University uncovers personal expenditure of American on transportation comparison

Total transportation expenditures in 2016 corresponded to 15.8% of all personal expenditures, down from 18.9% in 1989. Meanwhile, analogous trends were present for the lowest and highest quintiles of income, according to a new report by the University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute. The report is based on data from the Consumer Expenditure Survey and performed by the Census Bureau for the Bureau of Labour Statistics.
October 3, 2017 Read time: 2 mins

Total transportation expenditures in 2016 corresponded to 15.8% of all personal expenditures, down from 18.9% in 1989. Meanwhile, analogous trends were present for the lowest and highest quintiles of income, according to a new report by the 5594 University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute.

The report is based on data from the Consumer Expenditure Survey and performed by the Census Bureau for the Bureau of Labour Statistics. It compared expenditures for all households as well as those at two extremes of income in 1989 and 2016.

Other findings include a higher relative expenditure for gasoline and motor oil for the lowest quintile of income than for the highest quintile of income. Secondly, transportation accounted for the second largest budget category in both 2016 and 1989. Meanwhile, transportation expenditures relative to the expenditures for housing and food decreased. In addition, transportation expenditures for the lowest quintile of income were lower than food expenditures in both years, contrasting transportation expenditures for the highest quintile of income were higher than food expenditures in both years. Finally, transportation expenditure adjusted for inflation decreased by 11.3% from 1989 to 2016.

Related Content

  • April 9, 2014
    Gothenburg’s year of congestion charging
    A year after it went live, Colin Sowman examines the technology used for Gothenburg’s congestion charging system and the effect the scheme has had on commuters. When it comes to long-term planning, the Scandinavians take some beating.The West Swedish Agreement is a case in point. Introduced in 2009, the Agreement runs through to around 2027 and aims to create an attractive, sustainable and growing region, and over that timescale the number of journeys is expected to increase by a third. Therefore the Agreem
    Read More
  • March 4, 2019
    TISPOL says gig economy tears up enforcement rulebook
    The road safety enforcement sector is facing a crisis. Rulebooks around the world are going to have to change as our roads become a high-pressure workplace for millions of gig economy workers. Geoff Hadwick reports from the TISPOL conference Traffic police forces everywhere will need a fresh approach to regulating the way in which our highways are being used, senior enforcement officers were told at the latest TISPOL European Traffic Police Network annual conference. The World Health Organisation puts it
    Read More
  • December 4, 2015
    Emissions ‘rising too high despite the reduction targets’
    An analysis by the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland of the emission targets from 159 countries indicates that, although nearly all the world’s countries have announced targets for reducing their greenhouse gas emissions, more ambitious emission reductions are needed in order to limit global warming to two degrees. In addition, developing countries have recently joined the effort to slow down climate change by setting targets for reducing emissions. However, despite those targets, VTT says emissi
    Read More
  • August 25, 2016
    Price comparison website calls for reduction of traffic lights on UK roads
    Price-comparison website Confused.com is calling for a re-think on traffic lights in the UK in order to reduce congestion. This is supported by an Institute of Economic Affairs report which puts the cost of delays caused by traffic controls at US$21 billion (£16 billion) a year. It also states that four in five (80%) traffic lights in the UK could be removed to boost the economy and road safety. New research by Confused.com reveals that the average UK driver spends 48.5 hours a year stationary at traffic
    Read More

Highlighted Content