Consumer Expenditure Survey · BLS CE 2024
Pets spending
U.S. households spent $880/yr on pets in 2024 - 1.1% of the average budget . Up 0.5% vs 2023 ; the top income quintile outspends the bottom by 5.1×. Figures from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.
- 2024 avg
- $880
- Budget share
- 1.1%
- vs 2023
- +0.5%
CES spend plate
Line PETS · Pets $880 · 1.1%
SHARE-TRACE · QUINT-ELITE · YOY-FLAT · REAL-INLINE · REGION-WEST · BOOK-MID
- SHARE-TRACE 1.1% of budget
- QUINT-ELITE 5.1× Q5/Q1
- YOY-FLAT +0.5% YoY
- REAL-INLINE Near CPI
- REGION-WEST West leads
- BOOK-MID #48/99 dollars
Nearest dollar peer: Toys, hobbies, and playground equipment ($-691)
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
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
Average annual spending · 2024 · poles + near peers
this line
Spending Trend (2020–2024)
Pets spending per household, 2020–2024
National average annual spending
| Year | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $880 |
| 2023 | $876 |
| 2022 | $741 |
| 2021 | $770 |
| 2020 | $690 |
Income stretch · mid-book pets
Mid-book CES line: income still stretches 5.1× from $368 (bottom quintile) to $1,861 (top).
| Income Group | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| Lowest 20% | $368 |
| Second 20% | $529 |
| Middle 20% | $673 |
| Fourth 20% | $967 |
| Highest 20% | $1,861 |
West leads pets geographically
West leads at $1,151/yr.
Lifecycle peak · 45–54
45–54 heads spend the most on this line at $1,266/yr.
Frequently Asked Questions (show 6)
How much does the average household spend on pets? ▼
Is pets spending increasing? ▼
How does income affect pets spending? ▼
Which region spends the most on pets? ▼
Which age group spends the most on pets? ▼
Does household size affect pets spending? ▼
Nationwide peers near pets
Dollar-amount and budget-share neighbours from BLS CE 2024 (this category excluded).
Similar dollar amount
Nearest other categories by 2024 average annual spending ($880 here).
| Category | 2024 avg |
|---|---|
| Housekeeping supplies | $877 |
| Water and other public services | $826 |
| Fees and admissions | $935 |
| Vehicle rental, leases, licenses, and other charges | $811 |
| Fruits and vegetables | $953 |
| Audio and visual equipment and services | $965 |
| Personal care products and services | $978 |
| Cereals and bakery products | $779 |
Similar budget share
Nearest other categories by share of the household budget (1.1% here).
| Category | Budget share |
|---|---|
| Housekeeping supplies | 1.1% |
| Water and other public services | 1.1% |
| 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% |
| Cereals and bakery products | 1.0% |
| Vehicle rental, leases, licenses, and other charges | 1.0% |
Average household budget · Methodology · BLS CEX source
Informational only - not advice. See disclaimer.