Older Citizens Spend Less Money Overall and Less on Taxable Items

Age

Under 25

25 to 34

35 to 44

45 to 54

55 to 64

65 and older

Average Annual Expenditures

$21,246

$32,618

$38,336

$41,533

$33,459

$24,081

     Food at home

8.2%

7.6%

8.4%

7.6%

7.6%

8.9%

     Food away from home

7.3%

6.1%

5.9%

5.5%

5.2%

4.5%

     Alcoholic beverages

1.3%

0.8%

0.7%

0.7%

0.8%

0.6%

     Housing

31.3%

32.9%

30.9%

29.7%

30.3%

32.2%

     Apparel

6.0%

5.4%

5.3%

4.9%

3.9%

3.6%

     Transportation

24.8%

21.8%

20.8%

20.1%

19.1%

17.6%

     Health Care

2.6%

3.7%

4.5%

5.5%

7.2%

12.2%

     Entertainment

4.8%

4.9%

4.8%

4.5%

5.2%

4.3%

     Other Expenditures

13.7%

16.7%

18.8%

21.4%

20.6%

16.0%

Note: Other Expenditures includes Personal care products and services; Reading; Education; Tobacco products; Miscellaneous; Cash contributions; Life, endowment, annuities, and other personal insurance; and Retirement, pensions, and Social Security.
Source: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, South, by Age Group, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 1998-1999.