Consumer Expenditure Survey Data Tables -- All Regions and Metropolitan Areas (PDF)

Compents of the Consumer Expenditure Survey

The Consumer Expenditure Survey consists of two components--the Diary survey and the Interview survey.  For the Diary survey, respondents complete a diary of expenses for two consecutive 1-week periods.  The Diary survey is designed to obtain data on frequently purchased items, such as food or housekeeping supplies, that respondents are less likely to recall over time.  For the Interview survey, respondents report data to an interviewer.  Each sample household is interviewed once per quarter, for five consecutive quarters.  This survey is designed to collect data on major items of expense, such as property purchases or vehicle purchases, and those that occur on a regular basis, such as rent or utility payments, that respondents recall for 3 months or longer.

Table Sections

The tables contain some or all of the following sections.  A section of demographic information such as average number in consumer unit, percent male and female, education level, etc.  A section of average annual expenditures consisting of fourteen main categories:  Food, alcoholic beverages, housing, apparel and services, transportation, health care, entertainment, personal care products and services, reading, education, tobacco products and smoking supplies, miscellaneous, cash contributions, and personal insurance and pensions. 

Uses of the Survey

The Consumer Expenditure Survey data are of value to government and private agencies interested in studying the welfare of particular segments of the population. The data are used by economic policy makers interested in the effects of policy changes on various groups. Econometricians use the data in economic models. Market researchers use the data to determine the demand for goods and services. The results of the Consumer Expenditure Surveys are used to revise the market baskets of the Consumer Price Index, and to derive new cost weights for the baskets.

Additional Data Available

A more detailed listing of CE results can be obtained from the BLS Internet site http://www.bls.gov/cex/ in both text and PDF formats. For personal assistance or further information on the Consumer Expenditure Survey, as well as other Bureau programs, contact the Philadelphia Information Office at 215-597-3282.

Northeastern metropolitan statistical areas

Table 3002. Selected northeastern metropolitan statistical areas: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2005-2006
Item All consumer units in the Northeast New York Philadelphia Boston

Number of consumer units (in thousands)

 22,557 8,155 2,856 3,127

Income before taxes

 $63,655 $73,243 $60,304 $76,273

Age of reference person

 49.9 50.6 48.4 47.3
Average number in consumer unit

Persons

 2.4 2.5 2.4 2.3

Children under 18

 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6

Persons 65 and over

 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2

Earners

 1.3 1.4 1.3 1.4

Vehicles

 1.6 1.4 1.5 1.8
Home ownership

Percent homeowner

 65 58 71 63
Average annual expenditures

Average annual expenditures

 $48,564 $55,137 $45,922 $53,691

Food

 6,357 7,101 6,031 6,865

Food at home

 3,554 3,877 3,372 3,760

Cereals and bakery products

 493 533 454 561

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs

 851 989 834 866

Dairy products

 402 425 382 405

Fruits and vegetables

 643 759 620 634

Other food at home

 1,165 1,172 1,082 1,295

Food away from home

 2,803 3,224 2,659 3,105

Alcoholic beverages

 480 488 437 573

Housing

 17,072 20,865 16,417 18,922

Shelter

 10,572 13,848 9,722 12,256

Owned dwellings

 7,004 8,613 6,748 8,351

Rented dwellings

 2,905 4,424 2,510 3,020

Other lodging

 663 812 464 885

Utilities, fuels, and public services

 3,498 3,709 3,771 3,590

Household operations

 849 1,019 877 918

Housekeeping supplies

 619 599 634 584

Household furnishings and equipment

 1,535 1,689 1,413 1,574

Apparel and services

 2,046 2,746 2,063 1,690

Transportation

 7,776 7,792 7,092 9,170

Vehicle purchases (net outlay)

 2,902 2,416 2,661 4,011

Gasoline and motor oil

 1,836 1,798 1,783 1,958

Other vehicle expenses

 2,405 2,555 2,227 2,625

Public transportation

 633 1,022 421 576

Healthcare

 2,586 2,607 2,188 2,794

Entertainment

 2,305 2,451 1,871 2,555

Personal care products and services

 549 659 575 554

Reading

 140 133 108 189

Education

 1,232 1,597 1,064 1,779

Tobacco products and smoking supplies

 331 245 371 302

Miscellaneous

 853 1,132 561 699

Cash contributions

 1,421 1,353 1,301 1,330

Personal insurance and pensions

 5,416 5,968 5,842 6,269

Life and other personal insurance

 354 380 323 360

Pensions and Social Security

 5,062 5,588 5,519 5,909

Midwestern metropolitan statistical areas

Table 3013. Selected midwestern metropolitan statistical areas: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2005-2006
Item All consumer units in the Midwest units Chicago Detroit Minneapolis- St.Paul Cleveland

Number of consumer units (in thousands)

