Thanks, Stacy.The Department of Labor’s latest survey shows how the US consumer spends her money. A picture is worth a thousand words: more on personal care items than on education. And we wonder why people do stupid things…
Reading is the lowest measured item. Go buy some books. New ones.
Nicola Griffith 
I spend way more on my books…& my alchohol…& my housing. I am…not like this chart at all.
I have rarely so enjoyed being a statistical outlier.
@Elizabeth: Hear, hear!
I so enjoy that the average person spends 6x the amount of money on housekeeping supplies than books.
I spend on books what the chart says people spend on transportation, and my transportation expenses (excluding airfare) are what the chart allocates to reading—gotta love my annual $190 transit pass.
mordicai, nor me–I would look amazingly awesome if I spent that much on clothes and personal care, and exceedingly thin if we spent that little on food.
elizabeth, (apologies for doing this in the comments but I don't think you got my last email): I did respond regarding Metrotextuality…
stacy, I think American's are obsessed with all the wrong kinds of hygiene.
karina, yep, our transport costs are miniscule.
I am in the lucky situation where I don't have to know how much money I spend on what– my wife is much more money smart than me, so that delegates to her.
I have to agree with Mordicai, I spend a lot more on books and alcohol (but less on housing since I own it outright) than this chart reflects.