Life Expectancy in 2013: 78.8 Years

In 2013, life expectancy at birth in the United States was 78.8 years--unchanged from 2012, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. At age 65, life expectancy was 19.3 years, also unchanged from 2012.

Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Mortality in the United States, 2013

States with Highest Domestic Migration Rates, 2013-14

Here are the 10 states with the highest rates of net domestic migration (meaning more U.S. residents are moving into the state than out of the state per 1,000 population) between July 1, 2013 and June 30, 2014...

1. North Dakota

2. Nevada

3. South Carolina

4. Colorado

5. Florida

6. Arizona

7. Texas

8. Oregon

9. Delaware

10. Idaho

Will the decline in the price of oil and the loss of oil field jobs topple North Dakota from its number-one position on this list? Stay tuned.

Source: Census Bureau, State Totals: Vintage 2014

Most and Least Depressed

People most and least likely to report moderate to severe depression symptoms in past two weeks...

Most depressed: Women aged 40 to 59 (12.3%)
Least depressed: Men aged 60 or older (3.4%)

Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Depression in the U.S. Household Population, 2009-2012

Household Income Stable in November 2014

Median household income in November stood at $53,880, according to Sentier Research. Although this was $305 more than the October 2014 median, the difference was not statistically significant, after adjusting for inflation. The November 2014 median was 1.9 percent higher than the November 2013 median, however, and 4.3 percent more than the $51,652 of August 2011—the low point in Sentier's household income series. 

"Our time series charts clearly illustrate that although the economic recovery officially began in June 2009, the recovery in household income did not begin to emerge until after August 2011," explains Sentier's Gordon Green. "While many of the month-to-month changes in median income since the low-point in August 2011 have not been statistically significant, an overall upward trend is still clearly evident," he states. Sentier's median household income estimates are derived from the Census Bureau's monthly Current Population Survey. 
  
Median household income in November 2014 was 2.8 percent below the median of June 2009, the end of the Great Recession. It was 4.5 percent below the median of December 2007, the start of the Great Recession. It was 5.7 percent below the median of January 2000. The Household Income Index for November 2014 stood at 94.3 (January 2000 = 100.0).

Source: Sentier Research, Household Income Trends: November 2014

Trends in Gift Spending

The average household cut its spending on gifts for people in other households by 19 percent between 2006 and 2013, according to the Consumer Expenditure Survey—from $1,333 to $1,078, after adjusting for inflation. As noted previously by Demo Memo, it's not just the Great Recession and its aftermath that has reduced gift spending. Another factor is the Gift Problem: as books, music, video games, and other gift categories have morphed from physical to virtual, there's less to give.

But wait—what about gifts of money? Cash and gift cards are not included in the CEX category "gifts for people in other households." Instead, they're in the financial category "cash gifts to members of other households." Maybe there's more holiday spirit in the cash gift category. Alas, it too has declined. The average household gave $451 in cash (or gift cards) to people in other households in 2013—4 percent less than the $472 of 2006, after adjusting for inflation.

But not everyone is channeling their inner Scrooge. The biggest givers of cash gifts are the oldest householders, and they've loosened the purse strings. In 2013, householders aged 75 or older gave $1,262 in cash to people in other households—15 percent more than in 2006, after adjusting for inflation.

Fastest Growing States, 2010 to 2014

Between 2010 and 2014, the U.S. population as a whole grew 3.1 percent to 319 million. By state, growth ranged from a high of 9.7 percent in North Dakota to a small loss in one state: West Virginia's population fell by 0.2 percent during those years. These were the 10 fastest growing states from July 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014, with Nevada once again on the list...

1. North Dakota, 9.7%

2. District of Columbia, 8.9%

3. Texas, 6.8%

4. Colorado, 6.1%

5. Utah, 6.1%

6. Florida, 5.5%

7. Nevada, 5.0%

8. Arizona, 5.0%

9. Washington, 4.7%

10. South Dakota, 4.5%

Source: Census Bureau, State Totals: Vintage 2014

The Job of Driving

Number of full-time wage and salary workers
Truck drivers: 2,587,000
Bus drivers: 339,000
Taxi drivers: 202,000

Median weekly earnings
Truck drivers: $730
Bus drivers: $579
Taxi drivers: $521

Percent female
Truck drivers: 4.1%
Bus drivers: 43.4%
Taxi drivers: 14.9%

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Highlights of Women's Earnings in 2013 (PDF)

Graduate Student Debt: $60,600

Among the nation's 4 million graduate students in 2011-12, fully 67.5 percent borrowed to pay for their undergraduate and/or graduate school expenses. Half borrowed to pay for their undergraduate program, and an even larger 57 percent were borrowing to pay for graduate school. Those who borrowed as undergraduates had accumulated an average of $27,000 in student loans, and those who borrowed for grad school had accumulated an even larger $47,700 in student loans.

Because many graduate students borrowed first as undergraduates and then as graduate students, 2011-12 grad students with debt had borrowed a cumulative average of $60,600.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Profile and Financial Aid Estimates of Graduate Students: 2011-12

Alternative Energy: Young vs Old

Sixty percent of the American public wants to prioritize the development of alternative energy rather than coal, oil, and natural gas production. Only the oldest Americans do not agree...

Alternative energy is most important priority

Aged 18 to 29: 74%

Aged 30 to 49: 64%

Aged 50 to 64: 53%

Aged 65-plus: 48%

Source: Pew Research Center, As U.S. Energy Production Grows, Public Policy Views Show Little Change

Young Adults Aren't Buying It

Young adults aren't the consumers they once were. A Demo Memo analysis of Consumer Expenditure Survey data shows older Americans overtaking them as better customers in many important categories. Here is how the average spending of households headed by 25-to-34-year-olds (young adults) compares to the average spending of households headed by 65-to-74-year-olds (old folks) in 2006 and 2013...

Dinner at full service restaurants
2006: young adults spent 16 percent more than old folks
2013: young adults spent 22 percent less than old folks

Groceries
2006: young adults spent 4 percent more than old folks
2013: young adults spent 5 percent less than old folks

Entertainment
2006: young adults spent 9 percent more than old folks
2013: young adults spent 11 percent less than old folks

Women's clothes
2006: young adults spent 18 percent more than old folks
2013: young adults spent 5 percent less than old folks

Personal care products
2006: young adults spent 13 percent more than old folks
2013: young adults spent 8 percent less than old folks

Household furnishings and equipment
2006: young adult spending was the same as old folks
2013: young adults spent 13 percent less than old folks

Questions about Sexual Orientation

It's not easy to ask people about their sexual orientation. In fact, the federal government spent 11 years studying the best way to phrase the question for the 2013 National Health Interview Survey, using in-depth interviews to determine the right words. One finding from this research was that the terms "gay," "lesbian," and "straight" are less confusing to the public than the terms "homosexual" and "heterosexual."

Overall, 97 percent of men and women aged 18 or older identified themselves as "straight" in the 2013 survey, and 2 percent said they were gay, lesbian, or bisexual. Some (0.6 percent) refused to answer the question and the same small percentage said they were "something else" or "don't know."

When the few who said they were "something else" were further questioned by interviewers, the 39 percent plurality said they didn't use labels to identify themselves. When the few who answered "don't know" were questioned further, the 30 percent plurality said they were in the process of figuring out their sexuality.

Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Sexual Orientation in the 2013 National Health Interview Survey: A Quality Assessment (PDF)

Health Insurance: Where You Live Matters

The Affordable Care Act is moving the needle: fewer Americans are without health insurance. Among 18-to-64-year-olds, the percentage who were uninsured when interviewed by the National Health Interview Survey fell from 20.4 percent in 2013 to 17.0 percent in January-June 2014. Demographically speaking, that decline is big news.

But the growing safety net of health insurance is not evenly distributed. In states that refused to participate in Medicaid expansion and the marketplace program, a much larger percentage of working-age adults is uninsured. By geographic region, here are the percentages of working-age adults without health insurance in January-June 2014...

Percent of 18-to-64-year-olds without health insurance
25.9% West South Central
21.2% South Atlantic
18.6% Mountain
17.0% Pacific
16.5% East South Central
14.4% West North Central
12.7% East North Central
12.3% Middle Atlantic
7.6% New England

For working-age adults, the 18-percentage-point health insurance coverage gap between the West South Central states (Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas) and New England means where you live matters more than ever.

Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Health Insurance Coverage: Early Release of Estimates from the National Health Interview Survey, January-June 2014

Who Uses Birth Control?

American women aren't fooling around. Their use of contraception is nearly universal. Overall, 62 percent of women aged 15 to 44 are currently using contraception, but that figure is deceivingly low. It includes women who don't use birth control because they aren't having sex, and it includes women who are trying to get pregnant, are pregnant, or just had a baby.

In fact, only 6.9 percent of women aged 15 to 44 aren't using contraceptives and should be using them because they're sexually active and don't want to become pregnant. That means fully 93.1 percent of American women have taken control of their fertility, which may explain why the fertility rate is at a record low.

Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Current Contraceptive Status among Women Aged 15-44: United States, 2011-2013

New Projections: Minority Majority in 2044

Although population growth is slowing in the United States because of the baby bust, one thing hasn't changed. Asians, Blacks, and Hispanics will become the majority of Americans within three decades. The Census Bureau's new projections show minorities becoming the majority in 2044, only one year later than in the bureau's previous projection series released two years ago. Here are the projections by race and Hispanic origin for 2015 and 2050...

Non-Hispanic White population (and share of total)
2015: 198 million (61.7%)
2050: 188 million (47.3%)
The non-Hispanic White population will peak in 2025 and then decline. The non-Hispanic White share of the population will fall below 50 percent in 2044.

Hispanic population (and share of total)
2015: 57 million (17.7%)
2050: 106 million (26.5%)
The new projections forecast 6 million fewer Hispanics in 2050 than the previous projection series, a consequence of slowing immigration and fewer births.

Black (alone or in combination) population (and share of total)
2015: 46 million (14.4%)
2050: 67 million (16.9%)
The new projections forecast 2 million fewer Blacks in 2050 than the previous projection series, a consequence of fewer births.

Asian (alone or in combination) population (and share of total)
2015: 21 million (6.4%)
2050: 42 million (10.6%)
The new projections forecast nearly 4 million more Asians in 2050 than the previous projection series, a consequence of greater immigration.

Source: Census Bureau, 2014 National Population Projections

Census Bureau Projects Fewer Births

The Census Bureau's new population projections correct a major flaw in the previous set of numbers released two years ago—the failure to account for the ongoing baby bust. The new forecast incorporates the baby bust, adjusting births downward by 200,000 to 400,000 a year over the projection time period. The numbers add up. From 2015 to 2060, the Census Bureau forecasts nearly 15 million fewer births than it had projected in the previous series. Here's a comparison of the birth projections for 2015...

Number of births projected for 2015
New projections: 3,998,730
Old projections: 4,290,077

According to the new projections, the annual number of births will exceed 4 million again in 2016. But the number will not surpass the 2007 record of 4,316,233 until 2044. The old projections had that record being broken in 2017.

Source: Census Bureau, 2014 National Population Projections

Turmoil in Children's Lives

Turmoil is the norm for many children, according to a Census Bureau study. Among the nation's children under age 18, the 56 percent majority experience potentially troublesome transitions in their home life over a four-year time period. Using Survey of Income and Program Participation longitudinal data, the Census Bureau examined three types of transitions: 1) a change in the number of parents (or partners) in the home; 2) moving from one house to another; and 3) an employment change for at least one parent.

Some children's lives are much more chaotic than others. Not surprisingly, the lower the income the greater the chaos. Among children with family incomes below poverty level, fully 70 percent experienced at least one transition over a four-year period. Among children with the highest family incomes, only 42 percent experienced a transition.

Source: Census Bureau, A Child's Day: Living Arrangements, Nativity, and Family Transitions: 2011 (Selected Indicators of Child Well-Being

Household Income Stable in October 2014

Median household income in October stood at $53,713, according to Sentier Research. Although this was $320 less than the September 2014 median of $54,033, the difference was not statistically significant, after adjusting for inflation. The October 2014 median was 1.0 percent higher than in October 2013, however, and 3.7 percent more than the $51,784 of August 2011—the low point in Sentier's household income series. 

"Our time series charts clearly illustrate that although the economic recovery officially began in June 2009, the recovery in household income did not begin to emerge until after August 2011," explains Sentier's Gordon Green. "While many of the month-to-month changes in median income since the low-point in August 2011 have not been statistically significant, an overall upward trend is still clearly evident," he states. Sentier's median household income estimates are derived from the Census Bureau's monthly Current Population Survey.   

Median household income in October 2014 was 3.4 percent below the median of June 2009, the end of the Great Recession. It was 5.1 percent below the median of December 2007, the start of the Great Recession. It was 6.2 percent below the median of January 2000. The Household Income Index for October 2014 stood at 93.8 (January 2000 = 100.0).

Source: Sentier Research, Household Income Trends: October 2014

Gas Prices and Housing Values

The higher the price of gas, the lower the value of houses in the suburbs, finds a study by the Brookings Institution. Every 10 percent increase in the price of gasoline lowers average house prices by $7,800 in the outskirts of a city and raises house prices by $5,600 in the city center, report the Brookings researchers. Their findings are based on an analysis of 930,702 home sales in Clark County, Nevada, from 1976 through 2010.

With gas prices falling to a low not seen in years, homeowners in the suburbs may benefit, able to sell their houses for more because buyers will be less averse to a lengthy commute.

Source: The Brookings Institution, Do Gasoline Prices Affect Residential Property Values?

Fast Food = No Fun

People who buy fast food are busy and in a hurry. That's not a surprise, of course, but data from the American Time Use Survey now documents those facts.

Among Americans aged 18 or older, those who purchase fast food on a given day spend more time working and traveling (mostly commuting) and less time watching TV and sleeping than the average person. The fast-food purchasers spent only 57 minutes per day eating and drinking versus the 68 minutes spent by the average person. Fast-food buyers were also more likely to report eating while mostly doing something else—such as working or driving a vehicle.

Source: USDA Economic Research Service, The Role of Time in Fast-Food Purchasing Behavior in the United States

Why So Many 30-Year-Olds Live with Their Parents

The homeownership rate of young adults plunged after the Great Recession. How big a plunge? Among 30-year-olds, the homeownership rate fell by an astonishing 12.5 percentage points between 2006-07 and 2013, according to an analysis by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. During those years, a growing share of 30-year-olds opted to live with their parents rather than independently.

Consequently, 30-year-olds today are almost as likely to live with their parents (31.5%) as they are to own a home (31.9%). What's behind this sorry state of affairs? The growing burden of student loans is largely responsible, concludes the NY Fed.

Source: Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Debt, Jobs, or Housing: What's Keeping Millennials at Home? 

The Three Stages of Old Age

Old age has three stages: the Go-Go years, the Slow-Go years, and the No-Go years. A Census Bureau analysis of the disability status of Americans aged 65 or older, based on data from the American Community Survey, confirms this reality.

• The Go-Go elderly are aged 65 to 74. Only 26.4 percent are disabled. 
• The Slow-Go elderly are aged 75 to 84, when a larger 45.0 percent are disabled.
• The No-Go elderly are aged 85 or older. Fully 72.5 percent are disabled. 

Among the disabled elderly, the most common problem is difficulty walking or climbing stairs, experienced by two out of three.

Source: Census Bureau, Older Americans with a Disability: 2008-2012

Trouble with CPS Retirement Income Data

Do census data understate retirement income? That's the question asked by a Center for Retirement Research report. The answer is yes. Here's why: the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey (CPS), the nation's official source of income data, does not count as income the money withdrawn from IRAs and 401(k)s unless it is taken as an annuity. It's a big problem. The CPS estimates that only $18 billion was withdrawn from defined-contribution accounts (IRAs and 401(k)s) in 2012. The actual amount is closer to $220 billion, according to IRS data. That's a lot of missing money.

Fortunately, the under-reporting of defined-contribution income understates the income only of high-income households because most lower- and middle-income households have no or minimal IRA/401(k) assets. "The CPS provides a reasonably good measure of income for the typical middle-income household," concludes the report. Upper-income retirees, however, are much richer than it appears in the CPS statistics.

Soon, we might know just how rich they are. The Census Bureau is testing a redesign of the Current Population Survey to capture the missing money.

Source: Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, Do Census Data Understate Retirement Income?

Who Likes Their Health Care?

How do Americans rate their health care? It depends on their health insurance status. The percentage who give the health care they received in the past year the highest rating (a 9 or 10 on a scale of 0 to 10) ranges from a low of 37 percent among people without health insurance to a high of more than 60 percent among people on Medicare.

Because health insurance coverage depends on age, how people feel about their health care varies greatly by age. Young adults under age 26, many covered by their parents' health insurance thanks to the Affordable Care Act, have a higher opinion of the health care they received than those aged 26 to 34—the age group most likely to be uninsured. People aged 65 or older, universally covered by Medicare, are the ones most impressed with their health care.

