Restaurant Spending Report (2/2)

? from home, but spent only $848 per capita. Households headed by persons between the ages of 45 and 54 spent the second-largest amount, both in total and per-capita, on food away from home in 2002 -- $2,700 and $1,000, respectively. Households headed by persons between the ages of 55 and 64 spent the most per-capita on food away from home in 2002 -- $1,164. ? Restaurant spending decreases sharply among households headed by persons age 65 and older. Households headed by persons 65 years and older allocated an average of $1,362, or $801 per capita, on food away from home in 2002. Spending by household size ? Although one-person households posted the highest per-capita spending on food away from home ($1,356) and allocated the largest share of the food dollar on food away from home (46.5 percent), those households spent less than the nation’s average for total household spending. Two-person households had nearly double the household income of one-person households and allocated a larger total amount on food away from home than one-person households. ? Per-capita spending by two-person households ($1,188) was lower than that of one-person households. Larger households generally allocated a smaller portion of their total food dollar on food away from home and, as a result, posted lower per-capita spending. In 2002, households with two or more persons allocated a total of $2,649, or $855 per capita, on food away from home. Spending by household composition ? Household composition is also an important factor influencing restaurant spending. Although total spending on food away from home posted by households consisting of a husband, wife and children was 43 percent above the nation’s average ($3,257 vs. $2,276), households consisting of only a husband and wife posted the highest per-capita spending on food away from home ($1,258). ? The addition of children increases household size and results in lower per-capita spending on food away from home. However, restaurant spending increases as children get older. In 2002, households with the oldest child age 18 or older spent roughly 35 percent more per capita on food away from home than households with the oldest child under age six ($9324 vs. $688). Spending by number of wage earners Both household income and total spending on food away from home rise with the number of wage earners in a household. However, due to their larger average household size, per capita expenditures decline as the number of household earners rises. ? Employed persons living alone posted the highest per-capita expenditures on food away from home ($1,702) and allocated the largest portion of their total food dollar (52.8 percent) on food away from home. ? Among multi-person households, those with two earners recorded the highest per-capita spending on food away from home ($976). Spending by occupation ? Persons employed in managerial and professional occupations posted the highest total and per-capita spending on food away from home ($3,271 and $1,258, respectively). Managers and professionals allocated the highest proportion of their total food dollar to food away from home (48.1 percent). Self-employed persons and technical, sales and clerical workers also posted above-average total expenditures on food away from home. Source:National Restaurant Association 1200 17th St., NW Washington, DC 20036 202-331-5900