The line graph illustrates the average annual amount that American consumers spent on three telecommunication services – cell phones, national fixed-line, and international fixed-line – over the decade from 2001 to 2010.
Overall, expenditure on cell phone services rose substantially and became the largest category by the end of the period, whereas spending on national fixed-line services fell considerably. In contrast, the amount spent on international fixed-line services remained relatively stable throughout.
In 2001, consumers spent the most on national fixed-line services, at around $700, while expenditure on cell phones was the lowest of the three at roughly $200. However, these two figures moved in opposite directions. Cell phone spending climbed steadily, overtaking national fixed-line expenditure at approximately $550 in around 2006, before continuing upward to peak at about $750 in 2010. Meanwhile, national fixed-line spending declined consistently, dropping to roughly $400 by the end of the period.
Expenditure on international fixed-line services, by comparison, saw little change. Beginning at approximately $250 in 2001, it edged up to around $300 by 2003 and then remained largely flat for the rest of the decade, finishing as the smallest category at just over $300.