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Consumer Expenditure Surveys

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 tablesLABSTAT databasenews releasesreports, 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. Here is an overview of the CE program and its methods.

To be notified when new datasets become available, sign up for CE updates. The menu will prompt you to select Consumer Expenditures. If you have comments or questions about this page and its contents, contact us.

Notices

  • A new military status research table is now available. (9/28/23) Read More »
  • The 2022 annual news release, tables, LABSTAT database, public use microdata and Data Quality Profile are now available. (9/08/2023) Read More »
  • The 2022 Research Supplemental Poverty Measure Thresholds are now available. (9/07/23) Read More »

News Releases

Consumer unit expenditures in 2022 are $72,967; a 9.0% increase from 2021

09/08/2023

Average expenditures for all consumer units in 2022 were $72,967, a 9.0-percent increase from 2021, and average income before taxes increased 7.5 percent.
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Publications

Beyond the Numbers

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Four personal tax liabilities trends that have emerged from recent tax legislation

Have recent tax benefits meant more money in your bank account? In 2017, Congress passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), and, in 2020, Congress passed the COVID-19 pandemic relief acts, directly affecting the personal tax liabilities of many Americans. read more »

The Economics Daily

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Consumer expenditures rise 8.6 percent in April–June 2022 quarter compared with year earlier

From April to June of 2022, total expenditures averaged $18,059 per consumer unit, an increase of 8.6 percent over the same period in 2021. The largest percentage increase was in transportation spending, a gain of 16.5 percent to a total of $3,215 per household for the quarter. read more »

Monthly Labor Review

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Developing a consumption measure, with examples of use for poverty and inequality analysis: a new research product from BLS

This article provides an update on the work being done by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to produce a research-based consumption measure and explores its potential use in poverty and inequality analysis. read more »

Spotlight on Statistics

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How the COVID-19 Pandemic Changed Urban and Rural Spending Habits

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic affected the United States profoundly. In addition to the heavy toll on health and life, the pandemic also brought significant economic challenges, such as a drastic shift in workplace culture and the highest unemployment rate since data began in 1948. This Spotlight on Statistics explores how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the spending behaviors of urban and rural consumers. read more »