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News Release Information

14-2177-CHI
Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:
  • (312) 353-1138

Consumer Expenditures for the Detroit Metropolitan Area: 2012-2013

Consumer units in the Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, Mich., metropolitan area spent an average of $53,835 per year in 2012-2013, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Charlene Peiffer noted that this figure was similar to the $51,299 average expenditure level for a typical household in the United States. Detroit area households also allocated their dollars similarly among most of the eight major categories with only two differing significantly from the U.S. average.  For example, the share of expenditures for transportation, which accounted for 19.7 percent of a typical household’s budget in the Detroit area, was significantly more than the nationwide average of 17.5 percent. (See chart 1 and table 1.)

Housing in the Detroit metropolitan area averaged $16,130 annually and was the largest expenditure category, accounting for 30 percent of a Detroit area household’s total budget. (See tables 1 and 2.) This share was significantly below the 33.2-percent national average. Overall, 8 of the 18 published metropolitan areas had expenditure shares for housing significantly above the U.S. average. In contrast, Detroit was the only metropolitan area whose share for housing was significantly below the U.S. average. (See table 3 and chart 2.) Housing expenditures among the 18 areas ranged from 39.9 percent in Miami to 30 percent in Detroit. (See table 3.)

The majority of housing expenditures in Detroit went toward shelter, 55.2 percent, which includes mortgage interest, property taxes, repairs, and rent, among other items; nationwide, 58.6 percent of the housing budget was allocated for shelter. (See table A.) Utilities, fuels, and public services expenses accounted for 23.4 percent of the housing budget locally; nationally, it made up 21.7 percent. The rate of homeownership in Detroit was 71 percent, compared to the U.S. average of 64 percent.

Table A. Percent distribution of housing expenditures, United States and Detroit, 2012-13
Category United States Detroit

Total housing

100.0 100.0

Shelter

58.6 55.2

Utilities, fuels, and public services

21.7 23.4

Household operations

6.8 7.4

Housekeeping supplies

3.7 4.1

Household furnishings and equipment

9.2 10.0

Note: Columns may not add to 100 due to rounding.
 

At 19.7 percent of the total budget, transportation was the second-largest expenditure category in the Detroit area and was significantly above the national average of 17.5 percent. Among the 18 published metropolitan areas nationwide, 6 had below-average transportation shares. Two areas, Detroit and Houston, had shares that were significantly above the national average at 21.0 and 19.7 percent, respectively. (See chart 3.)

Of the $10,623 in annual expenditures for transportation in Detroit, 94.7 percent was spent buying and maintaining private vehicles; this compared to the national average of 94 percent. The remaining 5.3 percent of a Detroit household’s transportation budget was spent on public transit, which includes fares for taxis, buses, trains, and planes, compared to the 6.0 percent average for the nation. (See table B.) The average number of vehicles per household in Detroit was 2.1 while the national average was 1.9.

Table B. Percent distribution of transportation expenditures, United States and Detroit, 2012-13
Category United States Detroit

Transportation

100.0 100.0

Vehicle purchases (net outlays)

36.0 34.2

Gasoline and motor oil

29.8 28.9

Other vehicle expenses

28.2 31.7

Public transportation

6.0 5.3

Note: Columns may not add to 100 due to rounding. 
 

The portion of a Detroit consumer unit’s budget spent on food, 13.5 percent, was not significantly different from the 12.9-percent U.S. average. Among the 18 metropolitan areas, 6 had food expenditure shares that were significantly below the nationwide average. (See table 3.)

Households in Detroit spent $4,534 or 62.4 percent, of their food dollars on food prepared at home and the remaining 37.6 percent ($2,735) on food prepared away from home, such as restaurant meals, carry-out, board at school, and catered affairs. In comparison, the typical U.S. household spent 59.8 percent of its food budget on food prepared at home and 40.2 percent on food prepared away from home.

As noted, Detroit is 1 of 18 metropolitan areas nationwide for which Consumer Expenditure Survey (CE) data are available. Metropolitan area CE data and that for the four geographic regions of the United States are available on our Web site at https://www.bls.gov/cex/tables.htm. Metropolitan area CE news releases are available at https://www.bls.gov/regions/subjects/consumer-spending.htm.

 

Additional Information

Data contained in this release are from the CE, which is conducted on an ongoing basis by the U.S. Census Bureau for the BLS. The CE data in this release were averaged over a two-year period, 2012 and 2013. CE data are available for the nation, the 4 geographic regions of the country, and 18 metropolitan areas. The metropolitan area discussed in this release is Detroit-Ann-Arbor-Flint, Mich., which is comprised of Genesee, Lapeer, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw, and Wayne Counties in Michigan.

The survey consists of two components, a diary or recordkeeping survey, and an interview survey. The integrated data from the BLS Diary and Interview Surveys provide a complete accounting of consumer expenditures and income, which neither survey component alone is designed to do. Due to changes in the survey sample frame, metropolitan area data in this release are not directly comparable to those prior to 1996.

A consumer unit is defined as members of a household related by blood, marriage, adoption, or other legal arrangement; a single person living alone or sharing a household with others but who is financially independent; or two or more persons living together who share responsibility for at least 2 out of 3 major types of expenses – food, housing, and other expenses. The terms household or consumer unit are used interchangeably for convenience.

