The table illustrates the average monthly expenditure (in US dollars) on five categories of goods – food, clothing, entertainment, education, and health – by four age groups in 2020. The pie chart shows the percentage of total spending allocated to each category across all age groups.
Overall, food accounted for the largest proportion of spending across all age groups, representing 40% of total expenditure. In contrast, education was the least significant category, contributing only 10% to overall spending. Spending patterns varied significantly between younger and older age groups, with younger individuals prioritizing clothing and entertainment while older groups allocated more money to health.
In terms of food expenditure, the amount spent increased progressively with age. The youngest group (18-25) spent $217 per month on food, while the oldest group (46-55) spent more than double this amount at $482. Clothing was the second-largest category overall (20%), with younger individuals spending substantially more ($143 for 18-25) compared to older groups ($27 for 46-55). Entertainment followed a similar trend; spending decreased with age, from $102 for the youngest group to $22 for the oldest.
Education accounted for only 10% of total spending and was primarily limited to younger individuals. The 18-25 age group spent $46 per month on education, while no money was allocated by those aged 46-55. Conversely, health spending increased significantly with age, from just $22 per month for the youngest group to $149 for the oldest. Health represented 15% of total expenditure and was the third-largest category overall.
In summary, food dominated spending across all age groups, while younger people prioritized clothing and entertainment. Older individuals focused more on health-related expenses as their spending on other categories declined.