A Comparison of Consumer Expenditure Surveys 

Nhien To and Brett McBride 

Division of Consumer Expenditure Survey 

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 

Proceedings of the 2013 Federal Committee on Statistical Methodology (FCSM) Research Conference 

I. Introduction 

The Consumer Expenditure Survey (CE) is in the initial stages of a major redesign. The overall mission of the 

redesign is to improve data quality through a verifiable reduction in measurement error. As part of this effort, the 

CE studied the design features of household expenditure surveys conducted in other countries. This article presents 

an overview of the key design features of these surveys, particularly the unique design features that other surveys 

have successfully implemented for asking questions and collecting information about consumer expenditures. 

The survey design elements were gathered from a number of sources including other countries’ consumer 

expenditure survey program websites, methodology reports, and e-mail correspondence with representatives from 

the survey programs. For each survey program, the following characteristics were collected: 

a. Country and survey 

b. Achieved sample size and year: The number of completed surveys is provided along with the reference year. 

All sample sizes indicate the annual number of completed surveys reported except where otherwise specified. 

c. Data collection method: mode, instrument, and level of data collection 

d. Reference period 

e. Response rate and year, if different from that reported for the achieved sample size 

f. Notable design features: the use of global questions, interview structure, proxy reporting, recall period, split 

questionnaire design, new technology, and records and receipts 

The surveys included in this article were selected based on the diversity of their characteristics and the 

accessibility of information about their design features. Many of the countries use the term “budget 

survey” which is considered interchangeable with “expenditure survey” in this article. The surveys 

summarized in this article are conducted by governmental statistical agencies in the following countries: 

1. United States 

2. Australia 

3. Austria 

4. Belgium 

5. Bulgaria 

6. Canada 

7. Croatia 

8. Cyprus 

9. Czech Republic 

10. Denmark 

11. Estonia 

12. Finland 

13. France 

14. Germany 

15. Greece 

16. Hong Kong 

17. Hungary 

18. Ireland 

19. Italy 

20. Latvia 

21. Lithuania 

22. Luxembourg 

23. Malta 

24. Netherlands 

25. Norway 

26. Poland 

27. Portugal 

28. Romania 

29. Singapore 

30. Slovakia 

31. Slovenia 

32. South Korea 

33. Spain 

34. Sweden 

35. United Kingdom 
A table detailing the characteristics of each survey can be found in Appendix A. 

II. Summary of General Survey Characteristics 

Achieved Sample Size 

One of the most notable differences between the United States and the other countries examined was that 

the United States was the only country to use two independent samples to collect expenditure data. There 

was a large range in the achieved sample sizes countries used to get the required information for their 

stakeholders. The United States obtained the largest number of completed surveys aside from Germany. 

This was in part due to the United States’ unique use of two independent samples to collect expenditure

data. Using samples of approximately 60,000 addresses for the interview survey and 12,000 addresses for

the diary survey, the CE obtained 35,843 completed interviews and 14,599 one-week diaries in 2010. 

Germany, with a gross sample size of 81,530, obtained 55,110 usable diaries in 2008, but Germany 

administered its survey every five years, used a quota sampling method and collected the data using four 

different components. In Denmark, Norway, Slovenia, and Sweden, data were aggregated across multiple 

years. Thus, Denmark had the smallest annual achieved sample size, 858, in 2010. 

Data Collection Method 

All of the countries except South Korea used at least two instruments for collecting the expenditure data 

(for example, an interview/questionnaire and a separate diary); South Korea collected information using

diaries only. Even though most surveys used these two collection methods, they varied in format. Some 

countries used individual diaries in addition to household diaries. In addition to data collected from 

interviews and diaries, some countries collected data directly from registries. Notable format differences 

are presented in Section III. 

Reference Period 

For most of the countries, the reference period for an interview survey was either 1, 3, or 12 months. 

Almost all countries used a 14-day reporting period for a diary survey. The few exceptions included diary 

survey data collected over a period of 7 days, 1 month, or 2 months. 

Response Rates 

Response rates among the surveys varied considerably from as low as 18 percent in Luxembourg to as high 

as 89 percent in Cyprus. The average response rate, across the 33 surveys for which information was 

available, was 60 percent and the median was 61 percent. 

