Fuel oil and other fuels Spending
How much American households spend on fuel oil and other fuels — 2024 data from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey
Spending Insight: Fuel oil and other fuels
American households spent an average of $125 on fuel oil and other fuels in 2024, representing 0.2% of total consumer expenditures. Spending declined 10.7% from 2023 ($140), indicating households may be cutting back or finding lower-cost alternatives.
Since 2020, fuel oil and other fuels spending has risen by 19% (from $105 to $125), broadly tracking with inflation-adjusted cost changes.
Income is the strongest predictor of fuel oil and other fuels spending: the top income quintile spends $220/year versus $63 for the lowest quintile — a 3.5x gap. Regionally, the Northeast spends the most ($421/year) while the South spends the least ($50/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 | $125 |
| 2023 | $140 |
| 2022 | $160 |
| 2021 | $122 |
| 2020 | $105 |
By Income Level (2024)
How fuel oil and other fuels spending varies across income quintiles
| Income Group | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| Lowest 20% | $63 |
| Second 20% | $107 |
| Middle 20% | $96 |
| Fourth 20% | $139 |
| Highest 20% | $220 |
By Region (2024)
Geographic variation in fuel oil and other fuels spending
By Age Group (2024)
How fuel oil and other fuels spending changes across the lifecycle
By Household Size (2024)
| Size | Annual |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | $71 |
| 2 People | $149 |
| 3 People | $163 |
| 4 People | $135 |
| 5 or More | $136 |
By Housing Tenure (2024)
| Tenure | Annual |
|---|---|
| Homeowner (with mortgage) | $182 |
| Homeowner (no mortgage) | $176 |
| Renter | $191 |
Frequently Asked Questions
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Spending Guides
Related Spending Categories
Browse other major categories from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.
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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.
