The following is a snapshot of how average consumers spend their annual income.
The numbers are based on a measure called “consumer units,” which can be a household, a financially independent individual, or multiple people living together and making joint spending decisions.
In an average consumer unit, there are 2.5 people, 0.6 children under 18, 0.3 persons 65 and over, 1.3 earners, and 1.9 vehicles. The average age of the primary wage earner in the unit is 49.4.
The average before tax income of the unit is $62,481 and annual expenses total $48,109.
Source: 2010 Consumer Expenditure Survey by U.S. Department of Labor.
