In 2001 the total, noncapital, living expenses of 1,175 farm families enrolled in the Illinois Farm Business Farm Management Association (FBFM) averaged $43,212–or $3,601 a month for each family (Table 1). This average was 1.6 percent higher than 2000 and 5.8 percent higher than in 1999. Another $4,885 was used to buy capital items such as the personal share of the family automobile, furniture, and household equipment. Thus, the grand total for living expenses averaged $48,097 for 2001 compared with $47,526 for 2000, or a $571 increase per family. The average amount spent per family for capital items was $97 less, while noncapital expenses increased $668 per family. The sample farms, which were mainly grain farms, were located primarily in central and northern Illinois.
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