The average US household spent $78,535 in 2024, or about $6,545 a month, with housing taking 33.4%, transportation 17.0%, and food 12.9%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices have climbed since: consumer prices rose 3.7% in the 12 months to September 2026, with gasoline up 34.2% and energy up 20.4%.
Household Expenses in America 2026 – Introduction
Household expenses in the US come from two federal sources that answer different questions. The Consumer Expenditure Survey shows what families spend, and the latest full year is 2024. The Consumer Price Index shows how much prices changed, and its newest reading, for September 2026, came out on October 14. Put together, they show a household budget that grew 1.8% in 2024 and then ran into a 2026 energy shock that pushed inflation to 4.2% in May and 3.7% in September.
This report joins the two. It starts with the average budget and the gap between income groups, then covers food, housing, utilities, and transportation, and ends with the 2026 price trend. Dollar figures are 2024 survey averages. Percent changes are 12-month price changes through September 2026. Where this report combines them, it says so, because spending and price data cover different periods.
Interesting Facts about Household Expenses in the US
AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD SPENDING BY CATEGORY, 2024 ($)
HOUSING ████████████████████████████████████████ 26,266
TRANSPORTATION ████████████████████ 13,318
FOOD ███████████████ 10,169
HEALTHCARE █████████ 6,197
ENTERTAINMENT █████ 3,609
| Fact | Latest Data |
|---|---|
| Average annual household spending (2024) | $78,535 |
| Average income before taxes (2024) | $104,207 |
| Average monthly spending (our division by 12) | About $6,545 |
| Housing share of spending | 33.4% ($26,266) |
| Transportation share | 17.0% ($13,318) |
| Food share | 12.9% ($10,169) |
| Consumer prices, 12 months to September 2026 | +3.7% |
| Gasoline prices, 12 months to September 2026 | +34.2% |
| Energy prices, 12 months to September 2026 | +20.4% |
Spending took about 75% of average income in 2024, a share we calculated from $78,535 of spending against $104,207 of income. Spending rose 1.8% that year, a slowdown from 5.7% in 2023. Housing grew fastest at 3.3%, while healthcare barely moved at 0.6%. Housing and transportation together take 50.4% of the average budget, which is why a shock to either one reaches nearly every household.
The 2024 survey is the latest full-year spending data available. BLS publishes calendar-year tables once a year in the fall, and the 2024 release arrived on December 19, 2025. The 2026 energy spike therefore does not appear in the dollar averages yet. It appears in the price index, which showed headline inflation of 3.7% in September, up from 3.4% in August, and a 0.6% rise in the month alone.
Average Household Spending in the US in 2026
SHARE OF AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD SPENDING, 2024 (%)
HOUSING ████████████████████████████████████████ 33.4
TRANSPORTATION ████████████████████ 17.0
FOOD ███████████████ 12.9
PERSONAL INSURANCE/PENSION ███████████████ 12.5
HEALTHCARE █████████ 7.9
ENTERTAINMENT █████ 4.6
APPAREL ███ 2.5
| Category | Share of Spending | Annual Dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | 33.4% | $26,266 |
| Transportation | 17.0% | $13,318 |
| Food | 12.9% | $10,169 |
| Personal insurance and pensions | 12.5% | Not shown |
| Healthcare | 7.9% | $6,197 |
| Entertainment | 4.6% | $3,609 |
| Apparel and services | 2.5% | $2,001 |
| All consumer units | 100.0% | $78,535 |
Data Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Surveys, Consumer Expenditures in 2024 (released December 19, 2025)
Housing, transportation, and food account for 63.3% of the average budget, about $49,753 a year. Housing costs $2,189 a month and transportation $1,110, and both are far larger than any other item. Healthcare comes in at $6,197, entertainment at $3,609, and apparel at $2,001. Personal insurance and pensions, mostly Social Security taxes and retirement contributions, take 12.5%.
The averages cover about 135 million consumer units, a term BLS uses for families, single people, and people who share major expenses. An average hides the spread, so the next table splits spending by income. Total spending rose from $72,973 in 2022 to $78,535 in 2024, a gain of 7.6% by our calculation, so the budget grew more slowly than prices did over the same stretch.