Percent rating their health care a 9 or 10
18 to 25: 45.7%
26 to 34: 39.7%
35 to 44: 42.0%
45 to 54: 47.1%
55 to 64: 55.3%
65-plus: 62.2%

Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 2012 Quality of Care Tables

Spending on Eating Out Falls 10%

The average household spent $2,236 on food from restaurants and carry-outs in 2013—10 percent less than in 2007, after adjusting for inflation. Some age groups cut their spending more than others, however, and two age groups boosted their spending during those years...

Average household spending on eating out in 2013 (and % change, 2007 to 2013; in 2013$)
Under 25: $1,922 (+9%)
25 to 34: $2,317 (-14%)
35 to 44: $2,819 (-7%)
45 to 54: $2,674 (-7%)
55 to 64: $2,044 (-19%)
65-plus: $1,578 (+3%)

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey

Boomers: 35% of Households

The Baby-Boom is no longer the largest generation. Millennials surpassed Boomers in size in 2011, and the gap between them is growing each year. In 2013, there were 78 million Millennials (aged 19 to 36) and 76 million Boomers (aged 49 to 67). But according to the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey, Boomers still head the largest share of households and will for years to come...

Number (and %) of households by generation
Millennials: 30 million (25%)
Generation X: 27 million (22%)
Baby Boomers: 43 million (35%)
Older Americans:  23 million (18%)

Who Buys Brand-Name Products?

Less informed consumers buy brand-name products when a less expensive equivalent is available, according to a National Bureau of Economic Research study. NBER researchers came to this conclusion after analyzing a Nielsen Homescan database of 77 million shopping trips, zeroing in on who buys store-brand versus brand-name pain relievers.

Knowledgeable shoppers are more likely to buy store-brands. Pharmacists and physicians, the most knowledgeable shoppers in this instance, are most likely to buy store-brand pain relievers, choosing them over the branded equivalent 91 percent of the time. In comparison, the average consumer chooses the store-brand just 74 percent of the time. By field of study, college graduates with science degrees are more likely than other college graduates to buy store-brand pain relievers.

Extending their analysis to the purchase of cooking ingredients, the NBER researchers find that chefs—the most knowledgeable cooking supply shoppers—choose store-brand pantry staples 80 percent of the time while the average consumer chooses store brands only 60 percent of the time. Conclusion: the less consumers know, the more likely they are to pay the premium for a brand-name product.

Source: National Bureau of Economic Research, Do Pharmacists Buy Bayer? Informed Shoppers and the Brand Premium

59,631 Miracle Births

Of the 4 million babies born in the United States in 2011, a substantial 59,631 could be considered miracle births—they were born through assisted reproductive technology, meaning either eggs or embryos were handled in a laboratory. These births do not include those in which only sperm are handled or a woman takes drugs to stimulate egg production.

The babies born through assisted reproductive technology account for 1.5 percent of all births, 19 percent of twin births, and 32 percent of triplet or higher births. In the state with the largest share of births due to assisted reproductive technology (Massachusetts), 4.5 percent of all births, 40 percent of twin births, and 63 percent of triplet-plus births are the result of this technology.

Source: CDC, Assisted Reproductive Technology Surveillance—United States, 2011

College Graduation Rates

Percent of full-time students attending four-year colleges in pursuit of a bachelor's degree who complete their degree in...

4 years: 38%
6 years: 59%
8 years: 61%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Graduation Rates for Selected Cohorts, 2005-10; and Student Financial Aid in Postsecondary Institutions, Academic Year 2012: First Look (Provisional Data NCES 2014

Voting Gaps in the 2014 Congressional Election

53% of voters under age 40 reported voting for the Democratic candidate.
56% of voters aged 65 or older reported voting for the Republican candidate.

72% of non-White voters reported voting for the Democratic candidate.
55% of White voters reported voting for the Republican candidate.

65% of voters without a religious affiliation reported voting for the Democratic candidate.
80% of White evangelical Protestants reported voting for the Republican candidate.

Source: Public Religion Research Institute, Vote Preferences and Outcome of the Midterm Election: The 2014 Vote

Only 14% Retire as Planned

How many people retire at the age they had planned? An analysis of the University of Michigan's Health and Retirement Study (HRS) has the answer. The HRS is a longitudinal survey of Americans aged 50 or older, allowing researchers to track individuals over time. The Employee Benefit Research Institute used the HRS data to compare the expected and actual retirement age of individual workers. The findings were surprising. 

"Before age 62, actual retirement is higher than expected retirement," says EBRI researcher Sudipto Banerjee. But by age 65 the opposite is the case. "Eighty-one percent of workers expected to retire before age 65, but only 64.1 percent actually did so," Banerjee says. Overall, 38 percent of older workers retired before the age they had planned and a larger 48 percent retired after the age they had planned. Only 14 percent retired as planned. 

Source: Employee Benefit Research Institute, The Gap Between Expected and Actual Retirement: Evidence from Longitudinal Data, Notes, November 2014

Toy Story

Percent who plan on purchasing toys as gifts this holiday season...

Parents: 82%
Pet owners: 52%

Source: Harris Interactive, Anticipated Holiday Spending Remains Consistent Compared to Last Year

Women Say "No Thanks" to Marrying Again

Many of the nation's divorced or widowed singles say they don't want to marry again...

Percent of divorced/widowed who do not want to marry again
Men: 30%
Women: 54%

Source: Pew Research Center, Four in Ten Couples Are Saying "I Do," Again

The Ultimate Selfie: Your Health

Americans are ready to take their healthcare to the next level—self monitoring. A Harris Interactive survey finds nearly half of the public to be very or extremely interested in monitoring their blood pressure (48 percent), heartbeat (47 percent), or physical activity (43 percent) via smartphone or tablet. Young adults are especially interested in these services. Here are the percentages who are very or extremely interested in tracking their physical activity (such as steps and sleep) via smartphone or tablet by generation...

Very-extremely interested in tracking physical activity 

Millennials: 57%

Gen Xers: 45%

Boomers: 35%

Matures: 25%

Source: Harris Interactive, Americans May Be Ready for a Brave New World of Healthcare

Computer Ownership, 2013

Nearly nine out of ten Americans live in a household with a computer: 88 percent of the population has a computer at home—83 percent have a desktop or laptop computer and 71 percent own what the Census Bureau calls a "handheld computer," such as a smartphone.

For some, a handheld device is their only computer. Here is the percentage of households by age of householder that have only a handheld computer...

Aged 15 to 34: 9.5%
Aged 35 to 44: 5.8%
Aged 45 to 64: 3.9%
Aged 65-plus: 2.5%

Source: Census Bureau, Computer and Internet Access in the United States: 2013

Magnets for Millennials

Young adults are packing their bags and moving to the city. The nation's most urban counties gained more than 1 million 25-to-34-year-olds between 2008-10 and 2011-13, according to a Demo Memo analysis of the American Community Survey. This numerical gain is nearly double the increase in the number of 25-to-34-year-olds in all other counties combined.

There's more: The most urban counties, with a rank of 1 on the Rural-Urban Continuum (in metro areas with a population of 1 million or more), also saw the largest percentage increase in 25-to-34-year-olds between 2008-10 and 2011-13—a 4.5 percent rise. In the most rural counties, with a rank of 9 on the Rural-Urban Continuum, the number of 25-to-34-year-olds fell 4.8 percent during the time period.

Veteran Demographics

The number of veterans in the U.S. is shrinking. The 19.6 million veterans of 2013 were well below the 26.4 million of 2000, according to the Census Bureau. The veteran share of the adult population fell from 12.7 to 8.1 percent during those years.

Most veterans are men (92 percent), and nearly half (47 percent) are aged 65 or older. Most men aged 75 or older are veterans, but the share drops to 39 percent among men aged 65 to 74 and declines in each younger age group...

Percent of men who are veterans
Aged 18 to 34: 4%
Aged 35 to 54: 10%
Aged 55 to 64: 19%
Aged 65 to 74: 39%
Aged 75-plus: 57%

The largest share of veterans served during the Vietnam War era (36 percent), followed by the Gulf War (27 percent). Another 24 percent served during peacetime. Eleven percent of veterans served during the Korean War, and just 7 percent are World War II vets. These percentages sum to more than 100 because some veterans served in more than one era.

Only 42 percent of veterans are enrolled in the VA's health benefits program, according to a report by the Congressional Research Service (PDF). Although this figure has been rising, it remains a minority of veterans because of Congressional limits on VA funding. Veterans enrolling since 2003 and without a service disability can access benefits only if their income or net worth is below a certain threshold.

Texting Is Number-One Form of Communication

Texting is the dominant form of communication among Americans, according to a Gallup survey. Thirty-nine percent of Americans say they texted "a lot" yesterday—slightly larger than the 38 percent who talked a lot on a cell phone and the 37 percent who sent or read emails a lot. (Only 9 percent say they used a landline phone a lot yesterday.) Of course the 1 or 2 percentage-point difference between these three most common modes of communication are statistically insignificant, but a look at the numbers by age confirms that texting will increasingly dominate communication in the years ahead.

