Consumer Expenditure Survey · BLS CE 2024

Pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment spending

U.S. households spent $1,069/yr on pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment in 2024 - 1.4% of the average budget . Up 1.1% vs 2023 ; the top income quintile outspends the bottom by 5.1×. Figures from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.

2024 avg
$1,069
Budget share
1.4%
vs 2023
+1.1%

CES spend plate

Line PETS-TOYS-HOBBIES- · Pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment $1,069 · 1.4%

SHARE-TRACE · QUINT-ELITE · YOY-FLAT · REAL-INLINE · REGION-WEST · BOOK-MID

  • SHARE-TRACE 1.4% of budget
  • QUINT-ELITE 5.1× Q5/Q1
  • YOY-FLAT +1.1% YoY
  • REAL-INLINE Near CPI
  • REGION-WEST West leads
  • BOOK-MID #42/99 dollars

Nearest dollar peer: Audio and visual equipment and services ($-104)

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 Pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment

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 · Pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment

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)

Pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment spending per household, 2020–2024

National average annual spending

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

$800$850$900$950$1,000$1,050$1,100 20202021202220232024 $1,069
Year Annual Amount
2024 $1,069
2023 $1,057
2022 $908
2021 $969
2020 $859

Subcategories

Pets · $880 (82%) Toys, hobbies, and playground equipment · $189 (18%)

How the $1,069 pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment total divides across subcategories (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey 2024).

Subcategory Annual Amount (2024)
Pets $880
Toys, hobbies, and playground equipment $189

Income stretch · mid-book pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment

Mid-book CES line: income still stretches 5.1× from $439 (bottom quintile) to $2,250 (top).

Income Group Annual Amount
Lowest 20% $439
Second 20% $645
Middle 20% $843
Fourth 20% $1,164
Highest 20% $2,250

See full income breakdown →

West leads pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment geographically

West leads at $1,401/yr.

Region Annual Amount
Midwest $1,039
Northeast $863
South $988
West $1,401

See full regional breakdown →

Lifecycle peak · 45–54

45–54 heads spend the most on this line at $1,506/yr.

Age Group Annual Amount
25–34 $1,138
35–44 $1,112
45–54 $1,506
55–64 $1,096
65–74 $900
75 and older $777
Under 25 $334

See full age breakdown →

Frequently Asked Questions (show 6)
How much does the average household spend on pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment?
The average American household spent $1,069 on pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment in 2024, according to the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. This represents 1.4% of total household spending.
Is pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment spending increasing?
Pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment spending increased by 1.1% from 2023 to 2024 ($1,057 to $1,069). Over 5 years (2020–2024), it changed by +24.4%.
How does income affect pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment spending?
The lowest income quintile spends $439/year on pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment, while the highest quintile spends $2,250/year, a 5.1x difference. Higher-income households spend more in absolute terms but may allocate a smaller share of their budget.
Which region spends the most on pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment?
The West region spends the most at $1,401/year, while the Northeast region spends the least at $863/year on pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment.
Which age group spends the most on pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment?
Households headed by someone in the 45–54 age group spend the most on pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment at $1,506/year.
Does household size affect pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment spending?
Yes. 1 Person households spend $584/year on pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment, while 3 People households spend $1,518/year. Larger households generally spend more in absolute terms on most categories.

Nationwide peers near pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment

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

Similar dollar amount

Nearest other categories by 2024 average annual spending ($1,069 here).

Category 2024 avg
Miscellaneous household equipment $1,089
Public and other transportation $1,131
Maintenance and repairs $984
Personal care products and services $978
Audio and visual equipment and services $965
Fruits and vegetables $953
Fees and admissions $935
Miscellaneous $1,218

Similar budget share

Nearest other categories by share of the household budget (1.4% here).

Category Budget share
Miscellaneous household equipment 1.4%
Public and other transportation 1.4%
Maintenance and repairs 1.3%
Audio and visual equipment and services 1.2%
Fees and admissions 1.2%
Fruits and vegetables 1.2%
Personal care products and services 1.2%
Medical services 1.6%

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.