Household spending · Consumer Expenditure Survey · BLS CE 2024

Men, 16 and over Spending

How much American households spend on men, 16 and over - broken down by income, age, region, household size and tenure, from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.

Annual average (2024)
$374
Share of spending
0.5%
Change vs 2023
-7.9%
Change vs 2020
+55.8%
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Spending Insight: Men, 16 and over

American households spent an average of $374 on men, 16 and over in 2024, representing 0.5% of total consumer expenditures. Spending declined 7.9% from 2023 ($406), indicating households may be cutting back or finding lower-cost alternatives.

Since 2020, men, 16 and over spending has risen by 55.8% (from $240 to $374), outpacing the roughly 21% cumulative inflation over 2020–2024 (BLS CPI-U) - a real-terms increase in household burden.

Income is strongly associated with men, 16 and over spending: the top income quintile spends $723/year versus $191 for the lowest quintile, a 3.8x gap. Regionally, the Northeast spends the most ($489/year) while the South spends the least ($318/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)

Men, 16 and over spending per household, 2020–2024

National average annual spending

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

$200$250$300$350$400$450 20202021202220232024 $374
Year Annual Amount
2024 $374
2023 $406
2022 $347
2021 $310
2020 $240

How we calculate this: % of Total is this category's published spend divided by that year's total household spend. YoY Change is the percentage difference between a year's amount and the prior year's amount. Both are computed from the raw BLS figures, not re-estimated.

By Income Level (2024)

How men, 16 and over spending varies across income quintiles

Income Group Annual Amount
Lowest 20% $191
Second 20% $268
Middle 20% $293
Fourth 20% $396
Highest 20% $723

See full income breakdown →

By Region (2024)

Geographic variation in men, 16 and over spending

See full regional breakdown →

By Age Group (2024)

How men, 16 and over spending changes across the lifecycle

Age Group Annual Amount
25–34 $389
35–44 $364
45–54 $500
55–64 $427
65–74 $263
75 and older $194
Under 25 $575

See full age breakdown →

By Household Size (2024)

Size Annual
1 Person $249
2 People $428
3 People $427
4 People $433
5 or More $400

By Housing Tenure (2024)

Tenure Annual
Homeowner (with mortgage) $398
Homeowner (no mortgage) $432
Renter $347

What to do with this data

The average U.S. household spends $374 a year on men, 16 and over - here's how to put that in context.

  • Compare your own spending against the national income quintiles. Budget calculator
  • See how men, 16 and over spending shifts across income levels, ages, and regions. By income
  • Track this category in your private watchlist to revisit as the data updates. Save categories

Figures are national averages from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey; your own household may differ from these means.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the average household spend on men, 16 and over?
The average American household spent $374 on men, 16 and over in 2024, according to the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. This represents 0.5% of total household spending.
Is men, 16 and over spending increasing?
Men, 16 and over spending decreased by 7.9% from 2023 to 2024 ($406 to $374). Over 5 years (2020–2024), it changed by +55.8%.
How does income affect men, 16 and over spending?
The lowest income quintile spends $191/year on men, 16 and over, while the highest quintile spends $723/year, a 3.8x difference. Higher-income households spend more in absolute terms but may allocate a smaller share of their budget.
Which region spends the most on men, 16 and over?
The Northeast region spends the most at $489/year, while the South region spends the least at $318/year on men, 16 and over.
Which age group spends the most on men, 16 and over?
Households headed by someone in the Under 25 age group spend the most on men, 16 and over at $575/year.
Does household size affect men, 16 and over spending?
Yes. 1 Person households spend $249/year on men, 16 and over, while 4 People households spend $433/year. Larger households generally spend more in absolute terms on most categories.
Spending Guides (show related guides)

Related Spending Categories

Browse other major categories from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.

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.

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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.