III. Notable Design Features 

Individual Diaries 

A number of countries’ surveys collected expenditure information from each member of the household over a 

certain age, with that age varying across countries. Countries that used individual diaries included: Cyprus, France, 

Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Latvia, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and the United 

Kingdom. There were variations in how expenditure information was collected. Some countries involved the 

younger household members in data collection; the United Kingdom provided diaries to children aged 7 to 15, and 

Portugal gave diaries to children as young as 10 years-old, provided parental consent was given. However, the most 

common minimum age at which individuals were asked to participate was 15 years old (in Cyprus, the Netherlands, 

Norway and Portugal). Malta provided three diaries per households, and Latvia provided diaries for those who were 

temporarily absent from the household as well as youth. 
Differences existed in the amount of diary information that a household needed to provide to be considered a 

cooperating household. Spain did not require that all household members fill out the one-week personal diaries, but 

did require that the main two-week household diary collecting common household purchases be completed. 

Information from the Spanish survey indicated that about 75 percent of cooperating households filled out all diaries, 

with imputation used for the remaining household members. Ireland required that all individual diaries be returned 

in order to classify a household as completing the survey. In Ireland, only 1.2 percent of the households that 

provided interview information in 2010 did not complete a single diary, leading them to be re-classified as refusals. 

France also required completion of all diaries in order for a case to be classified as a complete. 

Use of Administrative Records 

A number of European countries maintained population registries which were used to assist in data collection. 

Scandinavian countries made use of administrative sources in their household budget surveys, with income and 

education data taken from the registries in Norway and Finland, and income, property tax, and taxable benefits 

information taken in Sweden. The Netherlands took income and housing cost data from administrative records, 

when available. The Netherlands also used demographic data from their population registry to carry out nonresponse adjustments. Canada and Denmark also collected information on household members’ incomes from 

administrative data files. 

Incentives 

Several of the countries examined provided incentives – whether monetary or non-monetary – in return for a 

household’s participation in their budget surveys. There was no standard practice regarding the type or amount of 

incentive provided. These countries included: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Hong Kong, 

Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Most 

incentives were structured at the household level, with the exception of Ireland and the United Kingdom, where 

incentives were given to each member who completed an individual diary. Ireland did not withhold incentives if 

field interviewers verified that a returned diary with no expenditures recorded reflected that persons’ actual lack of 

spending. Belgium, while not making use of individual diaries, did tailor incentive amounts to the size of the 

household (giving up to 124€ for households with six or more members). In Spain the 2006 survey redesign 

involved introduction of a 30€ voucher starting in January of that year (analysis indicated this did not bias the 

income composition of the respondent sample), while Lithuania ceased providing incentives (worth approximately 

$6) after 2008. South Korea offered households the option to choose between three different types of surveys, each 

with a different incentive. A $10 incentive was provided for a paper diary, $40 for an e-diary (a web version of the 

diary), and $50 for an e-diary that was connected to their credit accounts or bank records. Among non-monetary 

incentives offered, Estonia allowed respondents to request feedback on their households’ aggregate expenditure 

categories, a feature requested by 20 percent of responding households. Denmark provided households with a gift 

and entry into a lottery. 

Technology 

Belgium, South Korea, and the Netherlands, redesigned their surveys to include website data collection. Belgium’s 

Household Budget Survey (HBS) initially planned to provide tablets with an installed Blaise application for 

interviewers to collect household data. However, the amount of technical support staff available to respond to 

problems with the tablets was judged to be insufficient, leading them to postpone the introduction of tablets until the 

2014 survey. The Belgian HBS did move forward with a website component in their 2012 redesign, allowing 

respondents the option to record expenditure information online or by paper. It indicated that approximately 15 

percent of households decided to use the website for recording expenditures. South Korea provided households the

option to complete an e-diary and encouraged them to keep the e-diary by offering a higher incentive than if they 
completed a paper diary. A third option which offered an even higher incentive was to use an e-diary that was 

connected to their credit accounts and bank records. 

The Netherlands’ expenditure survey, Budgetonderzoek (BO), moved entirely to online data collection in an effort to 

save costs. In adopting a website for data collection, the survey was able to take advantage of the Netherland’s high 

rate of Internet penetration (with 94 percent of the population reporting access, and 80 percent having a broad-band 

connection). The website contained instructional videos assisting respondents with the multiple online 

questionnaires and the downloadable diary. Aspects of monitoring were built into the survey. Respondents could 

enter their email address or telephone number in the questionnaire, allowing them to be contacted by survey staff. 

