September 29, 2011 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Overall consumer expenditures fall in 2010

Average annual consumer expenditures, all consumer units, by major component of spending, 2008–2010
Item	2008	2009	2010
Total	$50,486	$49,067	$48,109
Cash contributions	1,737	1,723	1,633
Apparel and services	1,801	1,725	1,700
Entertainment	2,835	2,693	2,504
Healthcare	2,976	3,126	3,157
All other expenditures	3,376	3,404	3,379
Personal insurance and pensions	5,605	5,471	5,373
Food	6,443	6,372	6,129
Transportation	8,604	7,658	7,677
Housing	17,109	16,895	16,557

These data are featured in the TED article, Overall consumer expenditures fall in 2010.

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