Average annual expenditures Spending
How much American households spend on average annual expenditures — 2024 data from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey
Spending Insight: Average annual expenditures
American households spent an average of $78,535 on average annual expenditures in 2024. Year-over-year change was +1.6% (from $77,280 in 2023), roughly in line with broader consumer spending trends.
Since 2020, average annual expenditures spending has risen by 28% (from $61,334 to $78,535), substantially exceeding cumulative inflation over the same period — a real increase in household burden.
Income is the strongest predictor of average annual expenditures spending: the top income quintile spends $150,342/year versus $35,046 for the lowest quintile — a 4.3x gap. Regionally, the West spends the most ($92,625/year) while the South spends the least ($70,376/year). Use the cross-cuts below — by income, region, age, household size, and housing tenure — to see which demographic factors drive this category hardest for your situation.
Spending Trend (2020–2024)
| Year | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $78,535 |
| 2023 | $77,280 |
| 2022 | $72,967 |
| 2021 | $66,928 |
| 2020 | $61,334 |
By Income Level (2024)
How average annual expenditures spending varies across income quintiles
| Income Group | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| Lowest 20% | $35,046 |
| Second 20% | $50,054 |
| Middle 20% | $66,900 |
| Fourth 20% | $89,972 |
| Highest 20% | $150,342 |
By Region (2024)
Geographic variation in average annual expenditures spending
By Age Group (2024)
How average annual expenditures spending changes across the lifecycle
By Household Size (2024)
| Size | Annual |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | $48,794 |
| 2 People | $91,324 |
| 3 People | $80,830 |
| 4 People | $92,205 |
| 5 or More | $109,002 |
By Housing Tenure (2024)
| Tenure | Annual |
|---|---|
| Homeowner (with mortgage) | $90,117 |
| Homeowner (no mortgage) | $104,329 |
| Renter | $70,906 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the average household spend on average annual expenditures? ▼
Is average annual expenditures spending increasing? ▼
How does income affect average annual expenditures spending? ▼
Which region spends the most on average annual expenditures? ▼
Which age group spends the most on average annual expenditures? ▼
Does household size affect average annual expenditures spending? ▼
Spending Guides
Related Spending Categories
Browse other major categories from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.
Related Economic Data
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