The website also contained coding tools and automated checks for common mistakes. Although response rates to the 

pilot test of the website survey were reportedly low, of those willing to respond, 78 percent expressed an inclination 

to participate in a second round. In terms of measurement error, pilot tests indicated improved reporting for small 

purchases with no effect on the reporting of larger purchases. 

In the new design, one household member reported for the household; there was some indication of under-reporting 

of expenditures for other household members (e.g., a reduction in the reporting of entertainment expenses was noted 

for households with older children). The BO plans to research the use of individual website accounts to allow for 

greater privacy in expenditure reporting, as well as the use of Smart Phones to take photos of receipts. Although 

response rates to the BO remained low, the redesigned survey resulted in noticeable cost savings. 

The Singapore Household Expenditure Survey did not utilize a web diary but interviewers used personal digital 

assistants (PDAs) in place of hardcopy survey forms to directly record expenditure information. Additionally, 

Germanys’ Sample Survey of Income and Expenditure (EVS) collected housing and socio-demographic information 

online in some parts of the country. 

Other Survey Features 

Some countries involved different data collection requirements for different parts of their sample. The German EVS 

had households provide income and expenditure information for a three month period. Every fifth household in the 

sample recorded expenditures on food, beverages, and tobacco for a one-month period in a ‘detailed log book.’ In 

Canada’s Survey of Household Spending (SHS), only a subsample of households were asked to report their 

expenditures in the diary due to budget constraints. 

Expenditure surveys often allowed households to provide receipts as part of the data collection process. The 

Canadian SHS offered respondents the option to provide receipts in order to reduce burden. Sweden allowed 

households to send in receipts instead of reporting information in the diary, which it credited as having reduced the 

rate of item non-response. Estonia’s HBS also gave responding households leeway in how to report expenditure 

information. In 2011, in the 80 percent of households for which information was available, 57 percent of households 

provided a mix of receipts and diary entries, 27 percent provided only receipts, and 16 percent only filled in the 

diary. Allowing submission of receipts does risk the problem of collecting receipts that contain ambiguous or limited 

product information. The Estonian HBS found that 3-to-5 percent of receipts did not provide sufficient information 

about the product to allow proper classification, necessitating imputation. The Irish HBS sought to address this 

problem by requesting households to annotate receipts with sufficient detail to categorize purchases. For purchased 

items, respondents were asked to write in, if not already noted, the weight or volume of the food purchase, and note 

whether the item was bought online. 

Countries have been modernizing their survey designs, seeking ways to minimize the burden surveys place on 

respondents. In Estonia, the 2010 redesign was motivated by a response rate which fell from 65 percent in 2000 to 

less than 50 percent in 2007. In order to address non-response, burden was limited by consolidating the HBS to only 
one household questionnaire and one diary, cutting the diary reporting period in half to two weeks, and removing 

income questions which were being collected in another survey. In 2010, Estonia’s HBS also added some 

retrospective questions about larger purchases to the household questionnaire. Unfortunately, following the 

revisions, the response rate remained low, with 42 percent completing both the interview and diary in 2011, up only 

4 percent from the prior year. The French Family Budget Survey (BDF) is a mandatory survey carried out every five 

years. As in Estonia, efforts were made to reduce the amount of data collected from respondents in the redesigned 

2010-11 BDF survey. The number of interviews was reduced from three to two (each lasting approximately one 

hour), and the diary reporting period was cut in half to one week. Subsequent to the redesign, response rates to the 

BDF returned to their 2000 levels (above 75 percent) after falling below 70 percent in 2005. Spain’s Household 

Budget Survey (EPF) was unique in that, unlike many European budget surveys, it involved a second wave of data 

collection. The redesign of the EPF occurred in 2006, doubling the amount of reporting required for the diary to two 

weeks, while reducing the number of questions asked in the interview. The EPF observed steady response rates 

following these changes with a response rate of 71 percent in 2010, though analysis revealed underreporting in 

expenditure reports during the second week of data collection. 

IV. Conclusion 

Information on design characteristics of other consumer expenditure survey programs is valuable in allowing the 

United States CE program to evaluate best practices in terms of general survey characteristics as well as notable 

design features, and determine whether they hold promise for improving the redesign of the CE. The CE shares 

similar data collection methods and reference periods with many of the other surveys, but stands out as being the 

only survey program to use independent samples for each instrument. 

In terms of notable design features, the only feature currently shared by the CE and the other surveys is encouraging 

respondents to keep records or receipts to aid recall. However, the CE is considering many other design elements 

that are already employed by other survey programs, including incentives, individual diaries, and a web diary. In 

evaluating and determining which elements to investigate for use in the CE redesign, it would be helpful to followup with representatives from specific survey programs that have those elements in their surveys. 