More than two-thirds of young adults (aged 18 to 29) say they texted a lot yesterday, far above the 50 percent who talked a lot on a cell phone or the 47 percent who sent/received emails a lot. Among people aged 30 to 49 as well, texting surpasses cell phone calls (41 percent) or emailing (44 percent). Here are the percentages who say they texted a lot yesterday by age...

Aged 18 to 29: 68%
Aged 30 to 49: 47%
Aged 50 to 64: 26%
Aged 65-plus: 8%

Source: Gallup, The New Era of Communication among Americans

A Gun in the House

Nearly two out of three Americans believe that "having a gun in the house makes it a safer place to be," according to a Gallup survey. The percentage who feel this way is at a record high of 63 percent, up from just 35 percent in 2000. By region, this is the percentage with a gun in their house...

Northeast: 31%
Midwest: 44%
South: 51%
West: 39%

Source: Gallup, More than Six in 10 Americans Say Guns Make Homes Safer

Surviving to Age 80

Most Americans can expect to live well into old age. It wasn't always this way. In 1901, only 13.5 percent of newborns could expect to live to age 80 based on age-specific mortality rates of that year. By 1950, the chance of a newborn living to age 80 had climbed to 29.3 percent. In 2000, the probability exceeded 50 percent for the first time. By 2010, the 57.2 percent majority of newborns could expect to live to age 80. But the chance of living to age 80 differs greatly by sex, race and Hispanic origin...

Percentage surviving to age 80 based on 2010 mortality rates
71.2% of Hispanic females
64.0% of non-Hispanic White females
57.4% of Hispanic males
57.2% of total people
55.0% of Black females
50.9% of non-Hispanic White males
38.3% of Black males

Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Mortality Data, United States Life Tables 2010

Food Spending: Fact vs. Fantasy

Americans spend more at restaurants than they think they do. We know this because the Consumer Expenditure Survey asks respondents how much they usually spend at restaurants per week, and it also asks them to keep a daily diary of their expenditures. The results are not the same. The more precise diary method consistently shows restaurant spending to be 16 to 22 percent greater than the guesstimate.

The opposite happens with grocery shopping. When asked how much they usually spend on groceries per week, households overreport their spending by about 21 percent in comparison with diary data on grocery purchases. That's because Americans greatly underestimate how much they spend on nonfood items, like paper towels, when shopping for groceries.

Many Boomers Plan to Move in Retirement

More than one-third of Boomers plan to move when they retire. A survey of Americans aged 50 to 69 found a substantial 37 percent saying they intend to move. Among those who plan to move, 54 percent want to downsize—defined as moving to a smaller or less expensive home. This is the next house Boomer movers say they are looking for...

56% want to buy a single family home
22% want to rent an apartment in a multifamily building
12% want to rent a single family home
10% want to buy an apartment in a multifamily building

Source: The Demand Institute, Baby Boomers & Their Homes: On Their Own Terms

Poverty Is Not Permanent

There's a lot of handwringing about the nation's poor, and well there should be. But keep this in mind as the debate rages: poverty is not permanent. A Census Bureau study of poverty from 2009 through 2012 shows millions escaping poverty every year. Of the 35 million poor counted by the Census Bureau's Panel Study of Income Dynamics in 2009, a substantial 42 percent were not poor in 2012.

Of course, making a living wage is not necessarily permanent either. Among the 249 million Americans who were not poor in 2009, an unfortunate 6 percent had fallen into poverty by 2012. During the time period, which was marked by the struggle to recover from the Great Recession, the number of people sinking into poverty surpassed the number escaping it—15.7 million fell in and 14.8 million climbed out.

Source: Census Bureau, Dynamics of Economic Well-Being: Poverty 2009-2012

Where Do All Those Pumpkins Come From?

Six states produce most of the nation's pumpkins: Illinois, California, Ohio, Michigan, New York, and Pennsylvania. In Illinois, 77 percent of the pumpkin harvest ends up in a pie rather than on a porch. In the five other states, 88 to 99 percent of pumpkins are for the porch.

Source: USDA, Economic Research Service, Pumpkins: Background & Statistics

American Workers Are Treading Water

If you're a typical worker, you didn't get a raise this year. More than two-thirds (68 percent) of Americans say no one in their household received a raise or promotion in the past 12 months, according to the Public Religion Research Institute's 2014 American Values Survey.

It's worse than that, however. American workers have been treading water for 120 months, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The median weekly earnings of men and women with full-time wage and salary jobs have been stagnant for at least a decade. Here are the inflation adjusted numbers...

Men's median weekly earnings
2014: $880
2004: $894 

Women's median weekly earnings
2014: $722
2004: $720

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Median Weekly Earnings, 2004-2014

Educational Attainment Is Inherited

The "education advantage" appears to be passed down from parents to children even more strongly than the income advantage, according to a Brookings Institution study. An analysis of the educational attainment of fathers and their adult children finds 46 percent of children whose fathers were in the top education quintile also ended up in the top quintile, and 76 percent were in the top two quintiles. Doing the same analysis with incomes reveals the comparable figures to be a smaller 41 and 65 percent.

"The trend towards assortative mating—like marrying like—will likely strengthen the intergenerational transmission of high educational status," conclude the researchers.

Source: Brookings Institution, The Inheritance of Education

First-Time Homebuyer Watch: 3rd Quarter 2014

Homeownership rate of householders aged 30 to 34, third quarter 2014: 46.9%

The 46.9 percent homeownership rate of households headed by people aged 30 to 34 is a bit higher than the 46.5 percent all-time low recorded in the second quarter of 2014. But the difference is not statistically significant as the aging of first-time homebuyers continues. 

Householders aged 30 to 34 had long been the nation's first-time homebuyers. Historically, this was the age group in which homeownership became the norm—rising above 50 percent. But beginning in 2007, the homeownership rate of 30-to-34-year-olds went into a tailspin. In the second quarter of 2011, the rate fell below 50 percent for the first time. The latest numbers are another datapoint in the ongoing trend. 

The new age of first-time home buying is 35 to 39, but even this age group is slipping. The homeownership rate of 35-to-39-year-olds fell to 55.6 percent in the third quarter of 2014—close to the record low of 55.3 percent recorded in the first quarter of 2013.  

Nationally, the homeownership rate slipped to 64.4 percent in the third quarter of 2014, down from 65.3 percent one year ago.

Source: Census Bureau, Housing Vacancy Survey

Women 65+ Are Less Educated

Going to college was once an experience that divided younger generations from older Americans. Now the divide has disappeared. Well, almost. Although the majority of men and women in every age group has college experience, there's one exception: women aged 65 or older are less educated than everyone else.

Only 46 percent of women aged 65-plus have college experience. In contrast, a much larger 64 percent of women under age 65 have been to college. Among men regardless of age, the majority has college experience—including 54 percent of men aged 65 or older.

But older women are playing catch-up as Boomers fill the 65-plus age group. In 2010, the year before the first Boomers turned 65, only 39 percent of women aged 65-plus had college experience. By 2016, most older women will have spent some time on a college campus, and college experience will become the norm for men and women in every age group.

Source: Census Bureau, 2014 Current Population Survey

Self-Employed Women

The top three occupations of American women who are self-employed:

• Child care worker
• Hairdresser
• House cleaner

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Monthly Labor Review, Female Self-Employment in the United States: An Update to 2012

No Friends in the Neighborhood

Most Americans (84 percent) report having friends in their neighborhood, according to the 2013 American Housing Survey. Only 16 percent of households say they don't have friends, but the figure varies by homeownership status and other characteristics. Here is the percentage of households without friends in their neighborhood...

Homeowners (average with no friends = 12.1%)
8.3% of those aged 65 or older
9.3% of those in nonmetropolitan areas
13.4% of those in manufactured/mobile homes
15.8% of those in the suburbs
19.6% of those in central cities
20.9% of those in homes built in past four years

Renters (average with no friends = 24.3%)
16.6% of those in manufactured/mobile homes
16.8% of those aged 65 or older
21.8% of those in nonmetropolitan areas
24.1% of those in central cities
25.5% of those in the suburbs
26.5% of those in homes built in past four years

Source: Census Bureau, 2013 American Housing Survey

Generations Disagree on Best Way to Promote Economic Growth

When asked which of two alternatives is the best way to promote economic growth in the United States, young (aged 18 to 29) and old (aged 65 or older) disagree...

