Consumer Expenditure Survey · BLS CE 2024
Postage and stationery spending
U.S. households spent $131/yr on postage and stationery in 2024 - 0.2% of the average budget . Up 18% vs 2023 ; the top income quintile outspends the bottom by 4.7×. Figures from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.
- 2024 avg
- $131
- Budget share
- 0.2%
- vs 2023
- +18.0%
CES spend plate
Line POSTAGE-AND-STATIO · Postage and stationery $131 · 0.2%
SHARE-TRACE · QUINT-WIDE · YOY-SURGE · REAL-EASE · REGION-NE · BOOK-LOWER
- SHARE-TRACE 0.2% of budget
- QUINT-WIDE 4.7× Q5/Q1
- YOY-SURGE +18.0% YoY
- REAL-EASE Below CPI
- REGION-NE Northeast leads
- BOOK-LOWER #89/99 dollars
Nearest dollar peer: Laundry and cleaning products (+$78)
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 Postage and stationery
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 · Postage and stationery
Average annual spending · 2024 · poles + near peers
this line
Spending Trend (2020–2024)
Postage and stationery spending per household, 2020–2024
National average annual spending
| Year | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $131 |
| 2023 | $111 |
| 2022 | $128 |
| 2021 | $111 |
| 2020 | $130 |
Income stretch on a smaller postage and stationery line
A smaller CES line: even the top quintile is $256/yr, with the bottom at $55 (4.7× gap).
| Income Group | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| Lowest 20% | $55 |
| Second 20% | $96 |
| Middle 20% | $105 |
| Fourth 20% | $144 |
| Highest 20% | $256 |
Northeast leads postage and stationery geographically
Northeast leads at $152/yr.
Lifecycle peak · 55–64
55–64 heads spend the most on this line at $156/yr - the lifecycle peak on a smaller book line.
Frequently Asked Questions (show 6)
How much does the average household spend on postage and stationery? ▼
Is postage and stationery spending increasing? ▼
How does income affect postage and stationery spending? ▼
Which region spends the most on postage and stationery? ▼
Which age group spends the most on postage and stationery? ▼
Does household size affect postage and stationery spending? ▼
Other smaller CES lines near postage and stationery
Dollar-amount and budget-share neighbours from BLS CE 2024 (this category excluded).
Similar dollar amount
Nearest other categories by 2024 average annual spending ($131 here).
| Category | 2024 avg |
|---|---|
| Fats and oils | $125 |
| Fuel oil and other fuels | $125 |
| Reading | $125 |
| Fresh milk and cream | $141 |
| Girls, 2 to 15 | $112 |
| Other meats | $150 |
| Household textiles | $107 |
| Small appliances and miscellaneous housewares | $155 |
Similar budget share
Nearest other categories by share of the household budget (0.2% here).
| Category | Budget share |
|---|---|
| Fats and oils | 0.2% |
| Fresh milk and cream | 0.2% |
| Fuel oil and other fuels | 0.2% |
| Other meats | 0.2% |
| Reading | 0.2% |
| Small appliances and miscellaneous housewares | 0.2% |
| Toys, hobbies, and playground equipment | 0.2% |
| Cereals and cereal products | 0.3% |
Average household budget · Methodology · BLS CEX source
Informational only - not advice. See disclaimer.