Consumer Expenditure Survey · BLS CE 2024

Gasoline spending

U.S. households spent $2,411/yr on gasoline in 2024 - 3.1% of the average budget . Down 1.6% vs 2023 ; the top income quintile outspends the bottom by 3.0×. Figures from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.

2024 avg
$2,411
Budget share
3.1%
vs 2023
-1.6%

CES spend plate

Line GASOLINE · Gasoline $2,411 · 3.1%

SHARE-THIN · QUINT-WIDE · YOY-FLAT · REAL-UNK · REGION-WEST · BOOK-UPPER

  • SHARE-THIN 3.1% of budget
  • QUINT-WIDE 3.0× Q5/Q1
  • YOY-FLAT -1.6% YoY
  • REAL-UNK Real change n/a
  • REGION-WEST West leads
  • BOOK-UPPER #25/99 dollars

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.

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Spending Trend (2020–2024)

Gasoline spending per household, 2023–2024

National average annual spending

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

$2,400$2,410$2,420$2,430$2,440$2,450$2,460 20232024 $2,411
Year Annual Amount
2024 $2,411
2023 $2,449

Income stretch on a large gasoline line

A large CES line: top-quintile households spend $3,477/yr here vs $1,177 at the bottom (3.0×).

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 →

West leads gasoline geographically

West leads at $2,740/yr among the bigger CES categories.

Region Annual Amount
Midwest $2,349
Northeast $2,103
South $2,395
West $2,740

See full regional breakdown →

Lifecycle peak · 45–54

45–54 heads spend the most on this line at $3,379/yr - a lifecycle peak on a large budget share.

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 →

Frequently Asked Questions (show 6)
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 $4,335/year. Larger households generally spend more in absolute terms on most categories.

Other large CES lines near gasoline

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

Similar dollar amount

Nearest other categories by 2024 average annual spending ($2,411 here).

Category 2024 avg
Household furnishings and equipment $2,414
Other food at home $2,447
Cars and trucks, new $2,469
Cash contributions $2,292
Gasoline and other fuels $2,645
Property taxes $2,738
Cars and trucks, used $2,818
Apparel and services $2,001

Similar budget share

Nearest other categories by share of the household budget (3.1% here).

Category Budget share
Cars and trucks, new 3.1%
Household furnishings and equipment 3.1%
Other food at home 3.1%
Cash contributions 2.9%
Gasoline and other fuels 3.4%
Property taxes 3.5%
Cars and trucks, used 3.6%
Apparel and services 2.5%

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.