Personal services Spending
How much American households spend on personal services — 2024 data from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey
Spending Insight: Personal services
American households spent an average of $547 on personal services in 2024, representing 0.7% of total consumer expenditures. Year-over-year change was -0.5% (from $550 in 2023), roughly in line with broader consumer spending trends.
Since 2020, personal services spending has risen by 57.6% (from $347 to $547), substantially exceeding cumulative inflation over the same period — a real increase in household burden.
Income is the strongest predictor of personal services spending: the top income quintile spends $1,565/year versus $185 for the lowest quintile — a 8.5x gap. Regionally, the West spends the most ($796/year) while the Midwest spends the least ($427/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 | $547 |
| 2023 | $550 |
| 2022 | $488 |
| 2021 | $377 |
| 2020 | $347 |
By Income Level (2024)
How personal services spending varies across income quintiles
| Income Group | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| Lowest 20% | $185 |
| Second 20% | $118 |
| Middle 20% | $320 |
| Fourth 20% | $542 |
| Highest 20% | $1,565 |
By Region (2024)
Geographic variation in personal services spending
By Age Group (2024)
How personal services spending changes across the lifecycle
By Household Size (2024)
| Size | Annual |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | $138 |
| 2 People | $723 |
| 3 People | $150 |
| 4 People | $860 |
| 5 or More | $1,696 |
By Housing Tenure (2024)
| Tenure | Annual |
|---|---|
| Homeowner (with mortgage) | $689 |
| Homeowner (no mortgage) | $965 |
| Renter | $325 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the average household spend on personal services? ▼
Is personal services spending increasing? ▼
How does income affect personal services spending? ▼
Which region spends the most on personal services? ▼
Which age group spends the most on personal services? ▼
Does household size affect personal services spending? ▼
Spending Guides
Related Spending Categories
Browse other major categories from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.
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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.
