Consumer Expenditure Survey · BLS CE 2024
Water and other public services spending
U.S. households spent $826/yr on water and other public services in 2024 - 1.1% of the average budget . Up 5.9% vs 2023 ; the top income quintile outspends the bottom by 2.6×. Figures from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.
- 2024 avg
- $826
- Budget share
- 1.1%
- vs 2023
- +5.9%
CES spend plate
Line WATER-AND-OTHER-PU · Water and other public services $826 · 1.1%
SHARE-TRACE · QUINT-MOD · YOY-UP · REAL-INLINE · REGION-WEST · BOOK-MID
- SHARE-TRACE 1.1% of budget
- QUINT-MOD 2.6× Q5/Q1
- YOY-UP +5.9% YoY
- REAL-INLINE Near CPI
- REGION-WEST West leads
- BOOK-MID #50/99 dollars
Nearest dollar peer: Natural gas ($-333)
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 Water and other public services
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 · Water and other public services
Average annual spending · 2024 · poles + near peers
this line
Spending Trend (2020–2024)
Water and other public services spending per household, 2020–2024
National average annual spending
| Year | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $826 |
| 2023 | $780 |
| 2022 | $739 |
| 2021 | $695 |
| 2020 | $682 |
Income stretch · mid-book water and other public services
Mid-book CES line: income still stretches 2.6× from $474 (bottom quintile) to $1,236 (top).
| Income Group | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| Lowest 20% | $474 |
| Second 20% | $670 |
| Middle 20% | $803 |
| Fourth 20% | $945 |
| Highest 20% | $1,236 |
West leads water and other public services geographically
West leads at $1,080/yr.
Lifecycle peak · 45–54
45–54 heads spend the most on this line at $988/yr.
Frequently Asked Questions (show 6)
How much does the average household spend on water and other public services? ▼
Is water and other public services spending increasing? ▼
How does income affect water and other public services spending? ▼
Which region spends the most on water and other public services? ▼
Which age group spends the most on water and other public services? ▼
Does household size affect water and other public services spending? ▼
Nationwide peers near water and other public services
Dollar-amount and budget-share neighbours from BLS CE 2024 (this category excluded).
Similar dollar amount
Nearest other categories by 2024 average annual spending ($826 here).
| Category | 2024 avg |
|---|---|
| Vehicle rental, leases, licenses, and other charges | $811 |
| Cereals and bakery products | $779 |
| Housekeeping supplies | $877 |
| Pets | $880 |
| Women and girls | $744 |
| Fees and admissions | $935 |
| Nonalcoholic beverages | $714 |
| Fruits and vegetables | $953 |
Similar budget share
Nearest other categories by share of the household budget (1.1% here).
| Category | Budget share |
|---|---|
| Housekeeping supplies | 1.1% |
| Pets | 1.1% |
| Audio and visual equipment and services | 1.2% |
| Fees and admissions | 1.2% |
| Fruits and vegetables | 1.2% |
| Personal care products and services | 1.2% |
| Cereals and bakery products | 1.0% |
| Vehicle rental, leases, licenses, and other charges | 1.0% |
Average household budget · Methodology · BLS CEX source
Informational only - not advice. See disclaimer.