1. Spend more on education and the nation's infrastructure, and raise taxes on wealthy individuals and businesses to pay for that spending (percent saying this is best way)...
     Young: 62%

     Old: 40%

2. Lower taxes on individuals and businesses and pay for those tax cuts by cutting spending on some government services and programs (percent saying this is best way)...
     Young: 35%

     Old: 52%

Source: Public Religion Research Institute, Economic Insecurity, Rising Inequality, and Doubts about the Future: Findings from the 2014 American Values Survey

From Owning to Renting, 2012-13

Among the 16 million Americans who moved between 2012 and 2013, this many...

Owners became renters: 3,009,000
Renters became owners: 1,871,000

The homeownership status of the remaining 11 million movers was unchanged when they moved (owners continued to be owners, and renters continued to be renters).

Source: Census Bureau, 2013 American Housing Survey

Most Homeowners Have No Sidewalks in Neighborhood

Only 56 percent of U.S. households have sidewalks in their neighborhood, according to the 2013 American Housing Survey. Sidewalks are even less common in the neighborhoods of the nation's homeowners—only 48 percent have them compared with 71 percent of renters.

Renters are more likely to have sidewalks in their neighborhood because many live in central cities where sidewalks are the norm. Fully 77 percent of central city households have sidewalks in their neighborhood compared with 54 percent of households in the suburbs and just 27 percent of households in nonmetropolitan areas. By region, homeowners in the South are least likely to have sidewalks in their neighborhood...

Percent of homeowners with sidewalks in their neighborhood
Northeast: 47%
Midwest: 51%
South: 37%
West: 64%

Source: Census Bureau, 2013 American Housing Survey

Underwater Homeowners Decline by 1.7 Million

The number of homeowners who owe more for their house than it is worth fell by 1.7 million between 2011 and 2013, according to the Census Bureau's biennial American Housing Survey.

Just over 5 million homeowners reported in 2013 that they were underwater on their mortgage—or 11 percent of homeowners with a mortgage. This was less than the 6.8 million and 14 percent of homeowners with a mortgage who reported being underwater in 2011. Despite the progress, the 2013 figure is more than double what it was in 2007.

Number (and percent) of homeowners with a mortgage who are underwater
2013: 5.1 million (11 percent)
2011: 6.8 million (14 percent)
2009: 5.8 million (12 percent)
2007: 2.5 million (5 percent)

Source: Census Bureau, 2013 American Housing Survey

The Ferguson Effect

The attitudes of Americans toward the treatment of Blacks by the criminal justice system is changing, in part due to public outrage over the police shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. The majority of Americans no longer believe Blacks and Whites are treated equally by the criminal justice system.

The percentage of Americans who disagree with the statement, "Blacks and other minorities receive equal treatment as whites in the criminal justice system," climbed from 47 to 56 percent between 2013 and 2014. Even Whites are changing their mind. The percentage of Whites who disagree that Blacks and Whites are treated equally grew from 42 to 51 percent.

Source: Public Religion Research Institute, Economic Insecurity, Rising Inequality, and Doubts about the Future: Findings from the 2014 American Values Survey

Explaining Nonmetro Population Decline

Between 2012 and 2013, the number of adults in nonmetropolitan areas declined, perhaps for the first time ever, according to the USDA's Economic Research Service.

Average annual percent change in nonmetro population aged 16+
2012-13: -0.07
2011-12:  0.07
2010-11:  0.19
2009-10:  0.37
2008-09:  0.36
2007-08:  0.49

This loss is the result of two trends: a decline in the rate of natural population increase in nonmetro areas (births minus deaths) and a decline in net migration (people moving in minus people moving out), which has been negative since 2010. Why are people moving out of nonmetro areas? Probably to find a job. According to the researchers, "nonmetro employment growth slowed in 2011 and fell to zero or slightly below thereafter."

Source: USDA, Economic Research Service, Rural Employment Trends in Recession and Recovery

The Rise of "Shared Households"

Here's a trend that may explain the nation's slow household growth and the outright decline in the number of households headed by 25-to-34-year-olds: the rise of the "shared household." A shared household has at least one "additional adult"—defined as a household member aged 18 or older who is not in school nor the householder, spouse, or cohabiting partner. Take a look at the trend in shared households since 2007...

Number of shared households (and percent of total households)
2014: 23.5 million (19.1%)
2007: 19.7 million (17.0%)

Number of adults living in shared households (and percent of total adults)
2014: 74 million (30.9%)
2007: 62 million (27.7%)

Between 2013 and 2014, the number of additional adults in shared households grew by 1.8 million. Among adults aged 25 to 34 in 2014, fully 25.2 percent (10.7 million) were additional adults in a shared household, explaining the decline in the number of households headed by 25-to-34-year-olds.

Source: Census Bureau, Income and Poverty in the United States: 2013

Commuting Less by Private Vehicle

The use of private vehicles for commuting to work has declined among younger Americans, according to a Brookings analysis of American Community Survey data. Workers under age 25, in particular, were less likely to commute to work by private vehicle in 2013 than in 2007.

In 2013, 82.4 percent of workers under age 25 commuted to work by car—1.3 percentage points less than in 2007. Workers aged 25 to 54 were 0.9 percentage points less likely to commute by private vehicle, while workers aged 55 or older were driving more.

Source: The Brookings Institution, Millennials and Generation X Commuting Less by Car, But Will the Trends Hold?

Households with Earners Lose Ground

Between 2007 and 2013, households with no earners were the only ones who made gains in median income, after adjusting for inflation. Most are headed by retirees.

Percent change in median income, 2007 to 2013 (in 2013 dollars)
No earners:   +1.8%
One earner:   -4.0%
Two earners: -2.6%

Source: Census Bureau, Historical Income Data

Life Expectancy at Age 65

Life expectancy at birth reached a record high of 78.8 years in 2012, reports the National Center for Health Statistics. Life expectancy at age 65 also hit a record high in 2012. Since 1950, life expectancy at age 65 has increased by 5.4 years...

Life expectancy at age 65 (years)
2012: 19.3
2010: 19.1
2000: 17.9
1990: 17.2
1980: 16.4
1970: 15.2
1960: 14.3
1950: 13.9

Females have a longer life expectancy than males at every age. For women aged 65, life expectancy is 20.5 years. Men aged 65 can expect 17.9 more years of life.

Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Mortality Data

Peak Tuition?

It might be too soon to call this a trend, but average household spending on college tuition fell 6 percent between 2012 and 2013, after adjusting for inflation. This is quite a reversal for a category that had been growing like there was no tomorrow. Between 2007 and 2012, average household spending on college tuition climbed 27 percent.

College enrollment fell by 930,000 between 2011 and 2013. This means 2012 might have been the peak year for household spending on college tuition. The spending spree was bound to end as young adults and their parents struggle to pay college expenses while their household incomes decline.

According to a Pew Research Center analysis, fully 69 percent of 2011-12 college graduates (defined as those earning a bachelor's degree) have student loans, up from 49 percent two decades ago. The 2011-12 graduates with loans owe more than twice as much as their counterparts in 1992-93: a median of $26,885 versus $12,434 (in 2013 dollars).

Why the Decline in Households Headed by 25-to-34-Year-Olds?

The release of 2014 Current Population Survey data a few weeks ago was almost ho-hum. Median household income was unchanged, and there were few clues about emerging trends.

But one thing stood out: the decline in households headed by 25-to-34-year-olds. The number fell by a small but surprising 8,994 between 2013 and 2014. The decline was a surprise because the 25-to-34-year-old population is growing by more than half a million a year, and households headed by the age group had been growing by more than 100,000 a year—until now. What happened?

To find out, let's take a look at which household types in the 25-to-34 age group contributed to the 2013-14 decline: married couples (down 89,216), women who live alone (down 88,688), and men who live alone (down 44,932).

These declines are a sign of economic distress. A Pew Research Center survey has uncovered the reason why so many 25-to-34-year-olds aren't marrying: they're looking for a partner with a steady job. With rents rising and student loan payments looming, fewer can afford to live by themselves while waiting for Mr. (or Ms.) Right. Looking back, we should have seen this coming. Since 2010, the annual increase in the number of households headed by 25-to-34-year-olds has been shrinking to the point where there's no increase at all...

Annual change in number of households headed by 25-to-34-year-olds
2010-11: 315,000
2011-12: 274,000
2012-13: 171,000
2013-14:    -8,994

In light of this trend, the 2013-14 decline is not a surprise.

Death by Disease: Perception vs. Reality

Americans don't know much about infectious disease. A Harris poll asked the public for its best guess of the mortality rate of various infectious diseases once someone has the disease. Using sources such as the CDC and Wikipedia, Demo Memo compared perception to reality. Surprisingly, the public is pretty accurate at estimating the Ebola mortality rate. For other diseases, such as rabies, the gap between perception and reality is disturbing...

