Postage and stationery Spending

How much American households spend on postage and stationery — 2024 data from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey

Annual average (2024)
$131
Share of total spending
0.2%
Change vs 2023
+18.0%
Change vs 2020
+0.8%

Spending Insight: Postage and stationery

American households spent an average of $131 on postage and stationery in 2024, representing 0.2% of total consumer expenditures. This marks a notable 18.0% increase from 2023 ($111), outpacing general inflation and suggesting growing consumer prioritization of this category.

Since 2020, postage and stationery spending has risen by 0.8% (from $130 to $131), broadly tracking with inflation-adjusted cost changes.

Income is the strongest predictor of postage and stationery spending: the top income quintile spends $256/year versus $55 for the lowest quintile — a 4.7x gap. Regionally, the Northeast spends the most ($152/year) while the Midwest spends the least ($120/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 $131
2023 $111
2022 $128
2021 $111
2020 $130

By Income Level (2024)

How postage and stationery spending varies across income quintiles

Income Group Annual Amount
Lowest 20% $55
Second 20% $96
Middle 20% $105
Fourth 20% $144
Highest 20% $256

See full income breakdown →

By Region (2024)

Geographic variation in postage and stationery spending

Midwest
$120
0.2%
Northeast
$152
0.2%
South
$130
0.2%
West
$128
0.1%

See full regional breakdown →

By Age Group (2024)

How postage and stationery spending changes across the lifecycle

Age Group Annual Amount
25–34 $127
35–44 $129
45–54 $126
55–64 $156
65–74 $136
75 and older $140
Under 25 $41

See full age breakdown →

By Household Size (2024)

Size Annual
1 Person $82
2 People $153
3 People $150
4 People $158
5 or More $159

By Housing Tenure (2024)

Tenure Annual
Homeowner (with mortgage) $159
Homeowner (no mortgage) $142
Renter $187

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the average household spend on postage and stationery? ▼
The average American household spent $131 on postage and stationery in 2024, according to the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. This represents 0.2% of total household spending.
Is postage and stationery spending increasing? ▼
Postage and stationery spending increased by 18% from 2023 to 2024 ($111 to $131). Over 5 years (2020–2024), it changed by +0.8%.
How does income affect postage and stationery spending? ▼
The lowest income quintile spends $55/year on postage and stationery, while the highest quintile spends $256/year — a 4.7x difference. Higher-income households spend more in absolute terms but may allocate a smaller share of their budget.
Which region spends the most on postage and stationery? ▼
The Northeast region spends the most at $152/year, while the Midwest region spends the least at $120/year on postage and stationery.
Which age group spends the most on postage and stationery? ▼
Households headed by someone in the 55–64 age group spend the most on postage and stationery at $156/year.
Does household size affect postage and stationery spending? ▼
Yes. 1 Person households spend $82/year on postage and stationery, while 5 or More households spend $159/year. Larger households generally spend more in absolute terms on most categories.

Spending Guides

Average Household Budget
How the typical American household allocates spending
Housing Costs by Income
How shelter spending varies across income quintiles
Food Spending Breakdown
Groceries vs dining out and who spends what
Healthcare Spending by Age
How medical costs rise across the lifecycle
Transportation Costs
Vehicle ownership, fuel, and transit spending

Related Spending Categories

Browse other major categories from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.

Category
Food
$10,169/yr avg
Category
Alcoholic beverages
$643/yr avg
Category
Housing
$26,266/yr avg
Category
Apparel and services
$2,001/yr avg
Category
Transportation
$13,318/yr avg

Related Economic Data

Cost of Living by Metro → Fair Market Rents → Salary Data by Occupation → ZIP Code Demographics →
Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey (BLS CEX). BLS CEX homepage. Data represents average annual expenditures per consumer unit. 2024 data released 2025. See our methodology for processing details.

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.