Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs Spending
How much American households spend on meats, poultry, fish, and eggs — 2024 data from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey
Spending Insight: Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs
American households spent an average of $1,414 on meats, poultry, fish, and eggs in 2024, representing 1.8% of total consumer expenditures. This marks a notable 21.5% increase from 2023 ($1,164), outpacing general inflation and suggesting growing consumer prioritization of this category.
Since 2020, meats, poultry, fish, and eggs spending has risen by 31.5% (from $1,075 to $1,414), substantially exceeding cumulative inflation over the same period — a real increase in household burden. The category breaks into 6 subcategories, each with its own spending dynamic — drill into any row below to see the finer-grained picture.
Income is the strongest predictor of meats, poultry, fish, and eggs spending: the top income quintile spends $2,074/year versus $889 for the lowest quintile — a 2.3x gap. Regionally, the Northeast spends the most ($1,686/year) while the South spends the least ($1,291/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 | $1,414 |
| 2023 | $1,164 |
| 2022 | $1,216 |
| 2021 | $1,115 |
| 2020 | $1,075 |
Subcategories
| Subcategory | Annual Amount (2024) |
|---|---|
| Beef | $408 |
| Pork | $260 |
| Other meats | $150 |
| Poultry | $267 |
| Fish and seafood | $224 |
| Eggs | $105 |
By Income Level (2024)
How meats, poultry, fish, and eggs spending varies across income quintiles
| Income Group | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| Lowest 20% | $889 |
| Second 20% | $1,117 |
| Middle 20% | $1,342 |
| Fourth 20% | $1,647 |
| Highest 20% | $2,074 |
By Region (2024)
Geographic variation in meats, poultry, fish, and eggs spending
By Age Group (2024)
How meats, poultry, fish, and eggs spending changes across the lifecycle
By Household Size (2024)
| Size | Annual |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | $721 |
| 2 People | $1,712 |
| 3 People | $1,359 |
| 4 People | $1,818 |
| 5 or More | $1,960 |
By Housing Tenure (2024)
| Tenure | Annual |
|---|---|
| Homeowner (with mortgage) | $1,547 |
| Homeowner (no mortgage) | $1,703 |
| Renter | $1,297 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the average household spend on meats, poultry, fish, and eggs? ▼
Is meats, poultry, fish, and eggs spending increasing? ▼
How does income affect meats, poultry, fish, and eggs spending? ▼
Which region spends the most on meats, poultry, fish, and eggs? ▼
Which age group spends the most on meats, poultry, fish, and eggs? ▼
Does household size affect meats, poultry, fish, and eggs spending? ▼
Spending Guides
Related Spending Categories
Browse other major categories from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.
Related Economic Data
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.