Based on the information gathered, the following is a summary of recommended action for investigating potential 

design elements for the CE. 

1. Sample Size – Evaluate the need for two separate samples. 

2. Data Collection Method – Consider supplementing respondent-collected data with administrative data 

or data on expenditures collected by other surveys to reduce respondent burden. Although this has the 

potential to reduce the amount of data collected directly from respondents, some issues to consider 

with this approach would be the ability to gain both respondent consent and access to information held 

by other data providers, and the need for the other data to be in a compatible format. 

3. Individual Diaries – Many countries use individual diaries (i.e., Cyprus, France, Greece, Hong Kong, 

Ireland, Latvia, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and the United Kingdom). 

Consider speaking with representatives from those survey programs to learn more about their use of 

individual diaries. In particular, follow up with other countries about their definitions for what 

constitutes a “complete” household interview. For example, does receiving 50% of completed 

individual diaries result in a “complete” household interview, or is some other threshold used? 

4. Incentives – The CE is exploring the use of incentives, and should speak with representatives from the 

following survey programs to learn more about their use of incentives: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, 

Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Slovakia, 

South Korea, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Of special interest is Estonia’s offer to provide a 

summary of a family’s aggregate expenditures to participating households as a non-monetary 

incentive. This is an idea that has been suggested for CE and perhaps worth following-up on with 
Estonian representatives. In addition, South Korea’s use of a higher incentive for e-diaries connected

to respondent bank and credit card accounts is a very interesting idea and something to investigate. 

5. Web Diary and Technology – Review screen shots of the web diary used by Belgium, South Korea, 

and the Netherlands to extract any useful design elements. Consider speaking with representatives 

from those countries to obtain recommendations and learn about problems encountered. Obtain more 

detailed information from the Netherlands about other benefits of using a web diary, such as 

instructional videos, monitoring aspects, coding tools and automated checks for common mistakes. 

The Netherlands mentioned their planned research into the use of Smart Phones to take photos of 

receipts, which is also of special interest to CE. 

6. Multi-mode – South Korea offers households different mode options for reporting expenditure data. 

Consider speaking with them about their experience with the mode options as CE has contemplated all 

of the options at some point (i.e., paper diary, web diary, and a collection method that connects with 

respondent’s credit and bank accounts). 

7. Records – CE has conducted a number of research projects related to record use. Consider speaking 

with Canada, Estonia, and Ireland about their experience with allowing respondents to submit their 

records/receipts in production. 
Appendix A. Table of Countries’ Expenditure Survey Characteristics 

Country 

and Survey Notable Design Features

Achieved 

Sample Size 

(year) Response Rate (%) Data Collection Method Reference Period

United States 

Consumer 

Expenditure 

Survey (CE) 

Respondents are encouraged to keep records/receipts to aid 

recall. 

Interview: An accordion file is sometimes given to respondents to 

store/organize receipts. 

Diary: A pocket is included on the inside of the back cover for 

respondents to store receipts. 

http://bls.gov/cex/

Interview: 

35,843 (2010) 

Diary: 

14,599 (2010) 

Interview: 

73.4 

Diary: 

71.5

Household Interview 

(CAPI) 

3 months 

Household Diary 

(Paper) 

14 days 

Australia 

Household 

Expenditure 

Survey (HES) 

The HES sample of 6,957 households is a subsample of the Survey 

of Income and Housing (SIH) sample of 11,361 households. 

 

http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/6530.0/

6,957 

(2009-10)

75 Household Interview 

(CAPI) 

Not reported 

Individual Diary 

(Paper) 

14 days 

Austria 

Household 

Budget Survey 

(HBS) 

The Austrian HBS is a rotating panel survey, providing a detailed 

description of the expenditures of private households by 

demographic and socio-economic characteristics. 

A two-week detailed household diary is provided. 

Separate in-person interviews are conducted with the same

household to collect housing and demographic information for 

eaIh household マeマHeヴ. ‘espoミse is Ioマpeミsated ┘ith a ヵヰ€ 

voucher. 

http://www.statistik.at/web_en/statistics/social_statistics/consu

mption_expenditures

6,534 

(2009-10)

38.1 Household 

Interview 

(CAPI) 

Household Interview 

1 month, and 12 

months 

Household Diary 

(Paper) 

14 days 
Country 

and Survey Notable Design Features

Achieved 

Sample Size 

(year) Response Rate (%) Data Collection Method Reference Period 

Belgium 

Household 

Budget Survey 

Involves an in-person household questionnaire filled out with the 

interviewer, with individual questions to record demographic and 

income information. A household diary is used to record starting 

and ending assets, income and daily expenses over a one-month 

period. Receipts are not collected and there is no panel 

component. 

