Women, 16 and over Spending

How much American households spend on women, 16 and over — 2024 data from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey

Annual average (2024)
$632
Share of total spending
0.8%
Change vs 2023
-3.5%
Change vs 2020
+38.6%

Spending Insight: Women, 16 and over

American households spent an average of $632 on women, 16 and over in 2024, representing 0.8% of total consumer expenditures. Spending declined 3.5% from 2023 ($655), indicating households may be cutting back or finding lower-cost alternatives.

Since 2020, women, 16 and over spending has risen by 38.6% (from $456 to $632), substantially exceeding cumulative inflation over the same period — a real increase in household burden.

Income is the strongest predictor of women, 16 and over spending: the top income quintile spends $1,206/year versus $355 for the lowest quintile — a 3.4x gap. Regionally, the Northeast spends the most ($749/year) while the South spends the least ($544/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 $632
2023 $655
2022 $644
2021 $549
2020 $456

By Income Level (2024)

How women, 16 and over spending varies across income quintiles

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

See full income breakdown →

By Region (2024)

Geographic variation in women, 16 and over spending

Midwest
$654
0.9%
Northeast
$749
0.9%
South
$544
0.8%
West
$674
0.7%

See full regional breakdown →

By Age Group (2024)

How women, 16 and over spending changes across the lifecycle

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 →

By Household Size (2024)

Size Annual
1 Person $397
2 People $733
3 People $707
4 People $746
5 or More $701

By Housing Tenure (2024)

Tenure Annual
Homeowner (with mortgage) $722
Homeowner (no mortgage) $797
Renter $601

Frequently Asked Questions

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 4 People households spend $746/year. Larger households generally spend more in absolute terms on most categories.

Spending Guides

Average Household Budget
How the typical American household allocates spending
Housing Costs by Income
How shelter spending varies across income quintiles
Food Spending Breakdown
Groceries vs dining out and who spends what
Healthcare Spending by Age
How medical costs rise across the lifecycle
Transportation Costs
Vehicle ownership, fuel, and transit spending

Related Spending Categories

Browse other major categories from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.

Category
Food
$10,169/yr avg
Category
Alcoholic beverages
$643/yr avg
Category
Housing
$26,266/yr avg
Category
Apparel and services
$2,001/yr avg
Category
Transportation
$13,318/yr avg

Related Economic Data

Cost of Living by Metro → Fair Market Rents → Salary Data by Occupation → ZIP Code Demographics →
Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey (BLS CEX). BLS CEX homepage. Data represents average annual expenditures per consumer unit. 2024 data released 2025. See our methodology for processing details.

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.