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SpatialNews.com Press Release
Census Bureau Updating Information About Our Nation’s Spending Habits
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The CE Interview Survey — About 7,000 households will be interviewed once every three months to obtain data on relatively large expenditures and also for those expenditures that occur on a regular basis (such as rent and utilities).
The CE Diary Survey — During the year, another 7,000 households will keep two consecutive one-week diaries of all purchases — including small, frequently purchased items that are normally difficult for respondents to recall later (such as a fast-food purchase at a drive-thru window, a soda or candy bar from a vending machine or a carton of eggs from the supermarket).
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics then publishes integrated data from the two surveys — providing a snapshot of our nation’s economy and spending habits. Government economists use the survey results to update a “market basket” of goods and services for the Consumer Price Index, our nation’s single most widely used measure of inflation.
“The Consumer Price Index,” said George Grandy Jr., director of the Census Bureau’s Atlanta Regional Office, “helps businesses around the country keep wages, salaries and pensions in line with increases in the cost of living.”
Before the CE interviews begin, households receive a letter from Census Bureau Director Louis Kincannon informing them of their selection. Census Bureau field representatives conducting the interviews carry official photo identification. The law ensures survey respondents’ personal information and answers are kept confidential.
Below is an example of CE data results:
Household Expenditures for Shelter: 2003-2004
Area Average annual amount
spent for shelter Percentage of total
expenditures
United States $7,943 18.8
Northeast $9,379 21.2
New York 13,047 25.1
Boston 10,556 22.7
Philadelphia 9,015 20.3
Pittsburgh 6,322 15.6
South $6,640 17.3
Washington, D.C. 12,685 23.8
Miami 10,086 25.3
Dallas-Fort Worth 9,050 18.0
Houston 8,706 18.1
Baltimore 8,584 22.8
Atlanta 8,233 22.2
Tampa 7,512 20.9
Midwest $7,212 17.2
Chicago 10,737 21.2
Minneapolis-St. Paul 10,697 19.1
Milwaukee 8,993 21.4
Detroit 8,930 19.1
Cincinnati 8,046 19.8
St. Louis 7,904 16.5
Kansas City, Mo.-Kan. 7,626 16.5
Cleveland 7,237 19.5
West $9,571 20.5
San Francisco 14,527 25.9
San Diego 13,041 24.2
Los Angeles 12,054 22.9
Anchorage 10,811 20.2
Seattle 10,381 19.6
Honolulu 10,324 21.4
Denver 9,790 20.1
Portland, Ore. 9,363 19.6
Phoenix 8,374 18.0
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