Households in the highest income category spent a smaller share on gasoline/motor oil and vehicle insurance than those in other income categories.
July 23, 2018
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When comparing the 2016 share of annual household transportation expenditures across income categories, households in the highest income category ($200,000 and more) spent a smaller share on gasoline/motor oil and vehicle insurance than those in other income categories, but a greater share on vehicle rentals/leases and "public & other transportation" (which includes taxis, airlines, boats, etc.). Although those households with incomes of $200,000 or more had the largest share of new vehicle expenditures, overall vehicle purchase expenditures were about the same as the average for all households (40%). The lowest income category (Less than $15,000) spent the greatest share on gasoline/motor oil and had the highest gasoline/motor oil share of all the income categories.
Notes: Overall vehicle purchase expenditures include "Cars & trucks, new," "Cars & trucks, used," and "Other vehicles." "Public & other transportation" includes fares for mass transit, buses, trains, airlines, taxis, school buses for which a fee is charged, and boats.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey website query, April 2018.