Post-Ioマpletioミ iミIeミti┗es ヴaミge fヴoマ Αヴ€ to ヱヲヴ€ depeミdiミg oミ 

household size. 

(Starting in 2012, the survey is conducted biennially but with a 

larger sample size. Households complete a shorter survey, and 

respondents can record expenditures via paper or web). 

http://statbel.fgov.be/fr/statistiques/collecte_donnees/enquetes/budge

t_des_menages

3,578

(2010) 

77.6 Household Interview 

(Paper) 

4 months 

Household Diary 

(Paper) 

 1 month 

Bulgaria 

Household 

Budget Survey 

(HBS) 

The Bulgarian HBS involves a four-wave rotating panel design, 

with households interviewed one month per quarter. Interviewer 

visits occur twice per month, providing two diaries. 

 

 

Respondents record (by proxy) prior two months of expenses for 

non-food items and income. Incentives offered (in 2001). Survey 

allows substitution of households to bolster response. 

http://www.nsi.bg/otrasal-metodologiaen.php?otr=44

2,870 

(2005)

65.1 Household Interview 

(Paper) 

Not reported 

Household Diary 15 days 
Country 

and Survey Notable Design Features

Achieved 

Sample Size 

(year) Response Rate (%) Data Collection Method Reference Period 

Canada 

Survey of 

Household 

Spending 

(SHS) 

To reduce burden, respondents are given the option to provide 

their receipts. Due to budget constraints, only a sub-sample of 

households are asked to report their expenditures in the diary.

Respondents are categorized into three groups: those who

provided receipts only, those who only provided transcribed 

expenditures and those who combined the two modes of

reporting.

Last payment approach and recall periods of one, three, or twelve 

months for less frequent expenditures are used. 

http://www.statcan.gc.ca/imdb-bmdi/3508-eng.htm

 13,075 (2010) Interview: 

67 

Diary: 

46 

Household Interview 

(CAPI) 

1 month, 3 

months, 

and 12 months 

Household Diary 

(Paper) 

14 days 

Croatia 

Household 

Budget Survey 

Cヴoatiaげs suヴ┗e┞ does ミot iミ┗ol┗e a paミel Ioマpoミeミt. 

Interviewers collect information on income, earnings and most 

household expenses through in-person interviews. 

http://www.dzs.hr/default_e.htm

3,461 

(2010)

61 

 

Household Interview Not reported 

Household Diary 14 days 

Cyprus 

Household 

Budget Survey 

Conducted every five years. Interviews are conducted using 

laptops. Diaries are completed by all household members at least 

15 years old. No incentives are provided. 

 

 

http://www.moi.gov.cy/moi/pio/pio.nsf/6645bc8e70e73e2cc225

7076004d01c1/dd8a213e2dc1ff0ac22574f3003bbeef?OpenDocu

ment

2,990 

(2005)

88.9 Interview (CAPI) 1, 2, 3 and 12 

months 

Individual Diary 14 days 
Country 

and Survey Notable Design Features

Achieved 

Sample Size 

(year) 

Response Rate (%) Data Collection Method Reference Period

Czech 

Republic 

Family Budget 

Statistics 

Czech Republic uses a quota sampling method. Households keep 

detailed food and expenditure information for two months, and 

only report total expenditures in the remaining months of the 

year. Income and expenditure is reported using a monthly

reporting period. 

http://www.czso.cz/eng/edicniplan.nsf/aktual/ep-3

3,000 

(2011)

Unknown Household interview Not reported 

Household Diary 2 months 

Denmark 

Household 

Budget Survey 

Interviews are conducted using a laptop. Analysis of diary data 

has indicated higher reporting in the first week than in the 

second. Participating households receive a gift and entry into a 

lottery for participation. 

http://www.dst.dk/en/Statistik/dokumentation/Declarations/hou

sehold-budget-survey.aspx

858

(2010)

Data for a 

three-year 

period are 

aggregated into 

one sample of 

approximately 

2,500 

households. 