 27,105 3,119 2,192 1,403 1,120

Income before taxes

 $57,295 $73,086 $62,834 $85,455 $55,798

Age of reference person

 48.7 49.5 48.7 47.7 52.6
Average number in consumer unit

Persons

 2.4 2.6 2.6 2.2 2.5

Children under 18

 0.6 0.7 0.7 0.5 0.6

Persons 65 and over

 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.4

Earners

 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.3

Vehicles

 2.1 1.8 2.0 2.2 2.0
Home ownership

Percent homeowner

 70 71 75 75 72
Average annual expenditures

Average annual expenditures

 $45,068 $54,757 $50,345 $61,428 $43,611

Food

 5,759 6,902 6,614 6,393 5,043

Food at home

 3,246 3,730 3,827 3,297 2,996

Cereals and bakery products

 443 491 527 470 375

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs

 725 879 931 564 840

Dairy products

 378 381 416 431 304

Fruits and vegetables

 524 664 638 584 476

Other food at home

 1,176 1,315 1,316 1,248 1,001

Food away from home

 2,513 3,171 2,787 3,095 2,047

Alcoholic beverages

 493 839 463 688 488

Housing

 14,419 19,059 16,831 20,380 14,654

Shelter

 8,067 11,755 9,899 11,650 8,546

Owned dwellings

 5,792 8,448 7,710 8,879 5,659

Rented dwellings

 1,738 2,573 1,543 2,004 2,250

Other lodging

 537 733 645 767 636

Utilities, fuels, and public services

 3,221 3,620 3,794 3,245 3,624

Household operations

 843 1,096 823 2,466 546

Housekeeping supplies

 612 695 588 651 550

Household furnishings and equipment

 1,676 1,893 1,727 2,368 1,388

Apparel and services

 1,725 2,468 2,057 2,346 1,618

Transportation

 7,626 8,453 8,652 8,915 7,596

Vehicle purchases (net outlay)

 2,907 3,352 2,252 3,593 2,965

Gasoline and motor oil

 2,059 2,092 2,405 2,031 1,825

Other vehicle expenses

 2,268 2,302 3,585 2,618 2,487

Public transportation

 393 706 411 673 318

Healthcare

 2,828 2,878 2,349 3,322 3,035

Entertainment

 2,322 2,621 2,287 4,070 2,338

Personal care products and services

 526 632 584 623 489

Reading

 130 141 142 161 153

Education

 974 1,513 1,297 1,269 1,070

Tobacco products and smoking supplies

 365 312 517 364 380

Miscellaneous

 821 817 1,043 1,184 1,056

Cash contributions

 1,885 1,986 1,690 3,687 1,227

Personal insurance and pensions

 5,196 6,135 5,818 8,026 4,464

Life and other personal insurance

 362 358 346 376 361

Pensions and Social Security

 4,833 5,777 5,472 7,651 4,103

Southern metropolitan statistical areas

Table 3023. Selected southern metropolitan statistical areas: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2005-2006
Item All consumer units in the South Washington, D.C. Baltimore Atlanta Miami Dallas- Fort Worth Houston

Number of consumer units (in thousands)

 42,288 2,194 1,016 2,123 1,628 2,072 1,753

Income before taxes

 $54,756 $88,551 $74,508 $64,217 $51,232 $66,261 $68,659

Age of reference person

 48.8 45.9 50.6 46.1 50.4 44.9 45.7
Average number in consumer unit

Persons

 2.5 2.5 2.4 2.5 2.5 2.8 2.8

Children under 18

 0.7 0.6 0.6 0.7 0.6 0.8 0.8

Persons 65 and over

 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.4 0.2 0.2

Earners

 1.3 1.5 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.6 1.4

Vehicles

 1.9 1.7 1.7 1.6 1.5 2.0 1.9
Home ownership

Percent homeowner

 69 68 71 69 63 65 70
Average annual expenditures

Average annual expenditures

 $43,513 $58,236 $47,494 $43,727 $42,379 $53,294 $56,260

Food

 5,570 6,357 4,921 5,289 5,637 6,537 6,063

Food at home

 3,073 3,092 2,883 2,506 3,593 3,573 3,231

Cereals and bakery products

 404 393 388 323 464 468 382

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs

 748 687 743 661 910 805 784

Dairy products

 330 370 286 234 427 392 329

Fruits and vegetables

 493 642 467 443 727 596 587

Other food at home

 1,097 1,000 999 846 1,066 1,312 1,149

Food away from home

 2,498 3,264 2,038 2,783 2,044 2,964 2,832

Alcoholic beverages

 358 572 390 265 255 461 604

Housing

 13,938 24,059 17,063 16,158 15,928 17,854 17,198

Shelter

 7,529 15,976 10,813 9,539 10,053 9,883 9,427

Owned dwellings

 5,130 11,628 7,744 6,467 6,385 6,793 6,501

Rented dwellings

 2,028 3,765 2,464 2,523 3,445 2,478 2,293

Other lodging

 371 582 605 549 222 611 634

Utilities, fuels, and public services

 3,398 3,827 3,424 3,773 3,421 4,424 4,179

Household operations

 820 1,447 883 990 856 1,140 1,181

Housekeeping supplies

 617 603 503 548 532 714 732

Household furnishings and equipment

 1,575 2,206 1,440 1,307 1,065 1,693 1,679

Apparel and services

 1,786 2,195 1,805 1,847 1,242 2,048 2,608

Transportation

 8,244 7,341 7,554 7,599 8,186 9,662 11,636

Vehicle purchases (net outlay)