CE metropolitan area estimates are not comparative cost of living surveys, as neither the quantity nor the quality of goods and services has been held constant among areas. Differences may result from variations in demographic characteristics such as consumer unit size, age, preferences, income levels, etc. However, expenditure shares, or the percentage of a consumer unit’s budget spent on a particular category, can be used to compare spending patterns across areas. Sample sizes for the metropolitan areas are much smaller than for the nation, so the U.S. estimates and year-to-year changes are more reliable than those for the metropolitan areas. Users should also keep in mind that prices for many goods and services have changed since the survey was conducted.

Expenditure shares for housing and transportation that are above or below that for the nation after testing for significance at the 95-percent confidence interval are also identified in charts 2 and 3 for the 18 metropolitan areas surveyed.

A value that is statistically different from another does not necessarily mean that the difference has economic or practical significance. Statistical significance is concerned with our ability to make confident statements about a universe based on a sample. It is entirely possible that a large difference between two values is not significantly different statistically, while a small difference is, since both the size and heterogeneity of the sample affect the relative error of the data being tested.

For additional technical and related information, see www.bls.gov/opub/hom/cex/home.htm.

Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-5200; Federal Relay Service: 800-877-8339

Table 1. Percent distribution of average annual expenditures, United States and Detroit-Ann Arbor, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2012-2013
Category United States Detroit

Average annual expenditures

$51,299 $53,835

Percent distribution:

100.0 100.0

Food

12.9 13.5

Alcoholic beverages

0.9 0.9

Housing

33.2 30.0*

Apparel and services

3.3 2.9

Transportation

17.5 19.7*

Health care

7.0 6.8

Entertainment

5.0 5.1

Personal care products and services

1.2 1.3

Reading

0.2 0.3

Education

2.3 2.1

Tobacco products and smoking supplies

0.6 0.8*

Miscellaneous

1.4 1.8

Cash contributions

3.7 4.2

Personal insurance and pensions

10.8 10.5

Note: *Statistically significant difference from the U.S. average at the 95-percent confidence level.
Note: Numbers may not add to 100 due to rounding.
 

Table 2. Average annual expenditures and characteristics, United States and Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2012-2013
Category United States Detroit

Consumer unit characteristics:

 

Income before taxes

$64,686 $81,213

Age of reference person

50.1 51.6
 

Average number in consumer unit:

 

Persons

2.5 2.4

Children under 18

0.6 0.5

Persons 65 and over

0.3 0.4

Earners

1.3 1.2

Vehicles

1.9 2.1
 

Percent homeowners

64 71
 

Average annual expenditures

$51,299 $53,835

Food

6,600 7,268

Food at home

3,949 4,534

Cereals and bakery products

541 618

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs

854 901

Dairy products

416 423

Fruits and vegetables

741 844

Other food at home

1,397 1,748

Food away from home

2,651 2,735

Alcoholic beverages

448 482

Housing

17,030 16,130

Shelter

9,986 8,900

Owned dwellings

6,082 5,920

Rented dwellings

3,255 2,142

Other lodging

649 839

Utilities, fuels, and public services

3,693 3,768

Household operations

1,152 1,197

Housekeeping supplies

627 659

Household furnishings and equipment

1,571 1,606

Apparel and services

1,677 1,566

Transportation

9,001 10,623

Vehicle purchases (net outlay)

3,241 3,629

Gasoline and motor oil

2,683 3,067

Other vehicle expenses

2,537 3,368

Public transportation

540 559

Healthcare

3,594 3,675

Entertainment

2,553 2,767

Personal care products and services

618 697

Reading

106 137

Education

1,172 1,136

Tobacco products and smoking supplies

331 435

Miscellaneous

736 983

Cash contributions

1,873 2,262

Personal insurance and pensions

5,559 5,674

Life and other personal insurance

336 238

Pensions and Social Security

5,224 5,436
Table 3. Percent share of average annual expenditures for housing, transportation, and food, United States and 18 metropolitan areas, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2012-2013
Area Housing Transportation Food

United States

33.2 17.5 12.9

Atlanta

33.4 17.1 12.6

Baltimore

32.5 15.5 11.0*

Boston

32.6 15.6* 13.3

Chicago

35.4* 15.6* 12.7

Cleveland

31.6 18.2 12.8

Dallas

33.5 17.9 12.6

Detroit

30.0* 19.7* 13.5

Houston

33.1 21.0* 12.0

Los Angeles

38.2* 15.4* 13.4

Miami

39.9* 16.2 14.0

Minneapolis

32.0 18.3 11.3*

New York

39.8* 13.5* 11.9*

Philadelphia

35.4* 15.4* 13.7

Phoenix

34.8 18.9 13.6

San Diego

38.2* 15.8 11.5*

San Francisco

35.8* 13.7* 11.9*

Seattle

33.4 15.6 13.0

Washington

35.3 16.7 10.9*

*Statistically significant difference from the U.S. average at the 95-percent confidence level.
 

 

Last Modified Date: Tuesday, November 25, 2014