Best guess versus (actual) mortality rate
Ebola: 58% (50%)
Bubonic plague: 43% (11%)
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome/SARS: 28% (10%)
Smallpox: 25% (30%)
Rabies: 25% (100%)
West Nile Virus: 25% (5%)
Polio: 20% (5% to 10%)

Source: Harris Interactive, Shortly Before Texas Diagnosis, Four in Ten Americans Believed Ebola Represented a Threat to Public Health in the U.S.

Nonmetro Population Loss: The Hispanic Factor

Between 2010 and 2013, the nation's nonmetropolitan areas lost population. One factor behind the loss is slower growth of the Hispanic population...

Average annual percent change in the Hispanic population of nonmetropolitan counties
1990-2000: 4.9%
2000-2010: 3.6%
2010-2013: 2.1%

The one-two punch of slower Hispanic growth and an outright decline in the non-Hispanic population of nonmetropolitan areas (-0.2% between 2010 and 2013) led to the overall loss.

Source: USDA, Economic Research Service, Rural Hispanic Population Growth Mirrors National Trends

How Valuable Is a For-Profit College Degree?

Less valuable than a degree from a public institution, according to a recent field experiment. By submitting fictitious resumes to real job postings on an online job board, researchers compared employer response to college degrees from different types of schools.

Employers do notice and care about where you got your degree, the researchers discovered. A resume listing a bachelor's degree in business from a for-profit school was 22 percent less likely to get a callback than a resume listing the same degree from a nonselective public school.

Source: National Bureau of Economic Research, Working Paper 20528, The Value of Postsecondary Credentials in the Labor Market: An Experimental Study ($5)

Six Types of Older Americans

Households headed by Americans aged 65 or older can be segmented into six clusters based on their spending patterns, say researchers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Using data from the 2010-11 Consumer Expenditure Survey, the analysts identified these types...

1. Basic need-meeters (26.9%). The largest and poorest cluster, this segment had an average income of $33,124 in 2010-11 and spent just $23,679. Because of their limited resources, Basic Need-Meeters must devote the largest share of their spending to essentials (43 percent).
2. Housing burdened (25.9%). Fully 78 percent of households in this cluster are still making mortgage payments compared with only 23 to 34 percent of households in the other clusters. Consequently, the Housing Burdened devote the largest share of their budget to mortgage (or rent)—fully 42 percent of their spending versus only 5 to 17 percent in the other clusters.
3. Health care burdened (21.1%). The second-poorest cluster, this group is defined by its outsized out-of-pocket health care spending—or 27 percent of its $29,818 overall spending. Other groups devote only 10 to 12 percent of their spending to health care.
4. Transportation burdened (12.1%). Although this group spent a relatively large $44,245 in 2010-11, it had to devote a hefty 33 percent of that spending to transportation. Fully 60 percent of this group lives in smaller cities of the South and Midwest.
5. Happy retirees (6.3%). This is the richest group, with average annual spending of $54,813. They devote a hefty 31 percent of their budget to "expendables" (entertainment, travel, and household operations). The average income of Happy Retirees and Balanced Budgeters is about the same, but Happy Retirees spend more.
6. Balanced budgeters (5.4%). This group is almost as affluent as Happy Retirees, but it spends less ($47,920 versus $54,813). They devote about an average amount to various budget items, which is why they are considered "balanced."

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Monthly Labor Review, Consumption Patterns and Economic Status of Older Households in the United States

The Tchotchke Index: 2013 Update

It has been a while since we updated the Tchotchke Index—a measure of our economic wellbeing. The more Americans are willing to spend on tchotchkes—gift shop items, home decor trinkets, yard sale finds—the greater the economic confidence. Five years ago Demo Memo Blog created the Tchotchke Index to track excess consumer spending (here is the original post). The Tchotchke Index is the amount of money spent by the average household on "decorative items for the home," a detailed category in the Consumer Expenditure Survey.

Sadly, the Tchotchke Index has plummeted to the lowest level on record. In 2013, the average household spent just $103 on decorative items for the home—less than half of the $240 it spent on this category in 2000, after adjusting for inflation. The 2013 Index is even lower than the $108 spent in 2010, in the aftermath of the Great Recession. An ominous sign, for sure.

Book Store Jobs, 2004 and 2014

The number of Americans employed at book stores and news dealers fell 41 percent between 2004 and 2014, from 151,100 to 89,600—a loss of more than 60,000 jobs.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Spending and Employment related to Books and other Reading Materials

Fewer Middle-Aged Men Have Long-Term Jobs

Men's incomes are declining in part because fewer hold long-term jobs. This is especially true for men aged 45 to 54, typically the nation's peak earners. A generation ago, the average employed man in this age group had worked for his current employer for at least 10 years. Not so today. The 2014 numbers show a steep decline in long-term jobs among middle-aged men.

• Only 42.8 percent of men aged 45 to 49 had worked for their current employer for at least 10 years, down from 57.8 percent a generation ago in 1983—a 15 percentage point decline.
• Only 49.9 percent of men aged 50 to 54 had worked for their current employer for at least 10 years, down from 62.3 percent in 1983—a 12 percentage point decline.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employee Tenure

College Enrollment Declines

College enrollment has declined for the second year in a row, according to the Census Bureau. In the fall of 2013, the nation's two-year, four-year, and graduate schools enrolled 19.5 million students. This was 463,000 fewer students than in the fall of 2012 and 930,000 fewer students than in the fall of 2011—the peak year, when college enrollment reached 20.4 million.

Two-year schools accounted for almost all the enrollment decline between 2012 and 2013 (-560,000), while four-year schools made gains (+128,000). This was a reversal of the 2011-12 pattern of loss, when four-year schools accounted for almost all the enrollment decline (-580,000) and two-year schools made gains (+125,000). The nation's graduate schools experienced small declines in both years (-31,000 in 2012-13 and -13,000 in 2011-12).

Source: Census Bureau, School Enrollment

What Do Women Want? A Man with a Steady Job

The median age at first marriage is at a record high for both men and women. To find out why, Pew Research Center surveyed Americans about their attitudes toward marriage and asked those who had not yet married what the heck they were waiting for.

Wouldn't you know it, a steady job is the number-one characteristic women want in a partner. Fully 78 percent of single women who want to marry someday say this is a very important quality in choosing a partner. Many more single women want a man with a steady job than want one who shares their ideas about raising children, morals, or religious beliefs.

Finding a man with a steady job is more difficulty than it used to be. According to Pew's analysis, there are only 91 employed men per 100 women in the 25-to-34 age group, down from 139 in 1960. Even worse, many of today's employed young men have low-paying and unstable jobs, making them unattractive marriage partners. When women decide to marry, they are making a rational economic decision. The fact that so many young women are choosing to remain single is evidence of the decline in men's earning power.

Source: Pew Research Center, Record Share of Americans Have Never Married

What's Behind the Rise in Obesity?

The percentage of Americans who are obese has soared over the past 50 years, according to height and weight measurements collected by the federal government. Fully 35 percent of adults aged 20 to 74 were obese in 2011-12, up from just 13 percent  in 1960-62. Obesity is defined as having a body mass index of 30.0 or greater.

This rise in obesity did not occur steadily over the past 50 years. Most of the increase took place between 1976 and 2000, when obesity doubled from 15 to 31 percent. What happened then to cause the increase? Three converging trends may have been at work: the aging of the baby-boom generation into middle-age when people typically put on pounds, the rise of working women and mothers, and the substitution of fast-food meals for home cooking.

Interestingly, the percentage of Americans who are overweight but not obese has barely grown over the years, rising from 31.5 percent in 1960-62 to 33.3 percent in 2011-12. Add the overweight numbers to the obesity figures, and the 69 percent majority of Americans were overweight or obese in 2011-12, up from a 45 percent minority in 1960-62.

Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Prevalence of Overweight, Obesity, and Extreme Obesity among Adults: United States, 1960-1962 through 2011-2012

Gen X: Higher Incomes, Less Wealth

A study of the upward mobility of Generation X reveals contradictory trends. Although the incomes of Gen Xers are higher than their parents, they are not as wealthy. This is true especially of college graduates: 82 percent have higher incomes than their parents, but only 30 percent have greater wealth.

What accounts for this disparity? One factor is student debt. Although the education debt of Gen Xers is manageable on a day-to-day basis, notes the report, it is limiting their wealth accumulation and may hamper their ability to send their own children to college—the troubling "generational reach" of students loans.

Source: The Pew Charitable Trusts, A New Financial Reality—The Balance Sheets and Economic Mobility of Generation X

Change in Households by Age, 2013 to 2014

The number of households in the United States grew by a tiny 0.4 percent between 2013 and 2014, according to the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey—the third slowest rate of growth in more than four decades. Here is the numerical change in households by age of householder...

