Summary

Description

The Consumer Expenditure Survey collects information from the Nation's households and families on their buying habits (expenditures), income, and characteristics. The strength of the survey is that it allows data users to relate the expenditures and income of consumers to the characteristics of those consumers. The survey consists of two components, a quarterly Interview Survey and a weekly Diary Survey, each with its own questionnaire and sample. For the Diary survey, respondents complete a diary of expenses for two consecutive 1-week periods. The Diary survey is designed to obtain data on frequently purchased items, such as food or housekeeping supplies, that respondents are less likely to recall over time. For the Interview survey, respondents report data to an interviewer. Each sample household is interviewed once per quarter, for five consectutive quarters. This survey is designed to collect data on major items of expense, such as property purchases or vehicle purchases, and those that occur on a regular basis, such as rent or utility payments, that respondents recall for 3 months or longer.