainment sources.

analyze the consumer expenditure survey (ce) with r the consumer expenditure survey (ce) is the primo data source to understand how americans spend money. participating households keep a running diary about every little purchase over the year. those diaries are then summed up into precise expenditure categories. how else are you gonna know that the average american household spent $34 (±2) on bacon, $826 (±17) on cellular phones, and $13 (±2) on digital e-readers in 2011? an integral component of the market basket calculation in the consumer price index, this survey recently became available as public-use microdata and they're slowly releasing historical files back to 1996. hooray! for a t aste of what's possible with ce data, look at the quick tables listed on their main page - these tables contain approximately a bazillion different expenditure categories broken down by demographic groups. guess what? i just learned that americans living in households with $5,000 to $9,999 of annual income spent an average of $283 (±90) on pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment (pdf page 3). you can often get close to your statistic of interest from these web tables. but say you wanted to look at domestic pet expenditure among only households with children between 12 and 17 years old. another one of the thirteen web tables - the consumer unit composition table - shows a few different breakouts of households with kids, but none matching that exact population of interest. the bureau of labor statistics (bls) (the survey's designers) and the census bureau (the survey's administrators) have provided plenty of the major statistics and breakouts for you, but they're not psychic. if you want to comb through this data for specific expenditure categories broken out by a you-defined segment of the united states' population, then let a little r into your life. fun starts now. fair warning: only analyze t he consumer expenditure survey if you are nerd to the core. the microdata ship with two different survey types (interview and diary), each containing five or six quarterly table formats that need to be stacked, merged, and manipulated prior to a methodologically-correct analysis. the scripts in this repository contain examples to prepare 'em all, just be advised that magnificent data like this will never be no-assembly-required. the folks at bls have posted an excellent summary of what's av ailable - read it before anything else. after that, read the getting started guide. don't skim. a few of the descriptions below refer to sas programs provided by the bureau of labor statistics. you'll find these in the C:\My Directory\CES\2011\docs directory after you run the download program. this new github repository contains three scripts: 2010-2011 - download all microdata.R lo op through every year and download every file hosted on the bls's ce ftp site import each of the comma-separated value files into r with read.csv depending on user-settings, save each table as an r data file (.rda) or stat a-readable file (.dta) 2011 fmly intrvw - analysis examples.R load the r data files (.rda) necessary to create the 'fmly' table shown in the ce macros program documentation.doc file construct that 'fmly' table, using five quarters of interviews (q1 2011 thru q1 2012) initiate a replicate-weighted survey design object perform some lovely li'l analysis examples replicate the %mean_variance() macro found in "ce macros.sas" and provide some examples of calculating descriptive statistics using unimputed variables replicate the %compare_groups() macro found in "ce macros.sas" and provide some examples of performing t -tests using unimputed variables create an rsqlite database (to minimize ram usage) containing the five imputed variable files, after identifying which variables were imputed based on pdf page 3 of the user's guide to income imputation initiate a replicate-weighted, database-backed, multiply-imputed survey design object perform a few additional analyses that highlight the modified syntax required for multiply-imputed survey designs replicate the %mean_variance() macro found in "ce macros.sas" and provide some examples of calculating descriptive statistics using imputed variables repl icate the %compare_groups() macro found in "ce macros.sas" and provide some examples of performing t-tests using imputed variables replicate the %proc_reg() and %proc_logistic() macros found in "ce macros.sas" and provide some examples of regressions and logistic regressions using both unimputed and imputed variables replicate integrated mean and se.R match each step in the bls-provided sas program "integr ated mean and se.sas" but with r instead of sas create an rsqlite database when the expenditure table gets too large for older computers to handle in ram export a table "2011 integrated mean and se.csv" that exactly matches the contents of the sas-produced "2011 integrated mean and se.lst" text file click here to view these three scripts for...

In 2023, the average consumer unit in the United States spent about 9,985 U.S. dollars on food. Americans spent the most on housing, at 25,436 U.S. dollars, reflecting around one third of annual expenditure. The total average U.S. consumer spending amounted to 77,280 U.S. dollars.

Graph and download economic data for Expenditures: Total Average Annual Expenditures by Race: White, Asian, and All Other Races, Not Including Black or African American (CXUTOTALEXPLB0902M) from 1984 to 2023 about asian, average, white, expenditures, and USA.

