Personal care products and services Spending
How much American households spend on personal care products and services — 2024 data from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey
Spending Insight: Personal care products and services
American households spent an average of $978 on personal care products and services in 2024, representing 1.2% of total consumer expenditures. Year-over-year change was +2.9% (from $950 in 2023), roughly in line with broader consumer spending trends.
Since 2020, personal care products and services spending has risen by 51.4% (from $646 to $978), substantially exceeding cumulative inflation over the same period — a real increase in household burden.
Income is the strongest predictor of personal care products and services spending: the top income quintile spends $1,802/year versus $427 for the lowest quintile — a 4.2x gap. Regionally, the West spends the most ($1,184/year) while the South spends the least ($827/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 | $978 |
| 2023 | $950 |
| 2022 | $866 |
| 2021 | $771 |
| 2020 | $646 |
By Income Level (2024)
How personal care products and services spending varies across income quintiles
| Income Group | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| Lowest 20% | $427 |
| Second 20% | $659 |
| Middle 20% | $852 |
| Fourth 20% | $1,145 |
| Highest 20% | $1,802 |
By Region (2024)
Geographic variation in personal care products and services spending
By Age Group (2024)
How personal care products and services spending changes across the lifecycle
By Household Size (2024)
| Size | Annual |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | $619 |
| 2 People | $1,132 |
| 3 People | $1,023 |
| 4 People | $1,188 |
| 5 or More | $1,347 |
By Housing Tenure (2024)
| Tenure | Annual |
|---|---|
| Homeowner (with mortgage) | $1,126 |
| Homeowner (no mortgage) | $1,269 |
| Renter | $921 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the average household spend on personal care products and services? ▼
Is personal care products and services spending increasing? ▼
How does income affect personal care products and services spending? ▼
Which region spends the most on personal care products and services? ▼
Which age group spends the most on personal care products and services? ▼
Does household size affect personal care products and services 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.
