With the optimization of China’s rural economy and social structure,the consumption structure of rural residents has also changed greatly.Based on the structural changes in degree of rural residents from 1980 to 2009,this paper first analyzes the total change and tendency of consumption structure,and then uses ELES to analyze expenditures for rural residents in marginal propensity to consume,demand elasticity and price elasticity and so on.The results show that even though the consumption structure of rural residents is gradually improving,the marginal savings rate is still high; the marginal propensity to consume is different among different types of consumer goods,and lower income of farmers is still the major factor to restrain the updating of rural consumption structure.