Sugar and other sweets Spending
How much American households spend on sugar and other sweets — 2024 data from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey
Spending Insight: Sugar and other sweets
American households spent an average of $230 on sugar and other sweets in 2024, representing 0.3% of total consumer expenditures. Spending declined 3.8% from 2023 ($239), indicating households may be cutting back or finding lower-cost alternatives.
Since 2020, sugar and other sweets spending has risen by 38.6% (from $166 to $230), substantially exceeding cumulative inflation over the same period — a real increase in household burden.
Income is the strongest predictor of sugar and other sweets spending: the top income quintile spends $347/year versus $148 for the lowest quintile — a 2.3x gap. Regionally, the West spends the most ($270/year) while the South spends the least ($206/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 | $230 |
| 2023 | $239 |
| 2022 | $197 |
| 2021 | $182 |
| 2020 | $166 |
By Income Level (2024)
How sugar and other sweets spending varies across income quintiles
| Income Group | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| Lowest 20% | $148 |
| Second 20% | $185 |
| Middle 20% | $217 |
| Fourth 20% | $252 |
| Highest 20% | $347 |
By Region (2024)
Geographic variation in sugar and other sweets spending
By Age Group (2024)
How sugar and other sweets spending changes across the lifecycle
By Household Size (2024)
| Size | Annual |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | $123 |
| 2 People | $276 |
| 3 People | $222 |
| 4 People | $282 |
| 5 or More | $338 |
By Housing Tenure (2024)
| Tenure | Annual |
|---|---|
| Homeowner (with mortgage) | $262 |
| Homeowner (no mortgage) | $278 |
| Renter | $236 |
Frequently Asked Questions
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Spending Guides
Related Spending Categories
Browse other major categories from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.
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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.