Change in number of households, 2013 to 2014
Total households: 492,000
Under age 25:          9,532
Aged 25 to 34:        -8,994
Aged 35 to 44:    -288,231
Aged 45 to 54:    -258,528
Aged 55 to 64:     233,447
Aged 65-plus:      804,985

The decline in households headed by people aged 35 to 54 is due to the small Generation X moving into those age groups. The increase in households headed by people aged 55 or older is due to the large Baby-Boom generation moving into those age groups. The troubling number, and a sign of economic distress, is the decline in households headed by 25-to-34-year-olds, a group that should be expanding with the Millennial generation.

Source: Census Bureau, Income and Poverty in the United States: 2013

What Happened to the Nation's Peak Earners?

Median household income peaks in the 45-to-54 age group, but the peak is smaller today than it once was because of the staggering decline in the median income of the age group.

In 1999, the year when the nation's median household income reached its all-time high, the median of households headed by 45-to-54-year-olds was 40 percent greater than the overall median: $79,550 versus $56,895 (in 2013 dollars). Today, however, the median income of householders aged 45 to 54 is just 29 percent higher than the overall median: $67,141 versus $51,939. Between 1999 and 2013, the median income of householders aged 45 to 54 fell by a stunning 15.6 percent—a loss of more than $12,000, after adjusting for inflation.

Median household income in 2013 (and percent change since 1999; in 2013 dollars)
Total households: $51,939 (-8.7%)
Under age 25: $34,311 (-2.4%)
Aged 25 to 34: $52,702 (-10.4%)
Aged 35 to 44: $64,973 (-8.5%)
Aged 45 to 54: $67,141 (-15.6%)
Aged 55 to 64: $57,538 (-7.9%)
Aged 65-plus: $35,611 (+11.7%)

Source: Census Bureau, Income and Poverty in the United States: 2013

Anemic Household Growth, 2013-14

The number of households in the United States increased by a tiny 0.4 percent between 2013 and 2014, according to the Census Bureau's latest estimates. In only 2 of the past 40 years have households grown more slowly (in 2008–09 and 2009–10). The 492,000 households added to the nation's total between 2013 and 2014 is the fourth smallest numerical gain in four decades of tracking the numbers (smaller gains were recorded in 1982–83, 2008–09, and 2009–10).

Also notable, the number of non-Hispanic White households fell slightly between 2013 and 2014. The decline marks only the 4th time in 40 years that the Census Bureau has estimated a drop in the number of non-Hispanic White households.

Nearly one-third of the nation's households are now headed by Blacks, Asians, or Hispanics. Black households outnumber Hispanic households by more than 1 million, and they grew faster than Hispanic households between 2013 and 2014 (a 1.8 percent gain for Blacks versus a 1.4 percent gain for Hispanics). Asian households are far less numerous than Black or Hispanic, but they grew by a faster 4.1 percent between 2013 and 2014.

Number (and percent distribution) of households by race and Hispanic origin, 2014
Total: 122,952,000 (100.0%)
Asian: 6,111,000 (5.0%)
Black: 16,855,000 (13.7%)
Hispanic: 15,811,000 (12.8%)
Non-Hispanic White: 83,641,000 (68.0%)

Source: Census Bureau, 2014 Current Population Survey

Median Household Income in 2013

The $51,939 median household income of 2013 was not significantly different from the $51,758 of 2012, after adjusting for inflation. This is the second year in a row of no significant change in median household income, according to the Census Bureau, following two years of decline.

Median household income in 2013 was 8.0 percent below the median of 2007 (the Great Recession officially began in December 2007), after adjusting for inflation. But 2007 was nothing special as far as median household income is concerned because the median had peaked years before that—all the way back in 1999 at $56,895. Median household income in 2013 was 8.7 percent below that all-time high.

Median household income, 1999 to 2013 (in 2013 dollars)
2013: $51,939
2012: $51,758
2011: $51,842
2010: $52,646
2009: $54,059
2008: $54,423
2007: $56,436
1999: $56,895 (all-time high)

Source: Census Bureau, Income and Poverty in the United States: 2013

Spending Trends by Region, 2006 to 2013

The Northeast is the only region in which average household spending in 2013 exceeded spending in 2006 (the peak spending year, nationally), after adjusting for inflation.

Average household spending in 2013 (and percent change since 2006; in 2013 dollars)
Total households: $51,100 (-8.6%)
Northeast: $57,027 (+0.4%)
Midwest: $50,527 (-3.1%)
South: $45,956 (-10.6%)
West: $55,460 (-16.5%)

Households in the Northeast are now the biggest spenders. At the other extreme, households in the South spend the least and are losing ground. In dollar terms, the household spending gap between the Northeast and South has more than doubled, rising from $5,388 in 2006 to $11,071 in 2013.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Surveys

Stuck in the Suburbs

As boomers age into their sixties and beyond, most still live in suburban and rural areas designed for younger adults in their physical prime. Driving is a requirement for getting groceries, seeing a doctor, or visiting friends and family. Yet many older Americans (20 percent of those aged 50 or older, according to an AARP study) limit their driving or have given it up entirely. As boomers age, millions will be isolated in suburban and rural areas. Housing America's Older Adults, a new report from the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, examines this emerging problem and what can be done about it.

Spending by Age, 2006 to 2013

Average household spending fell 8.6 percent between 2006 (the peak year) and 2013, after adjusting for inflation—from $55,926 to $51,100. According to a Demo Memo analysis of the Consumer Expenditure Survey, only 16 percent of the $4,826 decline in average household spending during those years was due to the aging of the population—a consequence of the large baby-boom population getting older, retiring, and reducing its spending.

Most of the decline in average household spending was due to budget cutting in all but one age group. Here is average household spending by age of householder in 2013 (and percent change since 2006; in 2013 dollars)...

Under age 25: $30,373 (-6.7%)
Aged 25 to 34: $48,087 (-12.5%)
Aged 35 to 44: $58,784 (-11.5%)
Aged 45 to 54: $60,524 (-9.0%)
Aged 55 to 64: $55,892 (-4.8%)
Aged 65-plus: $41,403 (+2.2%)

In dollar terms, households headed by people aged 35 to 44 cut their spending the most. In 2013, these households spent a substantial $7,632 less than they did in 2006, after adjusting for inflation.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Surveys

Spending in 2013: Another Decline

Average household spending peaked in 2006, just prior to the Great Recession, and has yet to recover. In 2013, the average household spent just $51,100, according to the latest numbers from the Consumer Expenditure Survey. This is 2.1 percent less than the average household spent in 2012 and fully 8.6 percent less than it spent in 2006, after adjusting for inflation. Here is average annual household spending from the peak spending year of 2006 through 2013 (in 2013 dollars), and the percent change in spending from the preceding year...

2013: $51,100 (-2.1%)
2012: $52,196 (+1.4%)
2011: $51,477 (+0.2%)
2010: $51,397 (-3.5%)
2009: $53,280 (-2.5%)
2008: $54,626 (-2.1%)
2007: $55,770 (-0.3%)
2006: $55,926 (+1.0%)

Note that the 2012-13 spending decline of 2.1 percent is equal to the decline that occurred between 2007 and 2008—in the midst of the Great Recession.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey

Why Renters Aren't Buying

Renters aren't becoming homeowners like they once did. Is that because they don't want to own a home or because they can't afford to buy? To determine the answer, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York added a series of questions on its Survey of Consumer Expectations, fielded in February. Were renters planning on moving in the next three years? Among those who planned to move, would they rent or buy their next home? If they did not plan to buy, why not?

It turns out most renters who plan to move and rent rather than buy just don't have the money to become homeowners. The 56 percent majority of these potential homebuyers say they don't have enough money saved or they have too much debt to buy a home.

Source: Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Liberty Street Economics, Why Aren't More Renters Becoming Homeowners?

Household Income Stable in July 2014

Median household income inched up to $54,045 in July 2014, according to Sentier Research. This was a statistically insignificant $105 more than in June, after adjusting for inflation. The July 2014 median was 1.7 percent higher than in July 2013, however, and 4.2 percent more than the $51,843 of August 2011—the low point in Sentier's household income series. 

"The period since August 2011 has been marked by an uneven, but generally upward trend in the level of real median annual household income," reports Sentier. "Many of the month-to-month changes in median income during this period have not been statistically significant. However, the cumulative effect of the various month-to-month changes since August 2011 resulted in the income improvement." Sentier's median household income estimates are derived from the Census Bureau's monthly Current Population Survey.   