In 2024, about 52 percent of consumers in the United States intended to spend roughly the same amount of money on Christmas goods as they did in the respective previous year. A quarter of American respondents intended to spend less for Christmas, whilst 20 percent expected to spend more. Christmas celebrations in the U.S. In the United States, Christmas is one of the biggest holidays of the year: according to a survey, roughly eight and a half out of 10 Americans stated they would celebrate the holiday. Only about 10 percent of Americans were not planning to partake in any celebrations. Holiday promotions In the past few years, holiday retail sales in the United States have skyrocketed. In 2023, U.S. holiday retail sales figures reached just over 950 billion U.S. dollars, which was an increase of some 20 billion just compared to the year before. The winter holiday season includes shopping occasions, such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday. On days such as these, retail products are somewhat to significantly cheaper, making them opportune moments for holiday shopping. When asked when they would likely start their holiday shopping, about 40 percent of U.S. consumers said they would begin in November already, i.e., when these major sales events take place.

Consumer Spending in the United States increased to 16350.20 USD Billion in the second quarter of 2025 from 16291.80 USD Billion in the first quarter of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - United States Consumer Spending - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Graph and download economic data for Personal Saving Rate (PSAVERT) from Jan 1959 to Jun 2025 about savings, personal, rate, and USA.

The average planned back-to-school spending per household in the United States gradually increased year-on-year, reaching about *** U.S. dollars in 2023. While this was an increase of over *** dollars since the beginning of the survey period in 2004, the numbers had begun to fall back down by 2024. That year, U.S. consumers planned to spend an average of *** U.S. dollars on back-to-school purchases. Spending breakdown In 2024, parents planned to spend the most on electronics or computer-related equipment, with average household spending expected to reach just over *** U.S. dollars. Although parents relied on several kinds of outlets for back-to-school supplies, the leading location for such items was online. More than **** of respondents planned to undertake their shopping there. Department stores stood in second place. Back-to-school vs. back-to-college spending While parents planned to spend hundreds of dollars to send their children back to school, college students and their families were willing to spend even more. In 2024, the average household spend for back-to-college was expected to equal more than ***** U.S. dollars.

Consumer expenditure on recreational books in the United States amounted to 30.98 billion U.S. dollars in 2024, up from just over 29 billion a year earlier. Americans tended to spend around 22 billion U.S. dollars on recreational books each year, but the years 2021 to 2024 saw the figure reach and then surpass levels last seen in the early 2000s.

The statistic shows average non-essential consumer expenditure of Americans in the past 12 months in 2018. The results were sorted by income tier. In 2018, ***** percent of respondents who stated their income was high said they spent ****** U.S. dollar or more on non-essential purchases per year.

Graph and download economic data for Expenditures: Total Average Annual Expenditures by Quintiles of Income Before Taxes: Lowest 20 Percent (1st to 20th Percentile) (CXUTOTALEXPLB0102M) from 1984 to 2023 about percentile, tax, average, expenditures, income, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Personal saving as a percentage of disposable personal income (A072RC1Q156SBEA) from Q1 1947 to Q2 2025 about disposable, savings, personal income, percent, personal, income, GDP, and USA.

The average adult TikTok user in America spends 33 minutes per day on the app.

Globally the average user spends 52 minutes on TikTok every day. About 90% of their worldwide users access TikTok on a daily basis.

The Consumer Expenditure Survey (CE) program provides a continuous and comprehensive flow of data on the buying habits of American consumers, including data on their expenditures, income, and consumer unit (families and single consumers) characteristics. These data are used widely in economic research and analysis, and in support of revisions of the Consumer Price Index.

The CE program is comprised of two separate components (each with its own survey questionnaire and independent sample), the Diary Survey and the quarterly Interview Survey (ICPSR 36237). This data collection contains the Diary Survey component, which was designed to obtain data on frequently purchased smaller items, including food, housing, apparel and services, transportation, entertainment, and out-of-pocket health care costs. Each consumer unit (CU) recorded its expenditures in a diary for two consecutive 1-week periods. Although the diary was designed to collect information on expenditures that could not be easily recalled over time, respondents were asked to report all expenses (except overnight travel) that the CU incurred during the survey week.

The 2013 Diary Survey release contains five sets of data files (FMLD, MEMD, EXPD, DTBD, DTID), and one processing file (DSTUB). The FMLD, MEMD, EXPD, DTBD, and DTID files are organized by the quarter of the calendar year in which the data were collected. There are four quarterly datasets for each of these files.

The FMLD files contain CU characteristics, income, and summary level expenditures; the MEMD files contain member characteristics and income data; the EXPD files contain detailed weekly expenditures at the Universal Classification Code (UCC) level; the DTBD files contain the CU's reported annual income values or the mean of the five imputed income values in the multiple imputation method; and the DTID files contain the five imputed income values. Please note that the summary level expenditure and income information on the FMLD files permit the data user to link consumer spending, by general expenditure category, and household characteristics and demographics on one set of files.

