Average Household Spending Hits $81,905 in 2025
Federal data show U.S. households spent 4.3% more in 2025 than the year before, with middle-aged households spending the most.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Spending
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The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the average U.S. household spent $81,905 in 2025, about $6,825 per month. Spending rose 4.3% from 2024 while consumer prices rose 2.7%.
Why it matters
Spending growth outpacing inflation indicates households were consuming more in real terms in 2025. The figures give a national benchmark for how household budgets are allocated across age groups.
The BLS annual figure of $81,905 reflects a 4.3% increase over 2024 compared with 2.7% consumer price growth, indicating real spending gains. Survey data for October and November 2025 were not collected because of a government shutdown, so the BLS reweighted the rest of the year to estimate the total.
The players
Bureau of Labor Statistics
The BLS is the principal federal agency that measures labor market activity, working conditions, and price changes in the U.S. economy, and it publishes the Consumer Expenditure Survey.
The details
Households headed by someone ages 45 to 54 spent the most, almost $106,700, while households headed by someone under 25 spent about $54,000. Housing was the largest expense for every age group, and for households headed by someone 75 or older it made up 39% of spending, while healthcare made up 14%.
Timeline
2024: baseline year for the 4.3% spending increase.
October and November 2025: BLS could not collect survey data during a government shutdown.
2025: BLS reported average household spending of $81,905.
Market Dynamics
The 2025 BLS figures build on David Blanchett's follow-up study on how retiree spending declines over time, which found spending falls as households age. The BLS age breakdown shows the same downward pattern after households pass their peak-spending years in their late 40s and early 50s.
Households in the 45 to 54 age range spend the most, so budgeting for housing, which is the largest expense for every age group, matters most at that stage. Comparing your own spending against the national average can help identify where your budget sits relative to peers.
The takeaway
Household spending is highest among households in their late 40s and early 50s, who have the most earners and highest pretax incomes. Tracking housing costs first is the most effective way to understand a household budget.
Further reading
Explore more on Spending to see how household budgets compare across age groups and years.
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