U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Vehicle Technologies Office
Fact #565: April 6, 2009
Household Gasoline Expenditures by Income
In the annual Consumer Expenditure Survey, household incomes are grouped into five equal parts called quintiles (each quintile is 20%). Households in the second and third quintiles consistently have a higher share of spending on gasoline each year than households in the other quintiles.
Household Gasoline Expenditures by Income Quintile 
Supporting Information
Shares of Average Annual Expenditures for Gasoline, 1989, 1997, and 2007
| Income Quintile |
1989 |
1997 |
2007 |
| Share of Expenditures |
| Lowest 20% |
3.8% |
3.3% |
5.1% |
| Second 20% |
4.0% |
3.5% |
5.7% |
| Third 20% |
4.1% |
3.4% |
5.7% |
| Fourth 20% |
3.6% |
3.3% |
5.2% |
| Highest 20% |
2.9% |
2.6% |
3.8% |
| All |
3.5% |
3.1% |
4.8% |
|
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey |
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