The DSTUB file provides the aggregation scheme used in the published consumer expenditure tables. The DSTUB file is further explained in Section III.F.6. 'Processing Files' of the Diary Survey Users' Guide. A second documentation guide, the 'Users' Guide to Income Imputation,' includes information on how to appropriately use the imputed income data.

Demographic and family characteristics data include age, sex, race, marital status, and CU relationships for each CU member. Income information was also collected, such as wage, salary, unemployment compensation, child support, and alimony, as well as information on the employment of each CU member age 14 and over.

The unpublished integrated CE data tables produced by the BLS are available to download through NADAC (click on 'Other' in the Dataset(s) section). The tables show average and percentile expenditures for detailed items, as well as the standard error and coefficient of variation (CV) for each spending estimate. The BLS unpublished integrated CE data tables are provided as an easy-to-use tool for obtaining spending estimates. However, users are cautioned to read the BLS explanatory letter accompanying the tables. The letter explains that estimates of average expenditures on detailed spending items (such as leisure and art-related categories) may be unreliable due to so few reports of expenditures for those items.

Graph and download economic data for Money Market Funds; Total Financial Assets, Level (MMMFFAQ027S) from Q4 1945 to Q1 2025 about MMMF, IMA, financial, assets, and USA.

Abstract

The Consumer Expenditure Survey (CE) program provides a continuous and comprehensive flow of data on the buying habits of American consumers. These data are used widely in economic research and analysis, and in support of revisions of the Consumer Price Index. To meet the needs of users, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) produces population estimates for consumer units (CUs) of average expenditures in news releases, reports, issues, and articles in the Monthly Labor Review. Tabulated CE data are also available on the Internet and by facsimile transmission (See Section XV. APPENDIX 4). The microdata are available online at http://www/bls.gov/cex/pumdhome.htm. These microdata files present detailed expenditure and income data for the Diary component of the CE for 2002. They include weekly expenditure (EXPD) and annual income (DTBD) files. The data in EXPD and DTBD files are categorized by a Universal Classification Code (UCC). The advantage of the EXPD and DTBD files is that with the data classified in a standardized format, the user may perform comparative expenditure (income) analysis with relative ease. The FMLD and MEMD files present data on the characteristics and demographics of CUs and CU members. The summary level expenditure and income information on the FMLD files permits the data user to link consumer spending, by general expenditure category, and household characteristics and demographics on one set of files. Estimates of average expenditures in 2002 from the Diary survey, integrated with data from the Interview survey, are published in Consumer Expenditures in 2002. A list of recent publications containing data from the CE appears at the end of this documentation. The microdata files are in the public domain and with appropriate credit, may be reproduced without permission. A suggested citation is: "U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, Diary Survey, 2002".

Analysis unit

Consumer Units

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

Samples for the CE are national probability samples of households designed to be representative of the total U. S. civilian population. Eligible population includes all civilian noninstitutional persons. The first step in sampling is the selection of primary sampling units (PSUs), which consist of counties (or parts thereof) or groups of counties. The set of sample PSUs used for the 2002 sample is composed of 105 areas. The design classifies the PSUs into four categories: • 31 "A" certainty PSUs are Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA's) with a population greater than 1.5 million. • 46 "B" PSUs, are medium-sized MSA's. • 10 "C" PSUs are nonmetropolitan areas that are included in the CPI. • 18 "D" PSUs are nonmetropolitan areas where only the urban population data will be included in the CPI.

The sampling frame (that is, the list from which housing units were chosen) for the 2002 survey is generated from the 1990 Population Census 100-percent-detail file. The sampling frame is augmented by new construction permits and by techniques used to eliminate recognized deficiencies in census coverage. All Enumeration Districts (ED's) from the Census that fail to meet the criterion for good addresses for new construction, and all ED's in nonpermit-issuing areas are grouped into the area segment frame. To the extent possible, an unclustered sample of units is selected within each PSU. This lack of clustering is desirable because the sample size of the Diary Survey is small relative to other surveys, while the intraclass correlations for expenditure characteristics are relatively large. This suggests that any clustering of the sample units could result in an unacceptable increase in the within-PSU variance and, as a result, the total variance. Each selected sample unit is requested to keep two 1-week diaries of expenditures over consecutive weeks. The earliest possible day for placing a diary with a household is predesignated with each day of the week having an equal chance to be the first of the reference week. The diaries are evenly spaced throughout the year. During the last 6 weeks of the year, however, the Diary Survey sample is supplemented to twice its normal size to increase the reporting of types of expenditures unique to the holidays.

