Aggregate household spending on community-based entertainment

In past articles we have examined the trends for spending and participation at entertainment venues and restaurants at the household level. We thought for the sake of a balanced presentation, we would examine U.S. total spending on community-based entertainment venues (within 50-miles of home and not on an overnight trip).  

From 2000 through 2011, total entertainment spending at community-based entertainment facilities (CBE) grew by one-ninth (11.2%) in inflation adjusted dollars to $14.2 Billion. That rate of spending growth by all households was just slighting less than the 11.8% growth in the number of households.

However, the growth was not consistent across different household incomes. The highest 20% (quintile) of households by income saw their spending grow by over one-sixth (17%), the 3rd and 4th highest income quintiles grew by 7% and the lowest 40% of income households declined in spending.

As a result, the top income quintile grew in their share of all such spending while the shares of spending for each of the other quintiles declined. This is what is known as income stratification. The top 20% of income households ($94,000+ incomes) now account for almost one-half (46%) of all entertainment spending at community-based venues.