The two pie charts illustrate changes in the distribution of US consumer spending across seven categories between 1966 and 1996. Overall, it is evident that while food was the primary expense in 1966, cars became the dominant category by 1996, reflecting a major shift in household priorities.
In 1966, food accounted for the largest proportion of spending at 44%, followed by cars at 23%. Furniture and petrol represented 10% and 9% respectively, while restaurants made up 7%. Books comprised 6% of the total, with computers being the least significant expenditure at only 1%.
By 1996, the spending landscape had transformed significantly. Expenditure on cars nearly doubled to reach 45%, making it the most prominent category. Conversely, spending on food plummeted to 14%. The proportion allocated to restaurants doubled to 14%, matching the figure for food. Meanwhile, spending on computers saw a notable increase from 1% to 10%. In contrast, the shares for furniture and petrol experienced slight declines to 8% each, and the proportion spent on books fell to 1%. These figures highlight a clear transition toward automotive and technological consumption over the three decades.