How Americans spend their money in the last 75 years

Andrea James 5:10 am Fri Dec 30, 2016

Compared to 75 years ago, Americans spend less on reading, alcohol, tobacco, clothing, and food. They spend more on education, entertainment, and transportation, but the real bank-breaker is how much more Americans spend on housing, even adjusted for inflation.

According to Howmuch.net, "The data were collected from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is adjusted for inflation and measures median spending of all Americans."

Unsurprisingly, housing expenses have almost always been the largest area of spending in America for over 70 years. The only exception is 1941, when spending on food averaged $8,311, whereas spending on housing came to $7,537. However, in 1941 the government included alcohol in the food spending category, which inflates the food spending data for that year. In the other years, alcohol was given its own category. In every other year measured, spending on housing outpaced every other category.

• Unprecedented Spending Trends in America, in One Chart (HowMuch.net)

Infographic of the world's $104 trillion economy

Fascinating at-a-glance look at the $104 trillion global economy, divvied up into slices of geographical pie. I wasn't surprised that the United States has the biggest economy, at $25.3 trillion, and that China is close behind with $19.9 trillion (and is expected to surpass the United States by 2030). Things that surprised me: How small… READ THE REST
New double-decker airplane seats let you eat farts for free

CNN Travel recently published an article about a new "conceptual" double decker airline seat arrangement that's had the industry buzzing. The "Chaise Longue (sic) Airplane Seat" is currently on display at the Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) in Hamburg, and won a 2021 Crystal Cabin Award — "the top prize in the aviation industry," according to… READ THE REST
Covid results in 1 billion unsold hotel room nights in 2020

Hotels are suffering greatly as a result of the pandemic, reports MSN. By the end of the year, the hotel industry in the United States will have recorded a billion unsold hotel room nights. Based on an average daily rate of $131, hotel owners have seen about $46 billion in lost revenue. The result, industry… READ THE REST
This light is the perfect addition to any study to help your score that A+

We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. If you're embarking on a new scholastic journey, you might find studying from home challenging. For one, a dimly lit room doesn't make learning easy as it's terrible for your eyes… READ THE REST
Grab one or all of these gadgets to fuel your Back to Education gusto

We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. Education has changed a lot as the tides of technology have changed with it for the better (well, mostly). Scholastics are nothing new to you. However, as someone who gets a kick… READ THE REST
Save $63 on these award-winning translation earbuds while donating to charity

We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. Summer may be coming to an end, but that doesn't mean your adventures have to stop. Whether it's a business trip or weekend galavanting around town, broadening your world can be… READ THE REST