Household Spending by Age: 2012

Households in all but one age group spent more in 2012 than in 2011, according to the Consumer Expenditure Survey. Spending gains were greatest for householders aged 45 to 54 (up 4.8 percent), after adjusting for inflation. This gain was much bigger than the 1.4 percent increase for the average household. Householders aged 35 to 44 were the only ones to experience an ongoing spending decline—another 0.7 percent drop in average annual household spending between 2011 and 2012.

Although average annual household spending increased between 2011 and 2012, it remains 6.7 percent below the $55,119 peak of 2006, after adjusting for inflation. Only one age group made gains between 2006 and 2012: householders aged 65 or older boosted their spending by 1.2 percent during those years. In contrast, householders aged 35 to 44 cut their spending by a substantial 11.3 percent between 2006 and 2012.

Household spending by age of householder, 2012 
(and percent change since peak year of 2006; in 2012 dollars)
Average household: $51,442 (-6.7%)
Under age 25: $31,411 (-2.1%)
Aged 25 to 34: $49,544 (-8.6%)
Aged 35 to 44: $58,069 (-11.3%)
Aged 45 to 54: $62,103 (-5.3%)
Aged 55 to 64: $55,636 (-3.8%)
Aged 65-plus: $40,410 (+1.2%)

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012 Consumer Expenditure Survey