Utilities, fuels, and public services Spending
How much American households spend on utilities, fuels, and public services — 2024 data from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey
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), broadly tracking with inflation-adjusted cost changes. 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 the strongest predictor of 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)
| Year | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $4,736 |
| 2023 | $4,625 |
| 2022 | $4,549 |
| 2021 | $4,223 |
| 2020 | $4,158 |
Subcategories
| 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 |
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? ▼
Which region spends the most on utilities, fuels, and public services? ▼
Which age group spends the most on utilities, fuels, and public services? ▼
Does household size affect utilities, fuels, and public services spending? ▼
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.
