Economy Now
Americans spend big on Fido and Fluffy
May 21, 2013: 10:44 AM ET
Americans spend more on their Fidos and Fluffies each year than they spend on booze or men's clothing.
People shelled out an average of $502 annually on their pets in 2011, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That compares to the $456 they spent on alcohol and $404 they spent on men and boys' clothes.
Just pet food alone cost the average household $183 -- which is more than folks spend on chicken, cereal, bread and candy. Vet services adds another $143.
Though families cut back on their overall spending during the recession and ate out at restaurants less, their spending on pet food remained constant.
Nearly three-quarters of American households own pets. There are about 218 million pets nationwide, not including several million fish.
Not surprisingly, married couples with no children living at home spend the most on pets, while single folks spent the least.
-
What Americans earn
Median weekly earnings in the U.S. for wage and salary workers were $775 at the end of 2012.
But just how much you make depends on a number of factors, including your race and gender,
CNNMoney gives you a snapshot into what Americans earn:The more schooling you have, the more you get in your paycheck.
And your profession has a big impact:
It's well-known that women make less than men...but the size of the MORE
Tami Luhby - Jan 23, 2013 9:43 AM ET -
Nuclear sentinel to help keep jobs data under wraps
The Department of Labor has asked Sandia National Laboratories to take a look at its data security procedures, including how the agency keeps the all-important monthly jobs report secret until its official release.
Yes -- the same Sandia National Laboratories that safeguards the nuclear arsenal of the United States.
The company's involvement was first reported by CNBC, and an agency official confirmed details to CNNMoney.
According to the official, the agency is now MORE
Charles Riley - Mar 8, 2012 3:43 PM ET
| Overnight Avg Rate | Latest | Change | Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 yr fixed | 3.75% | 3.66% | |
| 15 yr fixed | 2.89% | 2.79% | |
| 5/1 ARM | 2.66% | 2.59% | |
| 30 yr refi | 3.74% | 3.64% | |
| 15 yr refi | 2.89% | 2.79% |
by Bankrate.com
Today's featured rates:
- 30 yr fixed mtg, 0 points, Los Angeles, CA, APR 4.625%
- 30 yr fixed mtg, 0 points, Los Angeles, CA, APR 4.625%
- 30 yr fixed, 0 points refi, Elizabeth, NJ, APR 4.625%
- 30 yr fixed, 0 points refi, Elizabeth, NJ, APR 4.750%
- 15 yr fixed mtg, 0 points, Orlando, FL, APR 3.875%
- 15 yr fixed mtg, 0 points, Orlando, FL, APR 4.000%
- 5/1 ARM, 0 points, Houston, TX, APR 3.125%
- 5/1 ARM, 0 points, Houston, TX, APR 3.250%
- 30 yr jumbo, 0 points, Cleveland, OH, APR 5.500%
| Latest Report | Next Update |
|---|---|
| Home prices | Aug 28 |
| Consumer confidence | Aug 28 |
| GDP | Aug 29 |
| Manufacturing (ISM) | Sept 4 |
| Jobs | Sept 7 |
| Inflation (CPI) | Sept 14 |
| Retail sales | Sept 14 |
