The line graph illustrates the average annual spending on cell phone and residential phone services in the United States between 2001 and 2010. Overall, it is clear that there was a marked shift in consumer preference, with cell phone expenditure rising steadily while residential phone spending decreased consistently throughout the decade.
In 2001, residential phone services were the dominant expense, with an average annual cost of $690, compared to just $210 for cell phone services. However, the gap between the two narrowed rapidly. By 2006, the figures intersected at approximately $535, marking the point where cell phone expenditure overtook residential costs. Following this, cell phone spending continued to climb, reaching a peak of $760 by 2010.
Conversely, expenditure on residential phone services followed a downward trajectory. After starting at $690 in 2001, the figure dropped to $550 by 2006. This decline continued at a relatively steady pace, with spending falling to $480 in 2007 and eventually reaching a low of $400 by the end of the period in 2010. By the final year, the expenditure on cell phone services was nearly double that of residential phone services.