38 Household Interview 

(CAPI) 

1 year 

Household Diary 

(Paper) 

14 days 

Estonia 

Household 

Budget Survey 

A 2010 HBS redesign limited data collection to one household 

questionnaire and one diary, for which the reference period was 

cut in half to 2 weeks. Respondents are given the option of 

placing expenditure receipts in an envelope or recording those 

expenditures in the diary. Data for uncodable expenditure 

receipts is imputed. Participating households receive a pen for 

participation, as well as a feedback letter with aggregate 

expenditure data, if requested. 

http://www.stat.ee/51932

 2,816 

(2010)

Interview and Diary: 

42 

(2011)

Household Interview 

(CAPI) 

1 month, 12 

months 

Household Diary 

(Paper) 

14 days 

 
Country 

and Survey Notable Design Features 

Achieved 

Sample Size 

(year) 

Response Rate (%) Data Collection Method Reference Period

Finland 

Household 

Budget Survey 

Data is collected via interview (for durable goods, housing and 

liabilities), diary (with receipts collected), and administrative 

sources (for income and education) 

http://www.stat.fi/meta/til/ktutk_en.html

4,007 

(2005)

52.6 Household Interview 

(CATI) 

3 months, 12 

months 

Household Diary 

(Paper) 

14 days 

France 

Family Budget 

(BDF) 

FヴaミIeげs BDF involves two interviews lasting approximately onehour each, collecting information for broad expenditure 

groupings (housing, services, insurance, taxes and gifts). The 

same households are given individual diaries for household 

members age 14 and older to record expenditures or attach 

receipts. 

http://www.insee.fr/fr/methodes/default.asp?page=sources/souenq-bdf-2006.htm

~11,000 

(Mainland and 

overseas, 2010-

11) 

Interview and diary: 

75 (mainland) and 82 

(overseas) 

Household Interview 

(CAPI) 

1 to 12 months 

depending on 

question 

Household Diary 

(Paper) 

7 days 

Individual Diary (Paper) 7 days 

Germany 

Sample Survey 

of Income and 

Expenditure 

(EVS) 

The EVS is administered every five years, using a quota sampling 

method. Four components are used: income and expenditures 

are recorded in a diary for three months, general information 

(housing and socio-demographics) is collected online in some 

areas, money and asset information is collected through a 

questionnaire, and food and beverage expenditures are recorded 

iミ a さdetailed log Hookざ H┞ a suHsaマple for one month. 

Households are given a stipend for participation. 

https://www.destatis.de/EN/Meta/abisz/Einkommens_Verbrauc

hsstichprobe_e.html

 55,110 (2008) Unknown Questionnaire 

(online in some areas) 

Not reported 

Household Diary 

(Paper) 

3 months 

 
Country 

and Survey Notable Design Features 

Achieved 

Sample Size 

(year) 

Response Rate (%) Data Collection Method Reference Period 

Greece 

Family Budget 

Survey (HBS) 

Daily visits by the interviewer are used to prompt reporting to the 

diary (as of 1999). 

http://www.statistics.gr/portal/page/portal/ESYE/PAGEthemes?p_param=A0801

6,555 

(target, 2009) 

60.3 (2005) Household 

Questionnaire 

1 to 12 months 

depending on 

question 

Adult Individual Diary 

(Paper) 

14 days (questions 

reference last 12 

months) 

Individual Diary (Paper) 14 days 

Hong Kong 

Household 

Expenditure 

Survey (HES)

The HES is conducted once every five years, for a one-year period 

which is broken down into 26 cycles (each comprising two 

weeks). Households supplying required information were given 

an honorarium of $150HKD. 

Consists of 3 parts: 

1. Household Schedule – collects housing conditions and 

household characteristics 

2. Expenditure Diary – individuals aged 12 and over each 

kept the diary 

3. Questionnaire on Infrequently Purchased Items 

A Supplemental Questionnaire is specially designed for nonrespondents for analysis of non-response bias 

http://www.censtatd.gov.hk/major_projects/2009_10_househol

d_expenditure_survey/ 

5,957 (2009-

10) 

77 Household Schedule 

(Paper) 

Not reported 

Individual Diary (Paper) 14 days 

Questionnaire on 

Infrequently Purchased 

Items (Paper) 

3 months 

Hungary 

Household 

Budget Survey 

(HBS) 

Income and expenditures are recorded by diary for two 15-day 

periods. A retrospective interview is conducted at the end of the 

year. 

http://www.ksh.hu/income_and_living_conditions

9,058 

(2005)

50.3 

 

 

 

Household Interview 

(CAPI) 

12 months 

Household Diary 

(Paper) 

1 month 
Country 

and Survey Notable Design Features 

Achieved 

Sample Size 

(year) 

Response Rate (%) Data Collection Method Reference Period 

Ireland

Household 

Budget Survey 

(HBS) 

Iヴelaミdげs HB“ uses suHstitute households to oHtaiミ a ケuota of 

cooperating households. Each person age 16 and older is 

interviewed. Household members age 16 and older are given 

individual diaries to record expenses for two one-week periods. 

