Consumer Expenditure Survey · BLS CE 2024

Fuel oil and other fuels spending

U.S. households spent $125/yr on fuel oil and other fuels in 2024 - 0.2% of the average budget . Down 10.7% vs 2023 ; the top income quintile outspends the bottom by 3.5×. Figures from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.

2024 avg
$125
Budget share
0.2%
vs 2023
-10.7%

CES spend plate

Line FUEL-OIL-AND-OTHER · Fuel oil and other fuels $125 · 0.2%

SHARE-TRACE · QUINT-WIDE · YOY-DROP · REAL-INLINE · REGION-NE · BOOK-TRACE

  • SHARE-TRACE 0.2% of budget
  • QUINT-WIDE 3.5× Q5/Q1
  • YOY-DROP -10.7% YoY
  • REAL-INLINE Near CPI
  • REGION-NE Northeast leads
  • BOOK-TRACE #91/99 dollars

Nearest dollar peer: Natural gas (+$368)

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 Fuel oil and other fuels

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 · Fuel oil and other fuels

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)

Fuel oil and other fuels spending per household, 2020–2024

National average annual spending

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

$100$120$140$160$180 20202021202220232024 $125
Year Annual Amount
2024 $125
2023 $140
2022 $160
2021 $122
2020 $105

Income stretch on a smaller fuel oil and other fuels line

A smaller CES line: even the top quintile is $220/yr, with the bottom at $63 (3.5× gap).

Income Group Annual Amount
Lowest 20% $63
Second 20% $107
Middle 20% $96
Fourth 20% $139
Highest 20% $220

See full income breakdown →

Northeast leads fuel oil and other fuels geographically

Northeast leads at $421/yr.

Region Annual Amount
Midwest $89
Northeast $421
South $50
West $60

See full regional breakdown →

Lifecycle peak · 65–74

65–74 heads spend the most on this line at $170/yr - the lifecycle peak on a smaller book line.

Age Group Annual Amount
25–34 $70
35–44 $103
45–54 $128
55–64 $163
65–74 $170
75 and older $156
Under 25 $9

See full age breakdown →

Frequently Asked Questions (show 6)
How much does the average household spend on fuel oil and other fuels?
The average American household spent $125 on fuel oil and other fuels in 2024, according to the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. This represents 0.2% of total household spending.
Is fuel oil and other fuels spending increasing?
Fuel oil and other fuels spending decreased by 10.7% from 2023 to 2024 ($140 to $125). Over 5 years (2020–2024), it changed by +19.0%.
How does income affect fuel oil and other fuels spending?
The lowest income quintile spends $63/year on fuel oil and other fuels, while the highest quintile spends $220/year, a 3.5x difference. Higher-income households spend more in absolute terms but may allocate a smaller share of their budget.
Which region spends the most on fuel oil and other fuels?
The Northeast region spends the most at $421/year, while the South region spends the least at $50/year on fuel oil and other fuels.
Which age group spends the most on fuel oil and other fuels?
Households headed by someone in the 65–74 age group spend the most on fuel oil and other fuels at $170/year.
Does household size affect fuel oil and other fuels spending?
Yes. 1 Person households spend $71/year on fuel oil and other fuels, while 2 People households spend $163/year. Larger households generally spend more in absolute terms on most categories.

Other smaller CES lines near fuel oil and other fuels

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

Similar dollar amount

Nearest other categories by 2024 average annual spending ($125 here).

Category 2024 avg
Fats and oils $125
Reading $125
Postage and stationery $131
Girls, 2 to 15 $112
Fresh milk and cream $141
Household textiles $107
Eggs $105
Other meats $150

Similar budget share

Nearest other categories by share of the household budget (0.2% here).

Category Budget share
Fats and oils 0.2%
Fresh milk and cream 0.2%
Other meats 0.2%
Postage and stationery 0.2%
Reading 0.2%
Small appliances and miscellaneous housewares 0.2%
Toys, hobbies, and playground equipment 0.2%
Cereals and cereal products 0.3%

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.