Household spending · Consumer Expenditure Survey · BLS CE 2024
Utilities, fuels, and public services Spending
How much American households spend on utilities, fuels, and public services - broken down by income, age, region, household size and tenure, from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.
- Annual average (2024)
- $4,736
- Share of spending
- 6.0%
- Change vs 2023
- +2.4%
- Change vs 2020
- +13.9%
Spending Insight: Utilities, fuels, and public services
American households spent an average of $4,736 on utilities, fuels, and public services in 2024, representing 6.0% of total consumer expenditures. Year-over-year change was +2.4% (from $4,625 in 2023), roughly in line with broader consumer spending trends.
Since 2020, utilities, fuels, and public services spending has risen by 13.9% (from $4,158 to $4,736), rising slower than the roughly 21% cumulative inflation over the same period, a decline in real, inflation-adjusted terms. The category breaks into 5 subcategories, each with its own spending dynamic, drill into any row below to see the finer-grained picture.
Income is strongly associated with utilities, fuels, and public services spending: the top income quintile spends $6,607/year versus $2,934 for the lowest quintile, a 2.3x gap. Regionally, the Northeast spends the most ($5,085/year) while the Midwest spends the least ($4,376/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)
Utilities, fuels, and public services spending per household, 2020–2024
National average annual spending
| Year | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $4,736 |
| 2023 | $4,625 |
| 2022 | $4,549 |
| 2021 | $4,223 |
| 2020 | $4,158 |
How we calculate this: % of Total is this category's published spend divided by that year's total household spend. YoY Change is the percentage difference between a year's amount and the prior year's amount. Both are computed from the raw BLS figures, not re-estimated.
Subcategories
How the $4,736 utilities, fuels, and public services total divides across subcategories (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey 2024).
| Subcategory | Annual Amount (2024) |
|---|---|
| Natural gas | $493 |
| Electricity | $1,833 |
| Fuel oil and other fuels | $125 |
| Telephone services | $1,460 |
| Water and other public services | $826 |
By Income Level (2024)
How utilities, fuels, and public services spending varies across income quintiles
| Income Group | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| Lowest 20% | $2,934 |
| Second 20% | $4,065 |
| Middle 20% | $4,635 |
| Fourth 20% | $5,431 |
| Highest 20% | $6,607 |
By Region (2024)
Geographic variation in utilities, fuels, and public services spending
By Age Group (2024)
How utilities, fuels, and public services spending changes across the lifecycle
By Household Size (2024)
| Size | Annual |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | $2,978 |
| 2 People | $5,493 |
| 3 People | $4,837 |
| 4 People | $5,573 |
| 5 or More | $6,180 |
By Housing Tenure (2024)
| Tenure | Annual |
|---|---|
| Homeowner (with mortgage) | $5,649 |
| Homeowner (no mortgage) | $5,983 |
| Renter | $5,208 |
What to do with this data
The average U.S. household spends $4,736 a year on utilities, fuels, and public services - here's how to put that in context.
- Compare your own spending against the national income quintiles. Budget calculator
- See how utilities, fuels, and public services spending shifts across income levels, ages, and regions. By income
- Track this category in your private watchlist to revisit as the data updates. Save categories
Figures are national averages from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey; your own household may differ from these means.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the average household spend on utilities, fuels, and public services? ▼
Is utilities, fuels, and public services spending increasing? ▼
How does income affect utilities, fuels, and public services spending? ▼
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Does household size affect utilities, fuels, and public services spending? ▼
Spending Guides (show related guides)
Related Spending Categories
Browse other major categories from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.
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.
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Free to reuse, including commercially, under CC0 (the underlying BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey data is public domain). A link back is appreciated.