Respondents are asked to annotate information provided on 

receipts to ensure it is comprehensive. Respondents receive a 

ヴヰ€ gift foヴ Ioマpletiミg the ケuestioミミaiヴes aミd diaヴ┞.

http://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/housingandhouse

holds/

5,891

(2010)

40 

 

 

Household Interview 

(CAPI) 

1 to 12 months 

depending on 

question 

Household Diary 

(Paper) 

 14 days 

Individual Diary 

(Paper) 

 14 days 

Italy 

Household 

Budget Survey 

Households complete two one-week diaries. 

Household intervie┘s foヴ the けFaマil┞ e┝peミdituヴe suママaヴ┞げ 

involve collection of demographic and large-scale purchases. 

http://www.istat.it/it/archivio/66174

24,107 

(2005)

75.2 

 

 

Household Interview 1 month, 

3 months, 

12 months 

Household Diary 

(Paper) 

14 days 

Latvia 

Household 

Budget Survey 

(HBS) 

Interviewers conduct two interviews, a preliminary interview 

(averaging 32 minutes) to collect demographic information and 

explain the diary and a Final interview (averaging 35 minutes) to 

oHtaiミ iミIoマe iミfoヴマatioミ. A けPoIket Iミdi┗idual Diaヴ┞げ is pヴo┗ided 

for those temporarily absent from the household and for youth. 

http://www.csb.gov.lv/en/notikumi/household-consumptionexpenditure-2010-32044.html

3,798 

(2010)

43.1 

 

 

Household Interview 

(Paper) 

1 month, 

12 months 

Household Diary 

(Paper) 

 14 days 

Individual Diary (Paper) 14 days 

 
Lithuania 

Household 

Budget Survey 

In 2008, half of sampled households completed the diary in the 

first half of the month with the rest completing it in the second 

half. Households were given a monetary gift of 15.4 LTL 

(approximately $6) for participation. 

In 2012 the HBS questionnaire was simplified and households are 

no longer remunerated for participating. 

http://www.stat.gov.lt/en/news/view/?id=7418

6,103 

(2008)

55.3 

 

 

 

Household Interview 

(Paper) 

1 month, 2 

months, 12 

months 

Household Diary 

(Paper) 

14 days 

Luxembourg 

Family Budget 

Survey (BDM) 

At the first interviewer visit, the interviewer collects sociodemographic and housing information and provides the diary. 

Respondents are asked to prepare receipts to assist their 

reporting at the follow-up visit, where information about income 

is IolleIted. PaヴtiIipatiミg households aヴe ヴeiマHuヴsed Βヵ€. Noミcontact is a significant proportion (47 percent) of the high nonresponse rate, for which solutions are being considered. 

http://www.statistiques.public.lu/fr/methodologie/methodes/co

nditions-sociales/Cond-vie/budget-menages/index.html

3,846 

(2008-10)

18 

 

 

Household Interview 3, 6 and 12 

months 

Household Diary 

(Paper) 

 15 days 

Malta 

Household 

Budgetary 

Survey 

Interviewers carry out several visits to recruited households to 

encourage recording of expenditures. 

A questionnaire collects income and major expenditure 

information, typically with a 12-month reference period. 

Households are also given a total of three diaries to complete for 

the 2-week period. Responding households receive a monetary 

stipend for participating. 

http://www.nso.gov.mt/site/page.aspx?pageid=204

3,732 

(2008)

57.1 

 

 

Household Interview 

(Paper) 

1 month, 3 

months, 12 

months 

Household Diary 

(Paper) 

14 days

Individual Diary (Paper) 14 days 

 
Netherlands 

Household 

Budget Survey 

(BO) 

