Gasoline Spending

How much American households spend on gasoline — 2024 data from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey

Annual average (2024)
$2,411
Share of total spending
3.1%
Change vs 2023
-1.6%
Change vs 2020
—

Spending Insight: Gasoline

American households spent an average of $2,411 on gasoline in 2024, representing 3.1% of total consumer expenditures. Year-over-year change was -1.6% (from $2,449 in 2023), roughly in line with broader consumer spending trends.

Historical trends for gasoline show how consumer priorities shift over time as wages, prices, and preferences evolve.

Income is the strongest predictor of gasoline spending: the top income quintile spends $3,477/year versus $1,177 for the lowest quintile — a 3.0x gap. Regionally, the West spends the most ($2,740/year) while the Northeast spends the least ($2,103/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 $2,411
2023 $2,449

By Income Level (2024)

How gasoline spending varies across income quintiles

Income Group Annual Amount
Lowest 20% $1,177
Second 20% $1,893
Middle 20% $2,442
Fourth 20% $3,058
Highest 20% $3,477

See full income breakdown →

By Region (2024)

Geographic variation in gasoline spending

Midwest
$2,349
3.1%
Northeast
$2,103
2.5%
South
$2,395
3.4%
West
$2,740
3.0%

See full regional breakdown →

By Age Group (2024)

How gasoline spending changes across the lifecycle

Age Group Annual Amount
25–34 $2,444
35–44 $2,829
45–54 $3,379
55–64 $2,522
65–74 $1,908
75 and older $1,216
Under 25 $1,706

See full age breakdown →

By Household Size (2024)

Size Annual
1 Person $1,226
2 People $2,920
3 People $2,329
4 People $2,825
5 or More $3,512

By Housing Tenure (2024)

Tenure Annual
Homeowner (with mortgage) $2,697
Homeowner (no mortgage) $3,034
Renter $2,252

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the average household spend on gasoline? ▼
The average American household spent $2,411 on gasoline in 2024, according to the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. This represents 3.1% of total household spending.
Is gasoline spending increasing? ▼
Gasoline spending decreased by 1.6% from 2023 to 2024 ($2,449 to $2,411).
How does income affect gasoline spending? ▼
The lowest income quintile spends $1,177/year on gasoline, while the highest quintile spends $3,477/year — a 3.0x difference. Higher-income households spend more in absolute terms but may allocate a smaller share of their budget.
Which region spends the most on gasoline? ▼
The West region spends the most at $2,740/year, while the Northeast region spends the least at $2,103/year on gasoline.
Which age group spends the most on gasoline? ▼
Households headed by someone in the 45–54 age group spend the most on gasoline at $3,379/year.
Does household size affect gasoline spending? ▼
Yes. 1 Person households spend $1,226/year on gasoline, while 5 or More households spend $3,512/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.