The infographic above represents consumer spending in 2009. You’ll notice the entertainment expenditures add up to 5.49 percent or $2,693 of the household’s annual income.

Entertainment expenditures include four categories:

• fees and admissions
• televisions, radios, and sound equipment
• pets, toys and playground equipment
• other entertainment supplies, equipment, and services

In case you’re wondering what’s included in the other entertainment category, the answer includes indoor exercise equipment, athletic shoes, bicycles, trailers, purchase and rental of motorized campers and other recreational vehicles, camping equipment, hunting and fishing equipment, sports equipment, boats, boat motors and boat trailers, rental of boats, landing and docking fees, rental and repair of sports equipment, photographic equipment and supplies (film and film processing), photographer fees, repair and rental of photo equipment, fireworks, and pinball and electronic video games.

Entertainment Spending and Consumer Unit Characteristics – 2009

The tables in the image on the left represent household spending on entertainment subdivided by various consumer characteristics, including:

• Quintiles of Income Before Taxes
• Income Before Taxes
• Higher Income Before Taxes
• Age of Reference Person
• Size of Household
• Composition of Household
• Housing Tenure and Type of Area
• Race of Reference Person
• Region or Residence

This data was released May 2011 and can provide helpful insight for your geographical region and target demographic.

Click the image to view the larger version – image will open in a new window.

Spending Comparison Table 2007 – 2009

Average annual expenditures and characteristics of all consumer units
and percent changes, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2007-2009
_____________________________________________________________________________
                                                          Percent change
Item                         2007     2008     2009    2007-2008 2008-2009
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of consumer
 units (000’s)            120,171  120,770  120,847

Income before taxes       $63,091  $63,563  $62,857   	     0.7      -1.1

Average age of
 reference person            48.8     49.1     49.4

Average number in
 consumer unit:
  Persons                     2.5      2.5      2.5
  Earners                     1.3      1.3      1.3
  Vehicles                    1.9      2.0      2.0
Percent homeowner              67	66       66

Average annual
 expenditures             $49,638  $50,486  $49,067          1.7      -2.8
  Food                      6,133    6,443    6,372          5.1      -1.1
    At home                 3,465    3,744    3,753          8.1       0.2
    Away from home          2,668    2,698    2,619          1.1      -2.9
  Housing                  16,920   17,109   16,895          1.1      -1.3
  Apparel and services      1,881    1,801    1,725         -4.3      -4.2
  Transportation            8,758    8,604    7,658         -1.8     -11.0
  Healthcare                2,853    2,976    3,126          4.3       5.0
  Entertainment             2,698    2,835    2,693          5.1      -5.0
  Personal insurance
   and pensions             5,336    5,605    5,471          5.0      -2.4
  All other expenditures    5,059    5,113    5,127          1.0       0.3

Entertainment Spending 2007 vs. 2008