Cereals and bakery products Spending
How much American households spend on cereals and bakery products — 2024 data from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey
Spending Insight: Cereals and bakery products
American households spent an average of $779 on cereals and bakery products in 2024, representing 1.0% of total consumer expenditures. Spending declined 6.1% from 2023 ($830), indicating households may be cutting back or finding lower-cost alternatives.
Since 2020, cereals and bakery products spending has risen by 21.7% (from $640 to $779), substantially exceeding cumulative inflation over the same period — a real increase in household burden. The category breaks into 2 subcategories, each with its own spending dynamic — drill into any row below to see the finer-grained picture.
Income is the strongest predictor of cereals and bakery products spending: the top income quintile spends $1,166/year versus $501 for the lowest quintile — a 2.3x gap. Regionally, the Northeast spends the most ($920/year) while the South spends the least ($696/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 | $779 |
| 2023 | $830 |
| 2022 | $712 |
| 2021 | $672 |
| 2020 | $640 |
Subcategories
| Subcategory | Annual Amount (2024) |
|---|---|
| Cereals and cereal products | $240 |
| Bakery products | $539 |
By Income Level (2024)
How cereals and bakery products spending varies across income quintiles
| Income Group | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| Lowest 20% | $501 |
| Second 20% | $626 |
| Middle 20% | $740 |
| Fourth 20% | $860 |
| Highest 20% | $1,166 |
By Region (2024)
Geographic variation in cereals and bakery products spending
By Age Group (2024)
How cereals and bakery products spending changes across the lifecycle
By Household Size (2024)
| Size | Annual |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | $421 |
| 2 People | $932 |
| 3 People | $748 |
| 4 People | $937 |
| 5 or More | $1,135 |
By Housing Tenure (2024)
| Tenure | Annual |
|---|---|
| Homeowner (with mortgage) | $867 |
| Homeowner (no mortgage) | $942 |
| Renter | $746 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the average household spend on cereals and bakery products? ▼
Is cereals and bakery products spending increasing? ▼
How does income affect cereals and bakery products spending? ▼
Which region spends the most on cereals and bakery products? ▼
Which age group spends the most on cereals and bakery products? ▼
Does household size affect cereals and bakery products 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.
