Examination of Generational Differences in Household Apparel Expenditures

In light of the impact baby boomers continue to have on the American culture and marketplace, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between household apparel expenditures and age groups defined by generations while controlling for other household characteristics. Generations used in this study were the GI generation (1901 to 1932), the silent generation (1933 to 1945), the baby boom generation (1946 to 1964), Generation X (1965 to 1976), and Generation Y (1977 to 1987). Data from the 1998 Consumer Expenditure Survey were used to estimate expenditure equations for total household apparel as well as men's, women's, boys', girls', and infants' apparel. The results of this research indicate there are significant differences between baby boomers and other generations with respect to their household apparel expenditures. The results have both educational and marketing implications.