Reading Spending

How much American households spend on reading — 2024 data from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey

Annual average (2024)
$125
Share of total spending
0.2%
Change vs 2023
+6.8%
Change vs 2020
+9.6%

Spending Insight: Reading

American households spent an average of $125 on reading in 2024, representing 0.2% of total consumer expenditures. This marks a notable 6.8% increase from 2023 ($117), outpacing general inflation and suggesting growing consumer prioritization of this category.

Since 2020, reading spending has risen by 9.6% (from $114 to $125), broadly tracking with inflation-adjusted cost changes.

Income is the strongest predictor of reading spending: the top income quintile spends $300/year versus $47 for the lowest quintile — a 6.4x gap. Regionally, the Northeast spends the most ($191/year) while the South spends the least ($92/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 $125
2023 $117
2022 $117
2021 $114
2020 $114

By Income Level (2024)

How reading spending varies across income quintiles

Income Group Annual Amount
Lowest 20% $47
Second 20% $75
Middle 20% $82
Fourth 20% $122
Highest 20% $300

See full income breakdown →

By Region (2024)

Geographic variation in reading spending

Midwest
$98
0.1%
Northeast
$191
0.2%
South
$92
0.1%
West
$158
0.2%

See full regional breakdown →

By Age Group (2024)

How reading spending changes across the lifecycle

Age Group Annual Amount
25–34 $93
35–44 $141
45–54 $183
55–64 $103
65–74 $117
75 and older $124
Under 25 $92

See full age breakdown →

By Household Size (2024)

Size Annual
1 Person $75
2 People $147
3 People $133
4 People $179
5 or More $144

By Housing Tenure (2024)

Tenure Annual
Homeowner (with mortgage) $153
Homeowner (no mortgage) $174
Renter $127

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the average household spend on reading? ▼
The average American household spent $125 on reading in 2024, according to the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. This represents 0.2% of total household spending.
Is reading spending increasing? ▼
Reading spending increased by 6.8% from 2023 to 2024 ($117 to $125). Over 5 years (2020–2024), it changed by +9.6%.
How does income affect reading spending? ▼
The lowest income quintile spends $47/year on reading, while the highest quintile spends $300/year — a 6.4x difference. Higher-income households spend more in absolute terms but may allocate a smaller share of their budget.
Which region spends the most on reading? ▼
The Northeast region spends the most at $191/year, while the South region spends the least at $92/year on reading.
Which age group spends the most on reading? ▼
Households headed by someone in the 45–54 age group spend the most on reading at $183/year.
Does household size affect reading spending? ▼
Yes. 1 Person households spend $75/year on reading, while 4 People households spend $179/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
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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.