OUTRAGEOUS! Americans Spend More on Taxes Than Food and Clothing Combined

Americans on average spent more on taxes in 2016 than they did on food and clothing combined, according to data released this week by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The same data also shows that in three years—from 2013 to 2016—the average tax bill for Americans increased 41.13 percent. In 2016, according to BLS, “consumer units” (which include families, financially independent individuals, and people living in a single household who share expenses) spent more on average on federal, state and local taxes ($10,489) than they did on food ($7,203) and clothing ($1,803) combined ($9,006). The average tax bill for American “consumer units” increased from $7,423 in 2013 to $10,489 in 2016, according to data released this week by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The tax-and-spending data was collected as part of the BLS’s Consumer Expenditure Survey, which is conducted for the BLS by the Census Bureau. The survey measures the expenditures and incomes of American consumers. “Burdened taxpayers need to grasp that politicians, both parties, are like junkies who can’t stop spending and taxing. Ever!” said media expert and author Michael Levine. “No matter what, they always, always, always want just a little more and create endlessly creative ways filled with pretty words dedicated to separating you from your money.”