Fish and seafood Spending

How much American households spend on fish and seafood — 2024 data from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey

Annual average (2024)
$224
Share of total spending
0.3%
Change vs 2023
+21.7%
Change vs 2020
+31.8%

Spending Insight: Fish and seafood

American households spent an average of $224 on fish and seafood in 2024, representing 0.3% of total consumer expenditures. This marks a notable 21.7% increase from 2023 ($184), outpacing general inflation and suggesting growing consumer prioritization of this category.

Since 2020, fish and seafood spending has risen by 31.8% (from $170 to $224), substantially exceeding cumulative inflation over the same period — a real increase in household burden.

Income is the strongest predictor of fish and seafood spending: the top income quintile spends $348/year versus $132 for the lowest quintile — a 2.6x gap. Regionally, the Northeast spends the most ($298/year) while the Midwest spends the least ($181/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 $224
2023 $184
2022 $183
2021 $178
2020 $170

By Income Level (2024)

How fish and seafood spending varies across income quintiles

Income Group Annual Amount
Lowest 20% $132
Second 20% $157
Middle 20% $219
Fourth 20% $263
Highest 20% $348

See full income breakdown →

By Region (2024)

Geographic variation in fish and seafood spending

Midwest
$181
0.2%
Northeast
$298
0.4%
South
$204
0.3%
West
$239
0.3%

See full regional breakdown →

By Age Group (2024)

How fish and seafood spending changes across the lifecycle

Age Group Annual Amount
25–34 $182
35–44 $259
45–54 $302
55–64 $210
65–74 $239
75 and older $158
Under 25 $118

See full age breakdown →

By Household Size (2024)

Size Annual
1 Person $128
2 People $265
3 People $219
4 People $290
5 or More $296

By Housing Tenure (2024)

Tenure Annual
Homeowner (with mortgage) $248
Homeowner (no mortgage) $271
Renter $210

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the average household spend on fish and seafood? ▼
The average American household spent $224 on fish and seafood in 2024, according to the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. This represents 0.3% of total household spending.
Is fish and seafood spending increasing? ▼
Fish and seafood spending increased by 21.7% from 2023 to 2024 ($184 to $224). Over 5 years (2020–2024), it changed by +31.8%.
How does income affect fish and seafood spending? ▼
The lowest income quintile spends $132/year on fish and seafood, while the highest quintile spends $348/year — a 2.6x difference. Higher-income households spend more in absolute terms but may allocate a smaller share of their budget.
Which region spends the most on fish and seafood? ▼
The Northeast region spends the most at $298/year, while the Midwest region spends the least at $181/year on fish and seafood.
Which age group spends the most on fish and seafood? ▼
Households headed by someone in the 45–54 age group spend the most on fish and seafood at $302/year.
Does household size affect fish and seafood spending? ▼
Yes. 1 Person households spend $128/year on fish and seafood, while 5 or More households spend $296/year. Larger households generally spend more in absolute terms on most categories.

Spending Guides

Average Household Budget
How the typical American household allocates spending
Housing Costs by Income
How shelter spending varies across income quintiles
Food Spending Breakdown
Groceries vs dining out and who spends what
Healthcare Spending by Age
How medical costs rise across the lifecycle
Transportation Costs
Vehicle ownership, fuel, and transit spending

Related Spending Categories

Browse other major categories from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.

Category
Food
$10,169/yr avg
Category
Alcoholic beverages
$643/yr avg
Category
Housing
$26,266/yr avg
Category
Apparel and services
$2,001/yr avg
Category
Transportation
$13,318/yr avg

Related Economic Data

Cost of Living by Metro → Fair Market Rents → Salary Data by Occupation → ZIP Code Demographics →
Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey (BLS CEX). BLS CEX homepage. Data represents average annual expenditures per consumer unit. 2024 data released 2025. See our methodology for processing details.

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.