This easy-to-use statistical handbook features the most up-to-date and comprehensive data related to U.S. wealth and consumer spending patterns. More than 300 statistical tables and charts are organized into 8 detailed sections. Intended for students, teachers, and general users, the handbook contains these sections: (1) "General Economic Data" (basic economic information about the United States including Domestic and Gross National Products, tangible wealth, foreign direct investments, and Gross State Product); (2) "Personal, Family, and Household Income and Wealth" (focused analyses of personal wealth including household income, savings accounts, Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), and 401(k) plans); (3) "Business and Corporate Wealth" (detailed information about the creation and utilization of wealth in the corporate arena); (4) "Overview of Consumption" (a general overview and analysis of household consumption); (5) "Consumption--Material Goods" (detailed analyses of consumption of food, beverages, housing, energy, apparel, household appliances, software, cleaning products); (6) "Consumption--Services" (services information regarding consumption of personal and business services, education (public education, higher education, teaching resources), Internet access, health care, and insurance); (7) "Consumption--Travel, Leisure, and Other Non-Essentials" (data regarding business trips and vacations, media usage and consumer spending, books and newspapers, recreation services, sports, pets, and philanthropic contributions); and (8) "The Role of Government" (an in-depth analysis of the federal and state governments' effects on generation of wealth and on consumption in the United States). Information on the Role of Government and an appendix with tables of international data are also included. (BT)