Xr02-39 How do governments spend the tax dollars they collect, and has this changed over the past 15 years? The following table displays the amounts spent by the federal, state, and local governments on consumption expenditures and gross investments.

Consumption expenditures are services (such as education). Gross investments ($billions) consist of expenditures on fixed assets (such as roads, bridges, and highways). Use a graphical technique to present these figures. Have the ways governments spend money changed over the previous 15 years?

Level of Government and Type 1990 1995 2000 2004 Federal national defense Consumption 308.1 297.3 321.5 477.5 Gross 65.9 51.4 48.8 70.4 Federal nondefense Consumption 111.7 143.2 177.8 227.0 Gross 22.6 27.3 30.7 35.0 State and local Consumption 544.6 696.1 917.8 1,099.7 Gross 127.2 154.0 225.0 274.3 Source: Statistical Abstract of the United States, 2006, Table 419.