In 2023, the lowest 20 percent of income consumer units spent about 41.3 percent of their total expenditure on housing. Consumer units belonging to the highest 20 percent of income spent only 29.2 percent on housing. Additionally, those in the highest income quintile spent 17.7 percent of their total expenditure on personal insurance and pensions, while the lowest 20 percent spent only 2.1 percent.

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.

The Consumer Expenditure Survey (CE) program consists of two surveys: the quarterly Interview survey and the annual Diary survey. Combined, these two surveys provide information on the buying habits of American consumers, including data on their expenditures, income, and consumer unit (families and single consumers) characteristics. The survey data are collected for the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) by the U.S. Census Bureau. The CE collects all on all spending components including food, housing, apparel and services, transportation, entertainment, and out-of-pocket health care costs. The CE tables are an easy-to-use tool for obtaining arts-related spending estimates. They feature several arts-related spending categories, including the following items: Spending on Admissions Plays, theater, opera, and concerts Movies, parks, and museums Spending on Reading Newspapers and magazines Books Digital book readers Spending on Other Arts-Related Items Musical instruments Photographic equipment Audio-visual equipment Toys, games, arts and crafts The CE is important because it is the only Federal survey to provide information on the complete range of consumers' expenditures and incomes, as well as the characteristics of those consumers. It is used by economic policymakers examining the impact of policy changes on economic groups, by the Census Bureau as the source of thresholds for the Supplemental Poverty Measure, by businesses and academic researchers studying consumers' spending habits and trends, by other Federal agencies, and, perhaps most importantly, to regularly revise the Consumer Price Index market basket of goods and services and their relative importance. The most recent data tables are for 2023 and include: 1) Detailed tables with the most granular level of expenditure data available, along with variances and percent reporting for each expenditure item, for all consumer units (listed as "Other" in the Download menu); and 2) Tables with calendar year aggregate shares by demographic characteristics that provide annual aggregate expenditures and shares across demographic groups (listed as "Excel" in the Download menu). Also, see Featured CE Tables and Economic News Releases sections on the CE home page for current data tables and news release. The 1980 through 2023 CE public-use microdata, including Interview Survey data, Diary Survey data, and paradata (information about the data collection process), are available on the CE website.

Graph and download economic data for Expenditures: Total Average Annual Expenditures by Quintiles of Income Before Taxes: Fourth 20 Percent (61st to 80th Percentile) (CXUTOTALEXPLB0105M) from 1984 to 2023 about percentile, tax, average, expenditures, income, 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 or CUs) of average expenditures in news releases, reports, and articles in the Monthly Labor Review. Tabulated CE data are also available on the Internet and by facsimile transmission (see Section XVI. Appendix 5). These microdata files present detailed expenditure and income data for the Diary component of the CE for 2005. They include weekly expenditure (EXPD), annual income (DTBD) files, and imputed income files (DTID). The data in EXPD, DTBD, and DTID 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 2005 from the Diary survey, integrated with data from the Interview survey, are published in Consumer Expenditures in 2005. 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, 2005”.

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.

The Diary survey PUMD are organized into five major data files for each quarter: 1. FMLD - a file with characteristics, income, and summary level expenditures for the household 2. MEMD - a file with characteristics and income for each member in the household
3. EXPD - a detailed weekly expenditure file categorized by UCC 4. DTBD - a detailed annual income file categorized by UCC
5. DTID - a household imputed income file categorized by UCC

Analysis unit

Consumer Unit

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

A. SURVEY SAMPLE DESIGN

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 2005 sample is composed of 102 areas. The design classifies the PSUs into four categories:

• 28 "A" certainty PSUs are Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA's) with a population greater than 1.5 million. • 42 "B" PSUs, are medium-sized MSAs. • 16 "C" PSUs are nonmetropolitan areas that are included in the CPI. • 16 "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 2005 survey is generated from the 2000 Population Census file. The sampling frame is augmented by new construction permits and by techniques used to eliminate recognized deficiencies in census coverage. All Enumeration Districts (EDs) from the Census that fail to meet the criterion for good addresses for new construction, and all EDs 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.

B. COOPERATION LEVELS

The annual target sample size at the United States level for the Diary Survey is 7,800 participating sample units. To achieve this target the total estimated work load is 11,275 sample units. This allows for refusals, vacancies, or nonexistent sample unit addresses.

Each participating sample unit selected is asked to keep two 1-week diaries. Each diary is treated independently, so response rates are based on twice the number of housing units sampled.

Mode of data collection

Computer Assisted Personal Interview [capi]

Response rate

The response rate for the 2005 Diary Survey is 68.9%. This response rate refers to all diaries in the year.

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.

The Consumer Expenditure Survey (CE) consists of two parts: the Quarterly Interview Survey and the Diary Survey. Both surveys provide information on the purchasing habits of American consumers, including data on their expenditures, income, and consumer unit characteristics (e.g., age, education, occupation). The Quarterly Interview Survey (CEQ) includes information on monthly out-of-pocket expenses like housing, apparel, transportation, healthcare, insurance, and entertainment. The Diary Survey (CED) includes information on frequently purchased items like food, beverages, tobacco, personal care products, and nonprescription drugs. Approximately 20,000 independent interview surveys and 11,000 independent diary surveys are completed annually. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) publishes 12-month estimates of consumer expenditures annually, summarized by various income levels and demographic characteristics. Geographic data is available at the national level; for regions, divisions, selected states, and selected metropolitan statistical areas; and by population size of area.

The Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CE) program provides data on expenditures, income, and demographic characteristics of consumers in the United States. The CE program provides these data in tables, LABSTAT database, news releases, reports, and public use microdata files. CE data are collected by the Census Bureau for BLS in two surveys, the Interview Survey for major and/or recurring items and the Diary Survey for more minor or frequently purchased items. CE data are primarily used to revise the relative importance of goods and services in the market basket of the Consumer Price Index. The CE is the only Federal household survey to provide information on the complete range of consumers' expenditures and incomes. For more information and data, visit: https://www.bls.gov/cex/

CES: $10 to 14.999 Th: IBT: Other Income data was reported at 496.000 USD in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 688.000 USD for 2014. CES: $10 to 14.999 Th: IBT: Other Income data is updated yearly, averaging 184.500 USD from Dec 1984 (Median) to 2015, with 32 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 688.000 USD in 2014 and a record low of 81.000 USD in 1990. CES: $10 to 14.999 Th: IBT: Other Income data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.H041: Consumer Expenditure Survey: By Income Level.

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.

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.

This dataset presents a comprehensive overview of household and per-capita income and expenditure patterns in various demographic, geographic, and socioeconomic contexts. It encompasses three main categories:Disposable IncomeConsumption ExpenditureFinal Monetary Consumption ExpenditureWithin each category, indicators detail averages, medians, and percentages across dimensions such as administrative region, nationality of the household head, age group, educational level, marital status, type of dwelling, type of ownership, household size, and income sources. The dataset thus enables in-depth analysis of how different factors influence income and expenditure.esearchers, policymakers, and analysts can employ these indicators to:Understand how household and per-capita incomes vary by social and economic factors.Examine consumption patterns and their drivers, including demographic variables.Analyze the final monetary consumption expenditure in more detail using COICOP divisions for targeted economic and social policy insights.In doing so, users can identify disparities, assess living standards, and formulate data-driven strategies to address economic and social challenges at both the household and regional levels.Notes:For the first time the methodology for calculating household disposable income and consumption expenditure is used in Household Income and Consumption Expenditure Survey of 2023

According to a survey on Indonesian consumers in 2018, households across all income groups had reduced their monthly household expenditure, with those earning between ***** to under **** million rupiah reflecting the biggest reduction in household spending. This was in line with the results of the 2017 survey that reflected declining consumer sentiments in that year.

CES: $10 to 14.999 Th: AAE: Transpo: Public data was reported at 151.000 USD in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 173.000 USD for 2014. CES: $10 to 14.999 Th: AAE: Transpo: Public data is updated yearly, averaging 154.000 USD from Dec 1984 (Median) to 2015, with 32 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 222.000 USD in 2000 and a record low of 105.000 USD in 2005. CES: $10 to 14.999 Th: AAE: Transpo: Public data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.H041: Consumer Expenditure Survey: By Income Level.

Survey of Household Spending (SHS), average household spending by household income quintile.

Graph and download economic data for Real Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCEC96) from Jan 2007 to Jun 2025 about headline figure, PCE, consumption expenditures, consumption, personal, real, and USA.

View data of PCE, an index that measures monthly changes in the price of consumer goods and services as a means of analyzing inflation.

CES: $10 to 14.999 Th: AAE: Reading data was reported at 36.000 USD in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 42.000 USD for 2014. CES: $10 to 14.999 Th: AAE: Reading data is updated yearly, averaging 86.500 USD from Dec 1984 (Median) to 2015, with 32 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 105.000 USD in 1993 and a record low of 34.000 USD in 2013. CES: $10 to 14.999 Th: AAE: Reading data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.H041: Consumer Expenditure Survey: By Income Level.

CES: $10 to 14.999 Th: AAE: HG: HF: Floor Coverings data was reported at 5.000 USD in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 4.000 USD for 2014. CES: $10 to 14.999 Th: AAE: HG: HF: Floor Coverings data is updated yearly, averaging 19.000 USD from Dec 1984 (Median) to 2015, with 32 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 66.000 USD in 1998 and a record low of 4.000 USD in 2014. CES: $10 to 14.999 Th: AAE: HG: HF: Floor Coverings data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.H041: Consumer Expenditure Survey: By Income Level.

CES: $10 to 14.999 Th: AAE: Healthcare data was reported at 1,989.000 USD in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,822.000 USD for 2014. CES: $10 to 14.999 Th: AAE: Healthcare data is updated yearly, averaging 1,623.000 USD from Dec 1984 (Median) to 2015, with 32 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,989.000 USD in 2015 and a record low of 1,017.000 USD in 1987. CES: $10 to 14.999 Th: AAE: Healthcare data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.H041: Consumer Expenditure Survey: By Income Level.