Spending by Age Group
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks how American households allocate spending across seven age cohorts of the reference person, from under-25 through 75-and-over, in its Consumer Expenditure Survey (CEX). In the 2024 data covering 13,000+ households, the 45-to-54 cohort posts the highest absolute outlay while the youngest and oldest spend least, spending follows the arc of the life cycle, from young families just starting out to retirees managing fixed incomes. The pages below render directly from CEX data, and our methodology explains how each cohort total is aggregated (all figures are nominal, not inflation-adjusted). Select an age group to explore spending by category.
Under 25
Young adults, high student expenses, low housing costs
25–34
Early career, high housing, beginning families
35–44
Peak child-rearing years, highest childcare and education
45–54
Peak earning years, highest overall spending
55–64
Pre-retirement, rising healthcare, empty nesters
65–74
Early retirement, reduced income, higher healthcare
75 and older
Late retirement, lowest overall spending, highest healthcare share
About Age Group Data
The BLS classifies consumer units by the age of the reference person (the person who owns or rents the home). This means the "under 25" group includes young adults who are financially independent, not college students living with parents. Spending patterns shift substantially across the lifecycle - especially for housing, healthcare, transportation, and food.