Average American Spends Nearly $800 a Year on Tobacco and Alcohol

A recent report by the Labor Department profiles the average consumer. The third of three parts

By U.S. News Staff

July 17, 2009 RSS Feed Print
  • $2,698: Annual expenditures on entertainment, or 5.4% of annual paycheck
  • $323: Annual amount spent on tobacco, or 0.7% of paycheck
  • $457: Annual amount spent on alcohol, or 0.9% of paycheck
  • $6,133: Annual amount spent on food, or 12.4% of paycheck
  • $1,881: Annual amount spent on clothing, or 3.8% of paycheck

Read more Data Points

Sources: VisualEconomics.com

Tags:
consumers

Reader Comments Read all comments (2)

Add Your Thoughts
Your comment will be posted immediately, unless it is spam or contains profanity. For more information, please see our Comments FAQ.

fire the guy that wrote those numbers

craig of NJ 10:56AM July 17, 2009

If one really smokes or drinks one spends a whole lot more than your article states. Numbers like this that use useless averages are misleading. mp

mary of AZ 9:36AM July 17, 2009

Cartoons

advertisement

Debate Club

Was 2011 One of the Worst Years for the U.S. Government in American History?

Experts debate where 2011 ranks among Washington's worst years.

Latest Video

Thomas Jefferson Street Blog

May Unemployment Rate Dooms Barack Obama

With unemployment now at 8.2 percent, Mitt Romney is poised to gain ground with voters.

Planned Parenthood Pulls a Komen on Mitt Romney

Planned Parenthood successfully targeted the Susan G. Komen Foundation and is now getting political by campaigning against Mitt Romney.

Bill Clinton Undercuts Barack Obama in Wisconsin

Former President Bill Clinton is campaigning for Democrats across the country, disregarding Obama's campaign strategies.

Barack Obama Doesn’t Get a Pass on Poland Gaffe

The president's error and half-hearted apology is a serious diplomatic mistake.

Mitt Romney's Ridiculous Unemployment Reaction

Romney's dramatic reaction to the May jobs report makes him look false and calculating.

What John Edwards Tells Us About the Legal Profession

The legal profession is experiencing a very serious breakdown of ethics.

What the GOP Should Do if Obamacare Falls

If Obamacare is struck down by the Supreme Court, the Democrats are responsible for proposing another plan.

Barack Obama and George Bush Show Congress How to Act Like Adults

Obama and Bush are capable of acting like adults. Why isn't Congress?

advertisement

  1. Maryland Man Arrested After Admitting to Killing, Eating Roommate
  2. Miami's 'Naked Zombie' Proves Need to Ban Bath Salts, Experts Say
  3. The Best Jobs of 2012
  4. Daily 'Dose' of Dark Chocolate Might Shield the Heart
  5. 'Ron Paul Festival' Could Bring 100k Supporters to GOP Convention