November 19, 1999 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Spending on food away from home up by 5.7 percent in 1998

Expenditures on food away from home per consumer unit rose by 5.7 percent in 1998, following an increase of 5.4 percent in 1997.

Percent change in average annual expenditures of all consumer units, by selected component, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 1997-98
[Chart data—TXT]

Average expenditures on food away from home per consumer unit increased from $1,921 in 1997 to $2,030 in 1998. In contrast, spending on food at home fell by 3.5 percent, from $2,880 in 1997 to $2,780 in 1998.

Changes in expenditures from 1997 to 1998 varied among other major components of spending. Spending on housing rose by 3.9 percent, on health care by 3.4 percent, and on transportation by 2.5 percent. Spending on apparel and services and on entertainment both decreased over the period, by 3.2 percent and 3.7 percent, respectively.

These data are from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey program. Learn more in Consumer Expenditures in 1998, news release USDL 99-326.