You might find this page helpful, although it tackles the question from a very different perspective.

 

http://www.bls.gov/cex/

 

Here's a question: anyone know of a study that tracks how a dollar spent by a consumer stimulates the economy, vs a dollar spent by the government?

 

Here is one, not very analytical

 

http://www.ncpa.org/studies/s178/s178.html

I still wonder what a consumption tax would do to economy. I don't suppose that's ever going to happen, though. Perhaps it shouldn't.

I still wonder what a consumption tax would do to economy. I don't suppose that's ever going to happen, though. Perhaps it shouldn't.

 

I used to be a little excited about the fair tax proposal, but they managed to muck it up with "prebates" and the like. I guess it would be better than the IRS, but it misses the point administratively.