Median household income in July 2014 was 2.9 percent below the median of June 2009, the end of the Great Recession. It was 4.6 percent below the median of December 2007, the start of the Great Recession. It was 5.7 percent below the median of January 2000. For more information on household income trends for the nation, states, and metropolitan areas, visit the Sentier Research web site.

Source: Sentier Research, Household Income Trends: July 2014

Household Wealth, 2007 to 2013

Bad news: Americans are still reeling from the Great Recession, according to the latest findings from the Survey of Consumer Finances. Median household net worth fell 40 percent between 2007 and 2013, after adjusting for inflation. Although most of that decline occurred between 2007 and 2010, net worth continued to drift downward between 2010 and 2013.

Median household net worth, 2007 to 2013 (in 2013 dollars)

2013: $81,200

2010: $82,800

2007: $135,400

Many households experienced double-digit declines in net worth between 2010 and 2013, after adjusting for inflation. Households headed by people aged 45 to 54, for example, saw their net worth fall by an additional 17 percent during those years, following a 39 percent decline between 2007 and 2010. Other household segments experiencing double-digit declines in net worth between 2010 and 2013 were those headed by people 55 to 64, aged 75 or older, without a high school diploma, with only some college, and the broad segment "nonwhites or Hispanics." 

Source: Federal Reserve Board, Survey of Consumer Finances

The Complete Guide to Young Adults in Four Numbers

Median annual earnings of 20-to-24-year-olds who are not in school, by highest level of educational attainment, 2000 and 2012 (in 2012 dollars)...

High school graduates
2000: $20,800
2012: $15,930

Bachelor's degree or more
2000: $29,700
2012: $24,990

Source: Forum on Child and Family Statistics, America's Young Adults, Special Issue 2014

Who Has a Basement?

Only 29 percent of the 569,000 new single-family homes completed in 2013 included a basement. Basements are uncommon in new homes because most are being built in the South, where basements are a rare commodity. Here is the number of new single-family homes completed in 2013 (and the percent with a basement) by region...

Northeast: 48,000 (71%)
Midwest: 96,000 (72%)
South: 296,000 (10%)
West: 129,000 (27%)

Source: Census Bureau, Characteristics of New Housing

Big Cities Are More Affordable than You Think

When comparing the cost of living in various cities, housing dominates the discussion. That's because housing is our biggest expense. In 2012, the average American household spent $16,000 on shelter and utilities—32 percent of the household budget.

But according to an analysis of HUD data by the Citizens Budget Commission (CBC) of New York City, reported on in Better Cities and Towns, there is a second variable that should be included in the affordability equation: transportation, which is the the second biggest household expense. In 2012, the average household spent $9,000 on transportation—17 percent of the household budget.

Walkable cities with public transportation can be more affordable than sprawling cities where residents must devote a hefty portion of their budget to vehicles and gasoline. It turns out, New York City is affordable after all. The average New York City household spends only $5,752 annually on transportation—well below the national average. Long thought to be one of the most expensive places to live, the combined cost of housing and transportation in New York City is lower than in 13 of 22 cities examined by the CBC, including Miami, Atlanta, Phoenix, Seattle, Austin, and Jacksonville.

Source: Better Cities and Towns, Why San Francisco, New York and DC May Be More Affordable than You Thought

Characteristics of Minimum Wage Workers, 2013

The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. Nationally, 3.3 million workers are paid minimum wage or less. Here are some of their characteristics...

Percent who work full-time: 35.5%
Percent with college experience: 42.2%
Percent who live in the South: 46.4%
Percent food prep workers: 46.7%
Percent aged 25 or older: 49.6%

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Characteristics of Minimum Wage Workers, 2013 (pdf)

Favorite Musician by Generation

"Who is your favorite singer/musician or band?"

Millennials: Beyoncé
Gen Xers: Metallica
Boomers: Beatles
Matures: Willie Nelson

Source: Harris Interactive, In the Great Debate over Beatles vs. Elvis, Beatles are America's Favorite Band while Elvis is Musical Artist Number Two

Grading the Public Schools, 2014

Percent of Americans who would give a grade of A or B to...

Public schools in the nation: 17%
Public schools in their community: 50%
Public school their oldest child attends: 67%

Source: PDK/Gallup Poll, 46th Annual PDK/Gallup Poll of the Public's Attitudes toward the Public Schools

Pets vs. Babies

Percent change in average household spending, 2006 to 2012 (in 2012 dollars)...

Pet food: +29%
Pet supplies: +116%

Baby food: -35%
Baby clothes: -42%

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Surveys

Who's Rich, by Age

The median net worth of the top 20 percent (highest quintile) of households was $630,754 in 2011 (the latest data available). Here is the median wealth of the highest quintile of households by age of householder...

Under age 35: $153,616
Aged 35 to 44: $448,824
Aged 45 to 54: $654,229
Aged 55 to 64: $889,867
Aged 65-plus: $899,608

Source: Census Bureau, Detailed Tables on Distribution of Wealth and Debt

Age Difference between Husbands and Wives, 2013

Percent distribution of married couples by age difference between husband and wife...

Husband 2+ years older than wife: 53%
Husband and wife within 1 year: 33%
Wife 2+ years older than husband: 14%

Source: Census Bureau, America's Families and Living Arrangements: 2013

The Police: Friend or Enemy?

"Do you generally think of the police more as friends, more as enemies, or don't you think of them in either of these ways?" asks a New York Times/CBS News poll.

Overall, 42 percent of Americans regard the police as their friend, 10 percent regard the police as their enemy, and 44 percent say the police are neither friend nor enemy. Here is the percentage of Americans who think of the police as their friend (or their enemy)...

Blacks: 23% (13%)
Whites: 49% (9%)

Men: 36% (15%)
Women: 48% (7%)

Aged 18-44: 29% (16%)
Aged 45-plus: 53% (5%)

Source: New York Times and CBS News, Reactions to the Shooting in Ferguson, Mo., Have Sharp Racial Divides

Trends in Household Debt, 2000 to 2011

Percentage of households with any debt (and median debt), 2000 to 2011 (in 2011 dollars)...

2011: 69.0% ($70,000)
2010: 69.6% ($74,300)
2009: 72.0% ($72,900)
2005: 73.6% ($71,800)
2004: 73.8% ($69,000)
2002: 74.9% ($56,400)
2000: 74.2% ($49,600)

Source: Census Bureau, Detailed Tables on Debt

Plunge in Teen Birth Rate

Teen births were not a problem in 1960. They were the norm. For every 1,000 women aged 15 to 19 in 1960, fully 89.1 babies were born. Today, there are only 26.6 babies born for every 1,000 women aged 15 to 19—a 70 percent decline. The overall birth rate in 2013 (62.9 births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44) is lower than the teen birth rate of 1960.

Teen births became a problem as marriage became less important. In 1960, half of women were married by age 20.3. Most "teen" births were to married women. Today, the median age at first marriage is 26.6 and most teen births are to single mothers.

Source: National Center for Health Statistics, National and State Patterns of Teen Birth in the United States, 1940-2013

Who Carries the Most Cash?

Austrians carry the most cash, according to a Federal Reserve Bank of Boston analysis of payment diary surveys in a number of countries. In Austria, the average person has $114 in his or her wallet (in US dollars). Germany is second, with the average person carrying $94. In the United States, the average person carries only $37.

The popularity of cash varies by country. Austrians and Germans carry more cash than Americans because they use cash more often. In both Austria and Germany, fully 82 percent of transactions are paid with cash versus 46 percent of transactions in the United States. Debit cards are more popular in the U.S., accounting for 26 percent of transactions versus only 13 to 14 percent of those in Austria and Germany. Credit cards account for a substantial 19 percent of transactions in the United States versus just 2 percent in Austria and Germany.

Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, Consumer Cash Usage: A Cross-Country Comparison with Payment Diary Survey Data

Death Rates by State

The overall age-adjusted death rate was 741.3 deaths per 100,000 population in 2011. By state, the death rate ranged from a low of 584.9 in Hawaii to a high of 956.1 in Mississippi. These are the five states with the lowest and highest age-adjusted death rates...

LOWEST
1. Hawaii
2. California
3. Minnesota
4. Connecticut
5. New York

HIGHEST
1. Mississippi
2. West Virginia
3. Alabama
4. Oklahoma
5. Kentucky

Source: CDC, QuickStats: Age-Adjusted Death Rates, by State—United States, 2011

Eating Organic

Overall, 45 percent of Americans aged 18 or older say they actively try to include organic food in their diet. The figure is highest in the West (54%) and in cities (50%). By age, this is the percentage who try to eat organic...

Aged 18 to 29: 53%
Aged 30 to 49: 48%
Aged 50 to 64: 45 %
Aged 65-plus: 33%

Source: Gallup, Forty-Five Percent of Americans Seek Out Organic Foods