Recently released, the July 1999 issue of Issues in Labor Statistics looks at the amount of money the average American household spent on health care in 1997, as compared to 1987. On average, Americans spent $1841 in 1997, close to $700 more than in 1987. The highest rise in expenditures were in the Midwest, where consumer units spent 73 percent more on health care. Respectively, the Northeast, South, and West spent 64, 58, and 58 percent.