 3,593 2,133 2,929 3,146 3,199 3,919 5,305

Gasoline and motor oil

 2,213 1,958 2,073 2,124 2,069 2,410 2,743

Other vehicle expenses

 2,134 2,503 2,076 1,965 2,480 2,816 3,068

Public transportation

 305 747 476 364 437 517 519

Healthcare

 2,691 2,505 2,551 2,017 2,190 3,075 3,259

Entertainment

 2,104 2,480 2,186 1,861 1,523 2,285 2,528

Personal care products and services

 540 625 525 460 633 713 737

Reading

 89 135 83 72 43 110 114

Education

 691 1,446 1,840 652 724 799 998

Tobacco products and smoking supplies

 327 187 242 190 168 260 274

Miscellaneous

 691 1,039 713 522 524 839 1,025

Cash contributions

 1,736 1,635 1,578 1,207 1,328 2,077 2,736

Personal insurance and pensions

 4,748 7,661 6,043 5,587 4,000 6,573 6,478

Life and other personal insurance

 366 412 463 266 221 382 441

Pensions and Social Security

 4,382 7,249 5,580 5,321 3,779 6,191 6,038

Western metropolitan statistical areas

Table 3032. Selected western metropolitan statistical areas: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2005-2006
Item All consumer units in the West Los Angeles San Francisco San Diego Seattle Phoenix

Number of consumer units (in thousands)

 26,149 5,279 2,923 954 1,915 1,565

Income before taxes

 $66,452 $70,847 $90,781 $73,846 $65,672 $65,520

Age of reference person

 47.4 46.7 47.5 48.7 47.8 44.3
Average number in consumer unit

Persons

 2.6 2.9 2.5 2.6 2.3 2.7

Children under 18

 0.7 0.8 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.8

Persons 65 and over

 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2

Earners

 1.4 1.5 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.4

Vehicles

 2.1 1.9 1.9 1.9 2.4 1.9
Home ownership            

Percent homeowner

 63 57 58 56 67 68
Average annual expenditures

Average annual expenditures

 $55,214 $58,404 $66,344 $62,321 $55,544 $53,570

Food

 6,745 7,222 7,942 6,238 6,887 7,187

Food at home

 3,769 3,873 4,173 3,261 3,778 3,822

Cereals and bakery products

 477 470 527 423 479 482

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs

 832 914 965 711 743 894

Dairy products

 415 395 443 376 417 433

Fruits and vegetables

 690 795 839 529 662 672

Other food at home

 1,356 1,297 1,399 1,222 1,477 1,342

Food away from home

 2,975 3,349 3,769 2,977 3,109 3,365

Alcoholic beverages

 585 475 757 755 752 693

Housing

 19,064 21,190 26,382 23,034 19,142 16,469

Shelter

 12,134 14,312 18,845 15,654 12,279 9,279

Owned dwellings

 7,887 8,994 12,442 9,517 8,515 6,249

Rented dwellings

 3,560 4,775 5,112 5,374 2,796 2,456

Other lodging

 687 543 1,290 763 968 573

Utilities, fuels, and public services

 3,013 2,996 2,925 3,001 3,046 3,348

Household operations

 1,017 1,235 1,574 1,830 733 899

Housekeeping supplies

 660 643 625 499 611 784

Household furnishings and equipment

 2,240 2,004 2,414 2,049 2,473 2,158

Apparel and services

 2,050 2,396 2,524 2,111 1,541 2,019

Transportation

 10,112 10,716 10,080 11,115 10,127 10,964

Vehicle purchases (net outlay)

 4,399 4,443 3,492 4,959 4,145 5,422

Gasoline and motor oil

 2,282 2,566 2,309 2,542 2,221 2,217

Other vehicle expenses

 2,724 2,980 3,261 2,753 2,950 2,832

Public transportation

 707 727 1,017 862 810 493

Healthcare

 2,751 2,316 2,820 3,421 2,889 3,134

Entertainment

 2,960 2,743 3,080 2,774 3,196 2,615

Personal care products and services

 652 815 734 866 626 657

Reading

 150 141 205 154 179 115

Education

 937 1,127 1,106 986 848 794

Tobacco products and smoking supplies

 267 199 151 99 289 411

Miscellaneous

 1,033 1,014 1,073 1,161 924 919

Cash contributions

 1,993 1,710 1,741 2,470 1,995 1,910

Personal insurance and pensions

 5,917 6,340 7,748 7,138 6,149 5,683

Life and other personal insurance

 315 307 342 425 371 312

Pensions and Social Security

 5,602 6,033 7,406 6,713 5,779 5,371

 

Last Modified Date: May 19, 2008