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The average U.S. household spent $55,978 in 2015, a 4.6-percent increase from 2014. During the same period, the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) was virtually unchanged, rising 0.1 percent. In 2014, spending increased 4.7 percent. All major components of household spending increased in 2015.
Expenditure | 2014 | 2015 | Net change | Percent change | Share of total in 2015 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total |
$53,495 | $55,978 | $2,483 | 4.6% | 100.0% |
Food |
$6,759 | $7,023 | $264 | 3.9 | 12.5 |
Food at home |
$3,971 | $4,015 | $44 | 1.1 | 7.2 |
Food away from home |
$2,787 | $3,008 | $221 | 7.9 | 5.4 |
Alcoholic beverages |
$463 | $515 | $52 | 11.2 | 0.9 |
Housing |
$17,798 | $18,409 | $611 | 3.4 | 32.9 |
Shelter |
$10,491 | $10,742 | $251 | 2.4 | 19.2 |
Utilities, fuels, and public services |
$3,921 | $3,885 | -$36 | -0.9 | 6.9 |
Natural gas |
$439 | $421 | -$18 | -4.1 | 0.8 |
Electricity |
$1,484 | $1,460 | -$24 | -1.6 | 2.6 |
Fuel oil and other fuels |
$152 | $116 | -$36 | -23.7 | 0.2 |
Telephone services |
$1,315 | $1,347 | $32 | 2.4 | 2.4 |
Water and other public services |
$530 | $540 | $10 | 1.9 | 1.0 |
Household operations |
$1,174 | $1,309 | $135 | 11.5 | 2.3 |
Housekeeping supplies |
$632 | $655 | $23 | 3.6 | 1.2 |
Household furnishings and equipment |
$1,581 | $1,818 | $237 | 15.0 | 3.2 |
Apparel and services |
$1,786 | $1,846 | $60 | 3.4 | 3.3 |
Transportation |
$9,073 | $9,503 | $430 | 4.7 | 17.0 |
Vehicle purchases (net outlay) |
$3,301 | $3,997 | $696 | 21.1 | 7.1 |
Gasoline and motor oil |
$2,468 | $2,090 | -$378 | -15.3 | 3.7 |
Other vehicle expenses |
$2,723 | $2,756 | $33 | 1.2 | 4.9 |
Public and other transportation |
$581 | $661 | $80 | 13.8 | 1.2 |
Healthcare |
$4,290 | $4,342 | $52 | 1.2 | 7.8 |
Health insurance |
$2,868 | $2,977 | $109 | 3.8 | 5.3 |
Medical services |
$790 | $791 | $1 | 0.1 | 1.4 |
Drugs |
$486 | $425 | -$61 | -12.6 | 0.8 |
Medical supplies |
$146 | $149 | $3 | 2.1 | 0.3 |
Entertainment |
$2,728 | $2,842 | $114 | 4.2 | 5.1 |
Personal care products and services |
$645 | $683 | $38 | 5.9 | 1.2 |
Reading |
$103 | $114 | $11 | 10.7 | 0.2 |
Education |
$1,236 | $1,315 | $79 | 6.4 | 2.3 |
Tobacco products and smoking supplies |
$319 | $349 | $30 | 9.4 | 0.6 |
Miscellaneous |
$782 | $871 | $89 | 11.4 | 1.6 |
Cash contributions |
$1,788 | $1,819 | $31 | 1.7 | 3.2 |
Personal insurance and pensions |
$5,726 | $6,349 | $623 | 10.9 | 11.3 |
Life and other personal insurance |
$327 | $333 | $6 | 1.8 | 0.6 |
Pensions and Social Security |
$5,399 | $6,016 | $617 | 11.4 | 10.7 |
From 2014 to 2015, among major components of household spending, personal insurance and pensions had the largest increase, rising 10.9 percent to $6,349. The increase was primarily driven by an 11.4-percent increase in spending on pensions and Social Security.
Spending on education increased 6.4 percent from 2014 to 2015. This increase was largely driven by a 63.7-percent increase in finance, late, and interest charges for student loans to $157.
From 2014 to 2015, transportation spending rose 4.7 percent to $9,503. Within transportation, spending on vehicle purchases increased 21.1 percent to $3,997, while spending on gasoline and motor oil decreased 15.3 percent to $2,090. Spending on public and other transportation rose 13.8 percent to $661.
Cash contributions increased 1.7 percent from 2014 to 2015, after falling 2.5 percent from 2013 to 2014. Cash contributions include alimony and child support payments; care of students away from home; and contributions to religious, educational, charitable, or political organizations.
These data come from the Consumer Expenditure Survey. To learn more, see "Consumer Expenditures — 2015" (HTML) (PDF).
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, Household spending increased 4.6 percent from 2014 to 2015 at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2016/household-spending-increased-4-point-6-percent-from-2014-to-2015.htm (visited October 31, 2024).