STATE IDENTIFIER Since the CE is not designed to produce state-level estimates, summing the consumer unit weights by state will not yield state population totals. A CU's basic weight reflects its probability of selection among a group of primary sampling units of similar characteristics. For example, sample units in an urban nonmetropolitan area in California may represent similar areas in Wyoming and Nevada. Among other adjustments, CUs are post-stratified nationally by sex-age-race. For example, the weights of consumer units containing a black male, age 16-24 in Alabama, Colorado, or New York, are all adjusted equivalently. Therefore, weighted population state totals will not match population totals calculated from other surveys that are designed to represent state data. To summarize, the CE sample was not designed to produce precise estimates for individual states. Although state-level estimates that are unbiased in a repeated sampling sense can be calculated for various statistical measures, such as means and aggregates, their estimates will generally be subject to large variances. Additionally, a particular state-population estimate from the CE sample may be far from the true state-population estimate.

INTERPRETING THE DATA Several factors should be considered when interpreting the expenditure data. The average expenditure for an item may be considerably lower than the expenditure by those CUs that purchased the item. The less frequently an item is purchased, the greater the difference between the average for all consumer units and the average of those purchasing. (See Section V.B. for ESTIMATION OF TOTAL AND MEAN EXPENDITURES). Also, an individual CU 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. Expenditures reported are the direct out-of-pocket expenditures. Indirect expenditures, which may be significant, may be reflected elsewhere. For example, rental contracts often include utilities. Renters with such contracts would record no direct expense for utilities, and therefore, appear to have no utility expenses. Employers or insurance companies frequently pay other costs. CUs with members whose employers pay for all or part of their health insurance or life insurance would have lower direct expenses for these items than those who pay the entire amount themselves. These points should be considered when relating reported averages to individual circumstances.

Mode of data collection

Computer Assisted Personal Interview [capi]

VITAL SIGNS INDICATOR Income (EC5)

FULL MEASURE NAME Worker income by workplace (earnings)

LAST UPDATED October 2016

DESCRIPTION Income reflects the median earnings of individuals and households from employment, as well as the income distribution by quintile. Income data highlight how employees are being compensated for their work on an inflation-adjusted basis.

DATA SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau: Decennial Census Count 4Pb (1970) Form STF3 (1980-1990) Form SF3a (2000) https://nhgis.org

U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey Form B08521 (2006-2015; place of employment) http://api.census.gov

Bureau of Labor Statistics: Consumer Price Index All Urban Consumers Data Table (1970-2015; specific to each metro area) http://data.bls.gov

CONTACT INFORMATION vitalsigns.info@mtc.ca.gov

METHODOLOGY NOTES (across all datasets for this indicator) Income data reported in a given year reflects the income earned in the prior year (decennial Census) or in the prior 12 months (American Community Survey); note that this inconsistency has a minor effect on historical comparisons (for more information, go to: http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Downloads/methodology/ASA_nelson.pdf). American Community Survey 1-year data is used for larger geographies – metropolitan areas and counties – while smaller geographies rely upon 5-year rolling average data due to their smaller sample sizes. Quintile income for 1970-2000 is imputed from Decennial Census data using methodology from the California Department of Finance (for more information, go to: http://www.dof.ca.gov/Forecasting/Demographics/Census_Data_Center_Network/documents/How_to_Recalculate_a_Median.pdf). Bay Area income is the population weighted average of county-level income.

Income has been inflated using the Consumer Price Index specific to each metro area; however, some metro areas lack metro-specific CPI data back to 1970 and therefore adjusted data is unavailable for some historical data points. Note that current MSA boundaries were used for historical comparison by identifying counties included in today’s metro areas.

Indexes of real expenditure per capita in the United States relative to those in Canada for categories of gross domestic income (GDI), Canada=100, on an International Comparison Project Classification (ICP) basis.

In 2024, consumers in the United States expected to spend over 1,000 U.S. dollars on holiday gifts on average. This is the first time the projected spending estimate reached that 1,000-dollar-mark. Holiday shopping The Christmas, or holiday season, is the single most critical sales period of the year for many retailers: this period includes days, such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and an increasing amount of Americans also shop online during this busy time. An incredible shopping hubbub is produced during this period, with a staggering ** percent of U.S. consumers having said they intended to buy something during the Christmas season in 2024. Gift cards and vouchers Christmas is a public holiday in the United States and is celebrated on December 25th each year. It is known as a big economic stimulus for many people to purchase Christmas gifts for their beloved family and friends. After Christmas and New Year’s Eve, retail sales often peak again in January as many people redeem their received Christmas gift cards and vouchers. In fact, over **** of U.S. consumers planned to buy gift cards or gift certificates for others. It is a popular gifting option, with many Americans indicating that it can be very convenient.