Household spending · Consumer Expenditure Survey · BLS CE 2024
Cereals and cereal products Spending
How much American households spend on cereals and cereal products - broken down by income, age, region, household size and tenure, from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.
- Annual average (2024)
- $240
- Share of spending
- 0.3%
- Change vs 2023
- -6.3%
- Change vs 2020
- +13.2%
Spending Insight: Cereals and cereal products
American households spent an average of $240 on cereals and cereal products in 2024, representing 0.3% of total consumer expenditures. Spending declined 6.3% from 2023 ($256), indicating households may be cutting back or finding lower-cost alternatives.
Since 2020, cereals and cereal products spending has risen by 13.2% (from $212 to $240), rising slower than the roughly 21% cumulative inflation over the same period, a decline in real, inflation-adjusted terms.
Income is strongly associated with cereals and cereal products spending: the top income quintile spends $359/year versus $156 for the lowest quintile, a 2.3x gap. Regionally, the Northeast spends the most ($275/year) while the Midwest spends the least ($215/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)
Cereals and cereal products spending per household, 2020–2024
National average annual spending
| Year | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $240 |
| 2023 | $256 |
| 2022 | $215 |
| 2021 | $210 |
| 2020 | $212 |
How we calculate this: % of Total is this category's published spend divided by that year's total household spend. YoY Change is the percentage difference between a year's amount and the prior year's amount. Both are computed from the raw BLS figures, not re-estimated.
By Income Level (2024)
How cereals and cereal products spending varies across income quintiles
| Income Group | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| Lowest 20% | $156 |
| Second 20% | $191 |
| Middle 20% | $223 |
| Fourth 20% | $270 |
| Highest 20% | $359 |
By Region (2024)
Geographic variation in cereals and cereal products spending
By Age Group (2024)
How cereals and cereal products spending changes across the lifecycle
By Household Size (2024)
| Size | Annual |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | $124 |
| 2 People | $290 |
| 3 People | $221 |
| 4 People | $294 |
| 5 or More | $360 |
By Housing Tenure (2024)
| Tenure | Annual |
|---|---|
| Homeowner (with mortgage) | $265 |
| Homeowner (no mortgage) | $290 |
| Renter | $223 |
What to do with this data
The average U.S. household spends $240 a year on cereals and cereal products - here's how to put that in context.
- Compare your own spending against the national income quintiles. Budget calculator
- See how cereals and cereal products spending shifts across income levels, ages, and regions. By income
- Track this category in your private watchlist to revisit as the data updates. Save categories
Figures are national averages from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey; your own household may differ from these means.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the average household spend on cereals and cereal products? ▼
Is cereals and cereal products spending increasing? ▼
How does income affect cereals and cereal products spending? ▼
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Which age group spends the most on cereals and cereal products? ▼
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Spending Guides (show related guides)
Related Spending Categories
Browse other major categories from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.
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.
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