Consumer Expenditure Survey · BLS CE 2024

Men and boys spending

U.S. households spent $467/yr on men and boys in 2024 - 0.6% of the average budget . Down 7% vs 2023 ; the top income quintile outspends the bottom by 3.8×. Figures from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.

2024 avg
$467
Budget share
0.6%
vs 2023
-7.0%

CES spend plate

Line MEN-AND-BOYS · Men and boys $467 · 0.6%

SHARE-TRACE · QUINT-WIDE · YOY-DOWN · REAL-BURDEN · REGION-NE · BOOK-MID

  • SHARE-TRACE 0.6% of budget
  • QUINT-WIDE 3.8× Q5/Q1
  • YOY-DOWN -7.0% YoY
  • REAL-BURDEN Above CPI
  • REGION-NE Northeast leads
  • BOOK-MID #67/99 dollars

Nearest dollar peer: Footwear ($-6)

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.

Spend neighbourhood around Men and boys

Lowest and highest poles plus nearest dollar peers among sibling lines, not a full-board reprint. Figures from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.

Dollar neighbourhood · Men and boys

Average annual spending · 2024 · poles + near peers

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

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Spending Trend (2020–2024)

Men and boys spending per household, 2020–2024

National average annual spending

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

$300$350$400$450$500$550 20202021202220232024 $467
Year Annual Amount
2024 $467
2023 $502
2022 $454
2021 $424
2020 $326

Subcategories

Men, 16 and over · $374 (80%) Boys, 2 to 15 · $92 (20%)

How the $467 men and boys total divides across subcategories (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey 2024).

Subcategory Annual Amount (2024)
Men, 16 and over $374
Boys, 2 to 15 $92

Income stretch on a smaller men and boys line

A smaller CES line: even the top quintile is $936/yr, with the bottom at $247 (3.8× gap).

Income Group Annual Amount
Lowest 20% $247
Second 20% $310
Middle 20% $364
Fourth 20% $475
Highest 20% $936

See full income breakdown →

Northeast leads men and boys geographically

Northeast leads at $635/yr.

Region Annual Amount
Midwest $463
Northeast $635
South $371
West $507

See full regional breakdown →

Lifecycle peak · 45–54

45–54 heads spend the most on this line at $619/yr - the lifecycle peak on a smaller book line.

Age Group Annual Amount
25–34 $480
35–44 $617
45–54 $619
55–64 $471
65–74 $289
75 and older $203
Under 25 $584

See full age breakdown →

Frequently Asked Questions (show 6)
How much does the average household spend on men and boys?
The average American household spent $467 on men and boys in 2024, according to the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. This represents 0.6% of total household spending.
Is men and boys spending increasing?
Men and boys spending decreased by 7% from 2023 to 2024 ($502 to $467). Over 5 years (2020–2024), it changed by +43.3%.
How does income affect men and boys spending?
The lowest income quintile spends $247/year on men and boys, while the highest quintile spends $936/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 and boys?
The Northeast region spends the most at $635/year, while the South region spends the least at $371/year on men and boys.
Which age group spends the most on men and boys?
Households headed by someone in the 45–54 age group spend the most on men and boys at $619/year.
Does household size affect men and boys spending?
Yes. 1 Person households spend $257/year on men and boys, while 5 or More households spend $816/year. Larger households generally spend more in absolute terms on most categories.

Other smaller CES lines near men and boys

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

Similar dollar amount

Nearest other categories by 2024 average annual spending ($467 here).

Category 2024 avg
Footwear $461
Other dairy products $490
Natural gas $493
Vehicle finance charges $418
Beef $408
Other household products $537
Bakery products $539
Fresh fruits $394

Similar budget share

Nearest other categories by share of the household budget (0.6% here).

Category Budget share
Footwear 0.6%
Natural gas 0.6%
Other dairy products 0.6%
Bakery products 0.7%
Beef 0.5%
Fresh fruits 0.5%
Fresh vegetables 0.5%
Life and other personal insurance 0.7%

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.