Medical supplies Spending

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

Annual average (2024)
$233
Share of total spending
0.3%
Change vs 2023
-12.7%
Change vs 2020
+37.1%

Spending Insight: Medical supplies

American households spent an average of $233 on medical supplies in 2024, representing 0.3% of total consumer expenditures. Spending declined 12.7% from 2023 ($267), indicating households may be cutting back or finding lower-cost alternatives.

Since 2020, medical supplies spending has risen by 37.1% (from $170 to $233), substantially exceeding cumulative inflation over the same period — a real increase in household burden.

Income is the strongest predictor of medical supplies spending: the top income quintile spends $359/year versus $215 for the lowest quintile — a 1.7x gap. Regionally, the Midwest spends the most ($262/year) while the South spends the least ($217/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 $233
2023 $267
2022 $209
2021 $181
2020 $170

By Income Level (2024)

How medical supplies spending varies across income quintiles

Income Group Annual Amount
Lowest 20% $215
Second 20% $140
Middle 20% $200
Fourth 20% $251
Highest 20% $359

See full income breakdown →

By Region (2024)

Geographic variation in medical supplies spending

Midwest
$262
0.4%
Northeast
$220
0.3%
South
$217
0.3%
West
$244
0.3%

See full regional breakdown →

By Age Group (2024)

How medical supplies spending changes across the lifecycle

Age Group Annual Amount
25–34 $117
35–44 $167
45–54 $241
55–64 $252
65–74 $369
75 and older $309
Under 25 $93

See full age breakdown →

By Household Size (2024)

Size Annual
1 Person $144
2 People $271
3 People $330
4 People $207
5 or More $235

By Housing Tenure (2024)

Tenure Annual
Homeowner (with mortgage) $295
Homeowner (no mortgage) $303
Renter $283

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the average household spend on medical supplies? ▼
The average American household spent $233 on medical supplies in 2024, according to the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. This represents 0.3% of total household spending.
Is medical supplies spending increasing? ▼
Medical supplies spending decreased by 12.7% from 2023 to 2024 ($267 to $233). Over 5 years (2020–2024), it changed by +37.1%.
How does income affect medical supplies spending? ▼
The lowest income quintile spends $215/year on medical supplies, while the highest quintile spends $359/year — a 1.7x difference. Higher-income households spend more in absolute terms but may allocate a smaller share of their budget.
Which region spends the most on medical supplies? ▼
The Midwest region spends the most at $262/year, while the South region spends the least at $217/year on medical supplies.
Which age group spends the most on medical supplies? ▼
Households headed by someone in the 65–74 age group spend the most on medical supplies at $369/year.
Does household size affect medical supplies spending? ▼
Yes. 1 Person households spend $144/year on medical supplies, while 3 People households spend $330/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.