Averages give us information to help us see where we stand and enable us to make comparisons. Here is a study on the average cost of a wedding. What type of average—mean, median, mode, or midrange—might have been used for each category?

Wedding Costs

The average cost of a wedding varies each year. For example, in 2009 the average cost was $19,580, in 2010 it was $24,070, and in 2011 it was $20,548. The average cost of the reception location was $2435. The average cost of catering was $3645. The average cost for a wedding dress was $823 and for a man’s suit $284. The cost for wedding flowers was $1500. The average cost for a bride’s ring was $784 and for a groom’s ring $572. Overall, most costs went down from the 2010 numbers in tipping and wedding cakes.