March 27, 2007 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Housing expenditures in 2005

Housing expenditures—a major component of consumer spending—increased by 9.0 percent in 2005.

[Chart data—TXT]

The 9.0-percent increase in housing expenditures was the largest in several years. Spending on housing rose 3.6 percent in 2004, 1.1 percent in 2003, and 2.1 percent in 2002.

Increases in spending for all components of housing contributed to the overall growth, but only the changes in shelter expenditures (10.1 percent) and spending for utilities, fuels, and public services (8.8 percent) were statistically significant.

These data are from the Consumer Expenditure Survey. Find out more in "Consumer Expenditures in 2005," (PDF 143K), BLS Report 998. The components of housing expenditures are shelter (which is the largest component); utilities, fuels, and public services; household operations; housekeeping supplies; and housefurnishings and equipment.

 

Related TED articles:

• Food expenditures in 2005