Consumer Expenditure Survey · BLS CE 2024

Average annual expenditures spending

U.S. households spent $78,535/yr on average annual expenditures in 2024 . Up 1.6% vs 2023 ; the top income quintile outspends the bottom by 4.3×. Figures from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.

By income → By region By age Rankings

By · BLS CEX source →

2024 avg
$78,535
vs 2023
+1.6%

CES spend plate

Line AVERAGE-ANNUAL-EXP · Average annual expenditures $78,535

SHARE-UNK · QUINT-WIDE · YOY-FLAT · REAL-INLINE · REGION-WEST · BOOK-UNK

  • SHARE-UNK Share unknown
  • QUINT-WIDE 4.3× Q5/Q1
  • YOY-FLAT +1.6% YoY
  • REAL-INLINE Near CPI
  • REGION-WEST West leads
  • BOOK-UNK Corpus rank n/a

Nearest dollar peer: Housing ($-52,269)

Instrument codes from this line’s budget share, income-quintile gap, YoY move, real change vs ~21% CPI-U (2020-2024), regional lead, and corpus book size, not a budgeting recommendation.

Spend neighbourhood around Average annual expenditures

Lowest and highest poles plus nearest dollar peers among major categories, not a full-board reprint. Figures from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.

Dollar neighbourhood · Average annual expenditures

Average annual spending · 2024 · poles + near peers

Source: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey As of 2024-12-31

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Spending Trend (2020–2024)

Average annual expenditures spending per household, 2020–2024

National average annual spending

Source: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey As of 2024-12-31

$60,000$65,000$70,000$75,000$80,000 20202021202220232024 $78,535
Year Annual Amount
2024 $78,535
2023 $77,280
2022 $72,967
2021 $66,928
2020 $61,334

By Income Level (2024)

Income stretches 4.3× from $35,046 (lowest quintile) to $150,342 (highest).

Income Group Annual Amount
Lowest 20% $35,046
Second 20% $50,054
Middle 20% $66,900
Fourth 20% $89,972
Highest 20% $150,342

See full income breakdown →

West leads average annual expenditures geographically

West leads at $92,625/yr.

Region Annual Amount
Midwest $74,707
Northeast $83,692
South $70,376
West $92,625

See full regional breakdown →

Lifecycle peak · 45–54

45–54 heads spend the most on this line at $100,327/yr.

Age Group Annual Amount
25–34 $74,475
35–44 $91,229
45–54 $100,327
55–64 $84,946
65–74 $65,354
75 and older $55,834
Under 25 $47,283

See full age breakdown →

Frequently Asked Questions (show 6)
How much does the average household spend on average annual expenditures? ▼
The average American household spent $78,535 on average annual expenditures in 2024, according to the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.
Is average annual expenditures spending increasing? ▼
Average annual expenditures spending increased by 1.6% from 2023 to 2024 ($77,280 to $78,535). Over 5 years (2020–2024), it changed by +28.0%.
How does income affect average annual expenditures spending? ▼
The lowest income quintile spends $35,046/year on average annual expenditures, while the highest quintile spends $150,342/year, a 4.3x difference. Higher-income households spend more in absolute terms but may allocate a smaller share of their budget.
Which region spends the most on average annual expenditures? ▼
The West region spends the most at $92,625/year, while the South region spends the least at $70,376/year on average annual expenditures.
Which age group spends the most on average annual expenditures? ▼
Households headed by someone in the 45–54 age group spend the most on average annual expenditures at $100,327/year.
Does household size affect average annual expenditures spending? ▼
Yes. 1 Person households spend $48,794/year on average annual expenditures, while 4 People households spend $109,002/year. Larger households generally spend more in absolute terms on most categories.

Nationwide peers near average annual expenditures

Dollar-amount and budget-share neighbours from BLS CE 2024 (this category excluded).

Similar dollar amount

Nearest other categories by 2024 average annual spending ($78,535 here).

Category 2024 avg
Housing $26,266
Shelter $16,317
Transportation $13,318
Food $10,169
Personal insurance and pensions $9,797
Owned dwellings $9,310
Retirement, pensions, and Social Security $9,222
Food at home $6,224

Average household budget · Methodology · BLS CEX source

Informational only - not advice. See disclaimer.

Every figure on PlainHousehold is rendered directly from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.