Paying the Bills

What the average U.S. household has shelled out annually:

1901 Food, $266; housing, $112; fuel and light, $35.

1950 Food, $1,205; housing, $415; fuel, light and refrigeration, $163; furnishings, $278.

1997 Food, $6,634; housing, $14,885; fuel, electricity, water and telephone services, $3,067; furnishings, floor coverings and appliances, $1,890.

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Source: annual household spending figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics