Money · Facts & sources
4 sourced facts about household bills and everyday expenses, each with the context behind the number. 4 more are in today's round and appear here after it closes.
Answerabout 33.4%
Housing costs, whether rent or mortgage-related, dwarf every other category of household spending.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey (2024) bls.gov
Answerabout $13,318
Transportation was the second-largest household expense category that year, behind only housing.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey (2024) bls.gov
Answerabout 5,000 years ago
Ancient cuneiform tablets from Mesopotamia recorded quantities, prices and parties in trade transactions.
Source: Wikipedia, Invoice (2025) en.wikipedia.org
Answerabout 25%
Unpaid bills owed to a business can be enough on their own to push it into bankruptcy.
Source: Wikipedia, Invoice (2025) en.wikipedia.org