Household Spending by Income Level in 2026
AVERAGE ANNUAL SPENDING BY INCOME QUINTILE, 2024 ($)
LOWEST 20% ████████████ 35,046
SECOND 20% █████████████████ 50,054
MIDDLE 20% ██████████████████████ 66,900
FOURTH 20% ██████████████████████████████ 89,972
HIGHEST 20% ████████████████████████████████████████████████████ 150,342
| Income Group | Average Annual Spending |
|---|---|
| Lowest 20% | $35,046 |
| Second 20% | $50,054 |
| Middle 20% | $66,900 |
| Fourth 20% | $89,972 |
| Highest 20% | $150,342 |
| All households | $78,535 |
| Top-to-bottom ratio (our calculation) | 4.3 to 1 |
Data Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Surveys, 2024
Households in the top fifth spent $150,342 a year, 4.3 times the $35,046 spent by the bottom fifth. The middle group spent $66,900, about 15% below the national average of $78,535. The national average sits above the middle quintile because high spenders pull the mean upward. Each step up the ladder adds between $15,000 and $60,000 in annual spending.
Percentages matter more than dollars for lower earners. A price shock in a necessity hits the bottom quintile hardest, because housing, food, and fuel take a larger share of a smaller budget. BLS found the largest dollar increase in 2024 in the fourth quintile, at $2,123, most of it housing. For low-income families, the practical question in 2026 is whether energy and food prices outrun their income. The CPI data below covers that.
Household Food Spending in the US in 2026
FOOD PRICE CHANGES, 12 MONTHS TO SEPTEMBER 2026 (%)
FOOD AWAY FROM HOME ████████████████████████████████████████ 3.5
FOOD OVERALL ████████████████████████████ 2.5
FOOD AT HOME ████████████████████ 1.8
EGGS (down) -20.6
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Average food spending (2024) | $10,169 ($847 a month; 12.9%) |
| Food at home (2024) | $6,224 (7.9%) |
| Food away from home (2024) | $3,945 (5.0%) |
| Food prices, 12 months to Sept. 2026 | +2.5% |
| Food at home prices | +1.8% |
| Food away from home prices | +3.5% (full-service meals +3.8%) |
| Beef and ground beef | +3.5% and +5.4% |
| Coffee | +7.1% |
| Eggs | -20.6% |
Data Source: BLS Consumer Expenditure Surveys 2024; BLS Consumer Price Index, September 2026 (released October 14, 2026)
Households spent $6,224 on groceries and $3,945 on food away from home in 2024, which includes restaurants, delivery, and takeout. Food prices have risen more slowly than the overall index since. Grocery prices are up 1.8% over the year, the slowest pace in the food group, and they fell 0.1% in September. Restaurant and takeout prices rose 3.5%, so eating out costs more each month while groceries stay close to flat.
The item-level moves are large. Eggs are down 20.6% from a year ago, dairy is down 0.7%, and butter is down 10.3%. Coffee is up 7.1%, ground beef up 5.4%, and fruits and vegetables up 3.7%. Roughly speaking, a household spending $6,224 a year on groceries would add about $112 at the 1.8% pace. That is our illustration, because it applies a 2026 price change to a 2024 spending base.
Household Housing Costs in the US in 2026
HOUSING PRICE CHANGES, 12 MONTHS TO SEPTEMBER 2026 (%)
OWNERS' EQUIVALENT RENT ████████████████████████████████████████ 3.3
SHELTER OVERALL ██████████████████████████████████████ 3.2
RENT ██████████████████████████████████ 2.8
HOUSEHOLD FURNISHINGS ██ 0.2
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Average housing spending (2024) | $26,266, or $2,189 a month |
| Housing spending growth (2024) | +3.3% (owned dwellings +7.0%, rented +5.4%) |
| Shelter prices, 12 months to Sept. 2026 | +3.2% |
| Owners’ equivalent rent | +3.3% |
| Rent of primary residence | +2.8% |
| Lodging away from home | +4.4% |
| Housing weight in the CPI basket | 44.1% |
| Housing share of the spending survey | 33.4% |
Data Source: BLS Consumer Expenditure Surveys 2024; BLS Consumer Price Index, September 2026
Housing takes one dollar in three. Spending on owned homes climbed 7.0% in 2024 and spending on rented homes 5.4%, both well above the 1.8% growth in total spending. Shelter prices in the CPI are rising at 3.2% a year, with owners’ equivalent rent at 3.3% and market rents at 2.8%. The CPI gives housing a 44.1% weight, while the spending survey shows 33.4%, because the two surveys measure different groups and treat shelter differently.
