Consumer Expenditure Survey · BLS CE 2024

Footwear spending

U.S. households spent $461/yr on footwear in 2024 - 0.6% of the average budget . Up 3.8% vs 2023 ; the top income quintile outspends the bottom by 2.8×. Figures from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.

2024 avg
$461
Budget share
0.6%
vs 2023
+3.8%

CES spend plate

Line FOOTWEAR · Footwear $461 · 0.6%

SHARE-TRACE · QUINT-MOD · YOY-UP · REAL-BURDEN · REGION-NE · BOOK-MID

  • SHARE-TRACE 0.6% of budget
  • QUINT-MOD 2.8× Q5/Q1
  • YOY-UP +3.8% YoY
  • REAL-BURDEN Above CPI
  • REGION-NE Northeast leads
  • BOOK-MID #68/99 dollars

Nearest dollar peer: Men and boys (+$6)

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 Footwear

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

Dollar neighbourhood · Footwear

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)

Footwear spending per household, 2020–2024

National average annual spending

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

$300$350$400$450$500 20202021202220232024 $461
Year Annual Amount
2024 $461
2023 $444
2022 $399
2021 $336
2020 $314

Income stretch on a smaller footwear line

A smaller CES line: even the top quintile is $840/yr, with the bottom at $302 (2.8× gap).

Income Group Annual Amount
Lowest 20% $302
Second 20% $299
Middle 20% $415
Fourth 20% $450
Highest 20% $840

See full income breakdown →

Northeast leads footwear geographically

Northeast leads at $503/yr.

Region Annual Amount
Midwest $467
Northeast $503
South $446
West $451

See full regional breakdown →

Lifecycle peak · 35–44

35–44 heads spend the most on this line at $648/yr - the lifecycle peak on a smaller book line.

Age Group Annual Amount
25–34 $534
35–44 $648
45–54 $617
55–64 $483
65–74 $276
75 and older $159
Under 25 $256

See full age breakdown →

Frequently Asked Questions (show 6)
How much does the average household spend on footwear?
The average American household spent $461 on footwear in 2024, according to the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. This represents 0.6% of total household spending.
Is footwear spending increasing?
Footwear spending increased by 3.8% from 2023 to 2024 ($444 to $461). Over 5 years (2020–2024), it changed by +46.8%.
How does income affect footwear spending?
The lowest income quintile spends $302/year on footwear, while the highest quintile spends $840/year, a 2.8x difference. Higher-income households spend more in absolute terms but may allocate a smaller share of their budget.
Which region spends the most on footwear?
The Northeast region spends the most at $503/year, while the South region spends the least at $446/year on footwear.
Which age group spends the most on footwear?
Households headed by someone in the 35–44 age group spend the most on footwear at $648/year.
Does household size affect footwear spending?
Yes. 1 Person households spend $289/year on footwear, while 5 or More households spend $794/year. Larger households generally spend more in absolute terms on most categories.

Other smaller CES lines near footwear

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

Similar dollar amount

Nearest other categories by 2024 average annual spending ($461 here).

Category 2024 avg
Men and boys $467
Other dairy products $490
Natural gas $493
Vehicle finance charges $418
Beef $408
Fresh fruits $394
Major appliances $385
Other household products $537

Similar budget share

Nearest other categories by share of the household budget (0.6% here).

Category Budget share
Men and boys 0.6%
Natural gas 0.6%
Other dairy products 0.6%
Bakery products 0.7%
Beef 0.5%
Fresh fruits 0.5%
Fresh vegetables 0.5%
Life and other personal insurance 0.7%

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.