Except for housing, transportation was the largest single expenditure for the average American household in 2010. The average household spends more on transportation in a year than on food. Vehicle purchases, along with gasoline and motor oil, make up a large part of vehicle expenditures, but insurance, finance charges, repairs, vehicle rental and public transportation are all considered transportation.
2010 Share of Annual Household Expenditures
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Notes: Transportation includes new and used vehicle purchases; gasoline and motor oil; maintenance and repairs; vehicle insurance; vehicle finance charges; vehicle rental and public transportation.
Other includes personal care products and services; reading; education; tobacco products and smoking supplies; cash contributions; personal insurance and pensions; and miscellaneous.
Supporting Information
| Expenditure Type | Percent |
|---|---|
| Housing | 34.4% |
| Transportation | 16.0% |
| Food | 13.6% |
| Personal Insurance and Pensions | 11.2% |
| Health care | 6.6% |
| Entertainment | 5.2% |
| Apparel and Services | 3.5% |
| Other | 9.6% |
| Source: 2011 Vehicle Technologies Market Report, Figure 19. | |