Dana VanDen Heuvel: Eating Out Approaches Grocery Costs For Some (ME!)

December 3, 2003

Eating Out Approaches Grocery Costs For Some (ME!)

The Center for Media Research sends out daily emails w/ little tidbits about media and society. This one immediately caught my eye, as I am not a huge fan of cooking and realize, sadly, that WAY TOO MUCH of my budget goes to "eating out."

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Expenditure Survey, released in summary by NewStrategist, Americans spend 67 percent as much eating out as they do buying groceries.

Householders under age 25 spend 92 percent as much eating out as on groceries.

Among households with incomes of $70,000 or more, the figure is 90 percent.

People who live alone spend 80 percent as much eating out as on groceries

Married couples without children at home spend 75 percent. as much eating out as on groceries

The dollars people spend eating out for lunch and dinner are almost evenly split (about 1/3 each)

Snacks account for another 12 percent

Breakfast/brunch for 8 percent

Restaurant food on trips for the remaining 10 percent of the eating-out dollar.

Of the $2,063 the average household spends eating out, 41 percent goes to fast-food restaurants and 41 percent to full-service establishments.