Growth in US household spending by income level: 6.1% (highest-income fifth). Spending grew 8.2% for the lowest-income fifth of households and 6.1% for the highest between 2024 and 2025, against consumer price inflation of 2.6%.
Data last updated · Period: 2024–2025
Understanding the chart
The bar chart above shows growth in US household spending by income level, with one bar for each of the 5 figures. Each bar is labelled with its exact value, and values are change in spending, in %. The longest bar is the highest. The bars are, in order: Lowest fifth at 8.2%; Second fifth at 2.7%; Middle fifth at 3.1%; Fourth fifth at 2.5%; Highest fifth at 6.1%. The data table below the chart lists every value, and you can download the data, embed the chart or share it from the buttons above. The figures cover 2024–2025 and come from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditures—2025 (news release USDL-26-1619, 29 October 2026), tables 1 to 3.
Analysis
Lowest fifth (8.2%) is 5.5 percentage points above Second fifth (2.7%). Lowest fifth (8.2%) is 5.1 percentage points above Middle fifth (3.1%). Lowest fifth (8.2%) is 5.7 percentage points above Fourth fifth (2.5%). Lowest fifth (8.2%) is 2.1 percentage points above Highest fifth (6.1%). Across the 5 bars, the highest is Lowest fifth and the lowest is Fourth fifth.
What it means
For businesses, average household spending sets the size of the prize: multiplied by the number of households in a town or region, it gives a first estimate of the local market. Spending that is growing faster than prices points to rising demand, while spending that lags inflation means customers are buying less in real terms and competing businesses fight harder for each dollar. Higher-income households spend far more in absolute terms, so who your customers are matters as much as the national average.
Related figures
- US household spending and income by income level, 2025: $159,512 (spending a year, highest-income fifth). The highest-income fifth of US households spent $159,512 in 2025, 4.2 times the lowest fifth ($37,935).
- US household spending, income and inflation, yearly change 2022–2025: 2.6% (inflation, 2024 to 2025). In 2025, average household spending rose 4.3% and income before taxes 6.4%, while consumer prices rose 2.6%, so spending grew faster than prices.
About this statistic
These figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Expenditure Survey (CE), the main official source on what American households buy. It combines two surveys run by the Census Bureau for BLS: a quarterly interview survey of large and regular purchases and a two-week diary of small, frequent purchases. Results are averages per consumer unit, which is close to a household: about 138 million in 2025, with 2.4 people on average.
Spending is out of pocket, so it excludes things paid for by employers or government, such as employer health premiums. Because of the 2025 lapse in federal appropriations, the survey could not be collected in October and November 2025, and BLS adjusted the survey weights to cover the gap. Year-to-year changes in small categories can reflect sampling, which is why BLS tests them for statistical significance.
Questions and answers
What is the growth in US household spending by income level?
6.1% (highest-income fifth). Spending grew 8.2% for the lowest-income fifth of households and 6.1% for the highest between 2024 and 2025, against consumer price inflation of 2.6%.
Where does this data come from?
From U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditures—2025 (news release USDL-26-1619, 29 October 2026), tables 1 to 3, covering 2024–2025. Nominal change; each year’s fifths are formed separately, so households move between groups. Because of the 2025 lapse in federal appropriations, the Census Bureau could not collect the survey in October and November 2025; BLS adjusted the survey weights to account for the missing months.
How this page was made
Generated by Advanton from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditures—2025 (2024–2025), data updated 10 November 2026: chart, ranks, comparisons and text are computed from the published figures; no figures are changed. Our methodology.
Data
| Income fifth | Change in spending (%) |
|---|---|
| Lowest fifth | 8.2% |
| Second fifth | 2.7% |
| Middle fifth | 3.1% |
| Fourth fifth | 2.5% |
| Highest fifth | 6.1% |
Source and notes
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditures—2025 (news release USDL-26-1619, 29 October 2026), tables 1 to 3. Period: 2024–2025. Coverage: United States.
Nominal change; each year’s fifths are formed separately, so households move between groups. Because of the 2025 lapse in federal appropriations, the Census Bureau could not collect the survey in October and November 2025; BLS adjusted the survey weights to account for the missing months.
Cite this statistic
Formats, embedding and reuse: how to cite Advanton.
Please also credit the original source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditures—2025 (news release USDL-26-1619, 29 October 2026), tables 1 to 3.Related statistics
- US household spending and income by income level, 2025
- US household spending, income and inflation, yearly change 2022–2025
- US household spending on cereals and bakery products, 2021–2025
- US household spending on dairy products, 2021–2025
- US household spending on other food at home, 2021–2025
- US household spending on other lodging (hotels, second homes, college housing), 2021–2025
- US household spending on gasoline and other fuels, 2021–2025
- US household spending on entertainment, 2021–2025
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