How Do Retirees’ Spending Patterns Change Over Time?

Using the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and the Consumption and Activities Mail Survey (CAMS), we examine
spending behavior of older Americans for the 50–64, 65–74, and 75-or-older age groups between 2005 and 2017,
biennially.
 Average annual total spending is lower for households in older age groups compared with those in younger
age groups.
 Housing is the largest spending category for every age group, and in all survey years studied except 2017, the
median share of households’ budgets allocated to housing expenses was smaller for older households.
 On average, households spent less on food as they grew older, and the average dollar amount spent on workrelated expenses such as transportation and clothing declined by age.
 The average amount spent on entertainment declined by age, and older households allocated a larger share of
their budgets to gifts and contributions.
 The share of health care costs in households’ budgets increased with age. However, the average annual share
of health costs for the 65–74 and 75-or-older age groups declined after 2007, the year after Medicare Part D
went into effect.
 Across all age groups, for low-income households, a larger share of expenses was spent on housing and food
compared with high-income households. This increased spending on necessities was offset by a reduction in
the average share of spending on entertainment and gifts and contributions.
 Median total income was lower for households in older age groups. In addition, they had higher median
spending-to-income ratios than younger age groups.
 The fraction of households who spent more than their income increased with age. However, the average
amount overspent was lower for older age groups compared with younger age groups.
 Median non-housing wealth increased with age but leveled off and even declined as households reached ages
75 or older. In addition, it was much lower for households with deficits — those who have spent more than
their income — than for households without deficits.