Housing inflation moves slowly but compounds. A 3.3% rise on $26,266 adds about $870 a year, a figure we calculated on the 2024 base. The monthly cost of ownership also depends on mortgage rates and financing, which the CPI does not capture directly. For the payment side of buying a home, see our Average Mortgage Payment Statistics in US report, which compares mortgage and rent payments.
Household Utilities and Energy Costs in the US in 2026
UTILITY AND ENERGY PRICE CHANGES, 12 MONTHS TO SEPTEMBER 2026 (%)
FUEL OIL ████████████████████████████████████████ 74.2
UTILITY GAS ███ 5.0
WATER, SEWER, TRASH ███ 4.8
ELECTRICITY ██ 4.4
WIRELESS PHONE ██ 3.2
INTERNET ▏ 0.2
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Utilities, fuels, and public services (2024) | $4,736 (up from $4,625) |
| Telephone services (2024) | $1,460 |
| Water and other public services (2024) | $826 |
| Fuel oil and other fuels (2024) | $125 |
| Electricity and natural gas combined (our subtraction) | About $2,325 |
| Electricity prices, 12 months to Sept. 2026 | +4.4% |
| Utility (piped) natural gas | +5.0% |
| Fuel oil | +74.2% |
| Household energy overall | +6.2% |
Data Source: BLS Consumer Expenditure Surveys 2024; BLS Consumer Price Index, September 2026
Utilities cost the average household $4,736 in 2024, up about 2.4% from $4,625. Telephone service accounts for $1,460 of that and water for $826. Subtracting those and the $125 for fuel oil leaves about $2,325 for electricity and natural gas combined, which is our arithmetic and not a BLS line. Electricity prices are up 4.4% over the year and piped natural gas 5.0%, so a household that spent about $2,325 would add roughly $105 to $115 on that base.
Fuel oil dominates the percentage headlines but not the household average. Its price is up 74.2%, yet the 2024 survey shows only $125 of spending per household because few homes burn it. Families that do heat with oil face a far larger jump. Internet prices barely moved at 0.2%, and water, sewer, and trash rose 4.8%, with garbage collection up 5.2%. Utility costs vary by region, so use local bills as the best guide.
Household Transportation Costs in the US in 2026
TRANSPORTATION PRICE CHANGES, 12 MONTHS TO SEPTEMBER 2026 (%)
GASOLINE ████████████████████████████████████████ 34.2
AIRLINE FARES ██████████████████████████ 22.4
PUBLIC TRANSPORT ██████████████████ 15.6
VEHICLE REPAIR ███████ 5.8
NEW VEHICLES █ 0.6
USED VEHICLES (down) -1.5
VEHICLE INSURANCE (down) -5.0
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Average transportation spending (2024) | $13,318, or $1,110 a month (17.0%) |
| Public and other transportation (2024) | $1,131 |
| Gasoline and other fuels (2024 share) | 3.4% of spending, about $2,670 |
| Transportation prices, 12 months to Sept. 2026 | +7.9% |
| Gasoline prices | +34.2% (+9.1% in September alone, seasonally adjusted) |
| New vehicles and used vehicles | +0.6% and -1.5% |
| Motor vehicle insurance | -5.0% |
| Motor vehicle maintenance and repair | +5.8% |
Data Source: BLS Consumer Expenditure Surveys 2024; BLS Consumer Price Index, September 2026
Transportation is the category with the sharpest 2026 shock. Gasoline prices are up 34.2% over the year and jumped 9.1% in September alone, which accounted for more than half of the month’s inflation. On the 2024 base of about $2,670 a year for fuel, a 34.2% increase would add roughly $913 a year for the same gallons. That is our illustration, and it ignores any price change between 2024 and September 2025. Transportation prices overall are up 7.9%, and airline fares 22.4%.
Not everything is rising. New vehicle prices are up only 0.6%, used vehicles are down 1.5%, and car insurance is down 5.0%, which helps offset fuel. Repair and maintenance rose 5.8%. Drivers face the biggest increase at the pump, and gas prices vary widely by state. See our Average Gas Prices by State in US report for the state-by-state picture.
Household Cost Trends and Inflation in the US in 2026
CONSUMER PRICE INFLATION, 12-MONTH CHANGE, 2026 (%)
JANUARY ████████████████████████ 2.4
MARCH █████████████████████████████████ 3.3
MAY ██████████████████████████████████████████ 4.2
JULY ██████████████████████████████████ 3.4
SEPTEMBER █████████████████████████████████████ 3.7
| Measure (12 Months to Sept. 2026) | Change |
|---|---|
| All items | +3.7% (3.4% in August; 4.2% in May) |
| All items except food and energy (core) | +2.6% |
| Energy | +20.4% |
| Food | +2.5% |
| Services | +3.1% |
| Commodities (goods) | +4.6% |
| Northeast and Midwest | +4.2% each |
| South and West | +3.4% each |
Data Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index, September 2026 (released October 14, 2026)
Inflation fell to 2.4% in January, jumped to 3.3% in March as energy prices spiked, peaked at 4.2% in May, and eased to 3.4% by July. It rose again to 3.7% in September, when gasoline surged. Core inflation, which strips out food and energy, is only 2.6%, so the shock is concentrated in fuel. Energy is up 20.4% and goods up 4.6%, while services are up 3.1%.
The regional gap is wide. The Northeast and Midwest are running at 4.2%, while the South and West are at 3.4%. If every category rose at the headline 3.7% pace, the $78,535 average budget would grow by about $2,900 a year, our illustration. In practice, households that drive more or heat with oil will pay more, and families with little energy exposure will pay less. For how inflation compares around the world, see our Global CPI Statistics report. The next CPI release is scheduled for November 10, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average household spending in the US in 2026?
The latest full-year data is for 2024, when the average household spent $78,535, or about $6,545 a month, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Spending data for 2025 is due later this fall.
What is the biggest household expense?
Housing, at $26,266 a year, or 33.4% of the average budget. Transportation is second at $13,318 (17.0%) and food third at $10,169 (12.9%).
How much does the average household spend on food?
The average household spent $10,169 on food in 2024, including $6,224 on groceries and $3,945 on food away from home.
How much do Americans spend on utilities?
Utilities, fuels, and public services averaged $4,736 in 2024, including $1,460 for telephone service and $826 for water and other public services.
How much has inflation risen in 2026?
Consumer prices rose 3.7% in the 12 months to September 2026, after peaking at 4.2% in May. Core inflation, excluding food and energy, is 2.6%.
How much have gas prices risen?
The gasoline index is up 34.2% over the 12 months to September 2026 and rose 9.1% in September alone, according to the Consumer Price Index.
Are grocery prices going up in 2026?
Slowly. Food at home prices are up 1.8% over the year, and eggs are down 20.6%. Food away from home is up 3.5%.
What do low-income households spend?
The lowest-income fifth of households spent $35,046 in 2024, compared with $150,342 for the highest fifth, about 4.3 times as much.
Why do CPI and spending survey percentages differ?
The Consumer Price Index gives housing a 44.1% weight, while the Consumer Expenditure Survey shows 33.4%, because the two surveys measure different populations and treat shelter differently.
Disclaimer: The data research report we present here is based on information found from various sources. We are not liable for any financial loss, errors, or damages of any kind that may result from the use of the information herein. We acknowledge that though we try to report accurately, we cannot verify the absolute facts of everything that has been represented.
