Report details Greater Boston spending habits

Greater Boston consumers spent about 12 percent more than the national average in 2006 and 2007, and a larger share of their income on housing, insurance, education and entertainment, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported.

Households in the Boston metropolitan area spent an annual average of $55,189 during that two year period, compared with $49,279 for the average US household. Household spending in Greater Boston also rose about 3 percent from an average $53,691 in 2005 to 2006.

Greater Boston households spent about 36.6 percent of their budgets on housing, including utilities, compared to 33.9 percent nationally; 11.5 percent on personal insurance and retirement plans, compared to 10.8 percent nationally; 6.1 percent on entertainment, compared to 5.4 percent nationally; and 2.5 percent on education compared to 1.9 percent nationally.

Households here, however, spent a smaller share on food, 12.1 percent compared to 12. 4 percent nationally. Transportation and health care costs also took a smaller bite of household budgets. Greater Boston households spent 15.8 percent on transportation, compared to 17.7 percent nationally, and 5.1 percent for health care compared to 5.7 percent nationally.
(By Robert Gavin, Globe staff)