Quite as important as the differences in the sizes of incomes is the manner in which families of various groups expend their respective incomes. Some years ago the United States Commission of Labor made the following estimate:

Object of Expenditure

Income

Under $200

Income $300

And

Under $400

Income $500

And

Under $600

Income $700

And

Under $800

Income $900

And

Under $1000

Income $1200

And

Over

Percent

Per Cent

Per Cent

Per Cent

Per Cent

Percent

Food....

49.64

45.59

43.84

38.89

34.34

28.63

Rent...........

15.48

14.98

15.15

15.60

14.96

12.59

Clothing...

12.82

14.14

15.27

16.33

16.84

15.71

Fuel....

7.07

6.04

5.63

4.42

4.00

2.57

Lighting..........

1.01

0.98

0.97

0.88

0.74

0.45

All other purposes .. . . .

13.98

18.27

19.14

23.88

29.12

40.05

Many other investigations of incomes have been made and all seem to point to the same general conclusion:

1. As the income of a family increases the relative amount spent for food decreases.

2. Approximately the same relative amount is spent for rent irrespective of size of income.

3. Increase in income is accompanied by an increase in the amount spent for education, recreation, amusement, etc.