This report, 100 Years of U.S. Consumer Spending: Data for the Nation, New York City, and Boston, BLS Report 991, offers a new approach to the use of Consumer Expenditure Survey data. Normally, the survey presents an indepth look at American households at a specific point in time, the reference period being a calendar year. Here, the authors, Michael L. Dolfman and Denis M. McSweeney, use consumer expenditure data longitudinally and draw on information from decennial census reports to present a 100-year history of significant changes in consumer spending, economic status, and family demographics in the country as a whole, as well as in New York City and Boston. 

Nine timeframes are presented independently, with a section titled “Perspective” providing an analytic framework for each period to aid in interpretation. Tables and charts tracing common elements over the 100-year period also should aid the reader in the interpretation of trends. 

The report is presented on this website in Adobe PDF format.  The 69-page report is divided into sections on this site to make it more usable. The report is also available in a single PDF file: 100 Years of U.S. Consumer Spending: Data for the Nation, New York City, and Boston (560K)  

Note: Minor revisions were made to the online version of this report on June 2 and August 3, 2006.

Last Modified Date: August 3, 2006