Clothing Demand in the United States: A Cross‐Sectional Analysis

This paper examined factors influencing clothing expenditures by households in the United States. In particular, the impact of various household characteristics on clothing expenditures was investigated using data from the 1972–73 Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Ex penditure Survey. The results indicated that income plays a major role in concert with demographic characteristics in determining household expenditures on clothing and services. Expenditures were positively related to income and education and negatively related to age of household head. Households headed by blacks with wives in the labor force spent more on clothing than other households. Location also proved to be a significant variable with urban households spending more on clothing expenditures than rural households. The results should provide information concerning the demand for clothing under different economic and demographic conditions.