Consumer Expenditure Survey · BLS CE 2024

Women, 16 and over spending

U.S. households spent $632/yr on women, 16 and over in 2024 - 0.8% of the average budget . Down 3.5% vs 2023 ; the top income quintile outspends the bottom by 3.4×. Figures from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.

2024 avg
$632
Budget share
0.8%
vs 2023
-3.5%

CES spend plate

Line WOMEN-16-AND-OVER · Women, 16 and over $632 · 0.8%

SHARE-TRACE · QUINT-WIDE · YOY-DOWN · REAL-BURDEN · REGION-NE · BOOK-MID

  • SHARE-TRACE 0.8% of budget
  • QUINT-WIDE 3.4× Q5/Q1
  • YOY-DOWN -3.5% YoY
  • REAL-BURDEN Above CPI
  • REGION-NE Northeast leads
  • BOOK-MID #59/99 dollars

Nearest dollar peer: Girls, 2 to 15 ($-520)

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 Women, 16 and over

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 · Women, 16 and over

Average annual spending · 2024 · poles + near peers

Source: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey As of 2024-12-31

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Spending Trend (2020–2024)

Women, 16 and over spending per household, 2020–2024

National average annual spending

Source: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey As of 2024-12-31

$400$450$500$550$600$650$700 20202021202220232024 $632
Year Annual Amount
2024 $632
2023 $655
2022 $644
2021 $549
2020 $456

Income stretch · mid-book women, 16 and over

Mid-book CES line: income still stretches 3.4× from $355 (bottom quintile) to $1,206 (top).

Income Group Annual Amount
Lowest 20% $355
Second 20% $434
Middle 20% $518
Fourth 20% $646
Highest 20% $1,206

See full income breakdown →

Northeast leads women, 16 and over geographically

Northeast leads at $749/yr.

Region Annual Amount
Midwest $654
Northeast $749
South $544
West $674

See full regional breakdown →

Lifecycle peak · 45–54

45–54 heads spend the most on this line at $783/yr.

Age Group Annual Amount
25–34 $622
35–44 $721
45–54 $783
55–64 $681
65–74 $562
75 and older $400
Under 25 $421

See full age breakdown →

Frequently Asked Questions (show 6)
How much does the average household spend on women, 16 and over?
The average American household spent $632 on women, 16 and over in 2024, according to the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. This represents 0.8% of total household spending.
Is women, 16 and over spending increasing?
Women, 16 and over spending decreased by 3.5% from 2023 to 2024 ($655 to $632). Over 5 years (2020–2024), it changed by +38.6%.
How does income affect women, 16 and over spending?
The lowest income quintile spends $355/year on women, 16 and over, while the highest quintile spends $1,206/year, a 3.4x difference. Higher-income households spend more in absolute terms but may allocate a smaller share of their budget.
Which region spends the most on women, 16 and over?
The Northeast region spends the most at $749/year, while the South region spends the least at $544/year on women, 16 and over.
Which age group spends the most on women, 16 and over?
Households headed by someone in the 45–54 age group spend the most on women, 16 and over at $783/year.
Does household size affect women, 16 and over spending?
Yes. 1 Person households spend $397/year on women, 16 and over, while 5 or More households spend $849/year. Larger households generally spend more in absolute terms on most categories.

Nationwide peers near women, 16 and over

Dollar-amount and budget-share neighbours from BLS CE 2024 (this category excluded).

Similar dollar amount

Nearest other categories by 2024 average annual spending ($632 here).

Category 2024 avg
Dairy products $631
Other entertainment supplies, equipment, and services $640
Alcoholic beverages $643
Furniture $648
Drugs $658
Life and other personal insurance $575
Nonalcoholic beverages $714
Personal services $547

Similar budget share

Nearest other categories by share of the household budget (0.8% here).

Category Budget share
Alcoholic beverages 0.8%
Dairy products 0.8%
Drugs 0.8%
Furniture 0.8%
Other entertainment supplies, equipment, and services 0.8%
Nonalcoholic beverages 0.9%
Women and girls 0.9%
Bakery products 0.7%

Average household budget · Methodology · BLS CEX source

Informational only - not advice. See disclaimer.

Every figure on PlainHousehold is rendered directly from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.