Table 23. Selected southern metropolitan statistical areas: Average annual expenditures and characteristics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2002-2003 All consumer Washington, Dallas- Item units in D.C. Baltimore Atlanta Miami Tampa Fort Worth Houston the South Number of consumer units (in thousands)...... 40,664 2,090 1,083 1,804 1,681 937 2,159 1,756 Consumer unit characteristics: Income before taxes a/ .................... $46,201 $73,732 $58,371 $60,529 $48,411 $49,794 $63,972 $57,114 Age of reference person.................... 48.2 45.9 51.8 45.8 48.4 50.3 46.1 45.0 Average number in consumer unit: Persons.................................. 2.5 2.6 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.4 2.6 2.8 Children under 18........................ .6 .7 .7 .7 .7 .6 .7 .9 Persons 65 and over...................... .3 .2 .4 .2 .4 .4 .2 .2 Earners.................................. 1.3 1.6 1.2 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.6 1.5 Vehicles................................. 1.9 1.8 1.6 1.8 1.6 1.9 2.0 1.9 Percent Homeowner......................... 69 71 69 73 63 73 66 60 Average annual expenditures.................. $37,456 $50,985 $39,909 $39,549 $42,656 $35,776 $49,899 $47,434 Food....................................... 5,030 6,288 5,411 5,085 5,704 4,074 6,537 5,822 Food at home............................. 2,978 3,180 3,148 2,811 3,757 2,429 3,697 3,026 Cereals and bakery products............ 417 446 436 375 520 330 492 401 Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs......... 822 806 911 841 1,058 681 1,007 809 Dairy products......................... 299 320 287 279 425 263 368 328 Fruits and vegetables.................. 500 633 550 539 732 464 604 512 Other food at home..................... 940 974 965 778 1,022 691 1,226 977 Food away from home...................... 2,051 3,109 2,263 2,274 1,947 1,645 2,840 2,795 Alcoholic beverages........................ 314 641 465 279 432 425 405 346 Housing.................................... 11,888 18,863 13,801 14,548 16,178 13,355 15,726 15,121 Shelter.................................. 6,571 12,189 8,648 8,783 10,161 7,800 9,209 8,515 Owned dwellings........................ 4,427 8,641 6,102 6,383 6,685 5,561 6,065 5,417 Rented dwellings....................... 1,773 2,958 2,036 2,024 3,155 1,889 2,528 2,719 Other lodging.......................... 371 589 510 376 321 350 616 379 Utilities, fuels, and public services.... 2,834 3,067 2,767 3,421 3,068 3,021 3,538 3,284 Household operations..................... 678 932 598 699 991 848 794 1,030 Housekeeping supplies.................... 493 648 588 401 524 398 559 585 Household furnishings and equipment...... 1,313 2,028 1,199 1,243 1,434 1,288 1,627 1,707 Apparel and services....................... 1,520 2,240 1,920 1,567 1,545 994 2,055 2,078 Transportation............................. 7,509 7,853 5,605 7,400 8,348 7,291 9,815 9,891 Vehicle purchases (net outlay)........... 3,744 3,374 1,852 3,610 3,709 3,546 4,939 5,243 Gasoline and motor oil................... 1,281 1,318 1,139 1,222 1,324 1,142 1,510 1,467 Other vehicle expenses................... 2,225 2,454 2,215 2,289 2,868 2,407 3,018 2,794 Public transportation.................... 259 707 400 280 447 196 348 386 Health care................................ 2,413 2,289 2,108 1,903 2,059 2,167 2,833 2,494 Entertainment.............................. 1,759 2,340 1,756 1,463 1,549 1,684 2,135 2,515 Personal care products and services........ 502 651 643 422 589 383 624 648 Reading.................................... 98 164 101 59 65 88 125 115 Education.................................. 535 1,219 717 596 690 388 558 728 Tobacco products and smoking supplies...... 297 184 295 145 256 308 253 316 Miscellaneous.............................. 658 732 539 626 1,334 564 594 721 Cash contributions......................... 1,270 1,474 1,092 1,016 595 773 2,150 1,823 Personal insurance and pensions............ 3,662 6,046 5,456 4,438 3,313 3,283 6,089 4,816 Life and other personal insurance........ 385 537 405 494 231 372 430 403 Pensions and Social Security............. 3,277 5,509 5,051 3,945 3,082 2,911 5,659 4,413 a Components of income and taxes are derived from "complete income reporters" only; see glossary.