Department of Labor Consumer Spending Chart

click to enlarge

Predictably, housing is the main expense, following by transportation, food, and insurance/pensions. How much does the average American spend on reading? Just $118 a year.

Comments

[Jiang Nan:]

At 34.1%, how come the big drop in house prices did not translate to a bigger fall in CPI?

Aug 20 08:25 AM

[Donald Ingram:]

Stands to reason $118 a year on reading - Education? Just $945 per year, yet spend $1,000's on eating out! Go figure.

Aug 20 12:18 PM

[Ali Mogharabi:]

no matter how much home prices fall, owners still have to pay the same based on the price at which they bought the house. although many have refi'd, the fall in rates hasn't made up for it. also, overall income is prob down too as either the husband or wife got laid off. avg household salary or income is supposedly around $63k. avg per peron is between $30k and $40k. transportation is driven by oil as its still way above where it should be compared to the state of the economy ... of course, as always, consumers end up paying for this.

yes, the figure for reading is very low, but then again many now read online. I'm wondering how much alcohol expenditure has gone up during this recession as % of income.


On Aug 20 08:25 AM Jiang Nan wrote:

> At 34.1%, how come the big drop in house prices did not translate
> to a bigger fall in CPI?

Aug 20 01:42 PM

[The Geoffster:]

Does TV Guide count as reading?

Aug 20 07:32 PM