In 2012, the design of the BO was modernized to collect data by 

website. One household member reports data for the household 

foヴ fouヴ ┘eeks (┘ith e┝peミses Helo┘ ヲヰ€ ヴeIoヴded for one of 

those weeks), then collection occurs again 3 months later (when 

infrequent purchase data is also collected). Response is

eミIouヴaged thヴough helpdesk suppoヴt aミd a ンヰ€ iミIeミti┗e. To 

compensate for low response rates, administrative data is used 

for non-response adjustment. 

http://www.cbs.nl/en-GB/menu/themas/inkomenbestedingen/nieuws/default.htm

6,000 

(2005-10)

25 Household 

Questionnaire 

(website) 

Not reported 

Household Diary 

(website) 

 4 weeks (1 week 

for small 

purchases) 

Norway 

The Survey of 

Consumer 

Expenditure 

Two face-to-face interviews take place before and after diary 

placement. 

Individual diaries are provided to household members over 15 

years old. 

Since 1998, Norway has used tax registries to collect information 

on household income and education. 

http://www.ssb.no/forbruk_en/

3,420* 

(2007-09)

*represents 

aggregated 

sample of 

households 

over a 3-year 

period 

50 Household Interview 

(CAPI) 

Not reported 

Household Diary 

(Paper) 

14 days 

Individual Diary 

(Paper) 

 14 days 

Poland 

Household 

Budget Survey 

Interviewers visit at least four times per month. Visits are to 

ensure households correctly record expenditures in the diary and 

to conduct end-of-month interview collecting housing and regular 

purchase information. Households are also contacted quarterly 

to collect rarer expenditures. 

Survey allows substitution of households to bolster response 

(response rate represents the initial households contacted prior 

to substitution). 

http://www.stat.gov.pl/gus/5840_3467_ENG_HTML.htm

37,375 

(2011)

43.7 Household Interview Not reported 

Individual Diary (Paper) 1 month 

 
Portugal 

Household 

Budget Survey 

(IDEF) 

Interviewers make four to six visits to recruit and collect data. 

Diaries are provided to individuals aged 15 and older (or 10 and 

older with parental consent), and a household diary is given to 

the person most knowledgeable about household purchases. 

http://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_publicaco

es&PUBLICACOESpub_boui=26973702&PUBLICACOESmodo=2&xl

ang=en

10,403 

(2005-06)

65 Household Interview 

(CAPI and Paper) 

1 month, 3 

months, 12 

months 

Household Diary 14 days 

Individual Diary 

(Paper) 

 14 days 

Romania 

Family 

Budgets 

Survey (ABF) 

Interviewers make at least three visits during the month of 

expenditure data collection. In cases where households cannot 

complete the diary, interviewers collect the information in person 

or through receipts. Questionnaires collect data for all household 

members. 

http://statistici.insse.ro/shop/index.jsp?page=tempo3&lang=en&

ind=BUF115I

37,440 

(target, 2011) 

81.6 Household 

Questionnaire (Paper) 

1 month 

Household Diary 

(Paper) 

1 month 

Singapore 

Household 

Expenditure 

Survey (HES) 

PDAs are used in place of hardcopy survey forms to capture 

remaining information required. 

Reference period varies based on question (1 month, 3 months, 

and 12 months). 

http://www.singstat.gov.sg/stats/themes/people/house.html

7,545

(2007-08) 

84.0 Household Interview 

(CAPI) 

1 month, 3 

months, and 12 

months 

Household Diary 

(Paper) 

14 days 

Individual Diary 

(Paper) 

14 days 

 
Slovakia 

Household 

Budget Survey 

(HBS) 

Households are interviewed with retrospective data covering the 

prior 12 months collected. One household member records 

expenditures for two months, providing aggregated expenditure 

information the first month and detailed information the second 

month. Respoミdiミg households aヴe paid ヴン.ヱヵ€ foヴ Ioマpletiミg 

the HBS. 

http://portal.statistics.sk/showdoc.do?docid=3025

4,718 

(2008)

74.6 Household Interview 12 months 

Household Diary 

(Paper)

2 months 

Slovenia 

Household 

Budget Survey 

(APG) 

“lo┗eミiaげs APG IoマHiミes data IolleIted duヴiミg a thヴee-year 

period to produce estimates for the middle year (e.g., 2010 

estimates result from 2009-11 data collection). 

http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=4867

3,725* 

(2004)

*represents 

aggregated 

sample of 

households 

over a 3-year 

(2003-05) 

period 

70.7 Household Interview Not reported 

Individual Diary (Paper) 14 days

South Korea 

Household 

Income and 

Expenditure 

Survey 

(HIES) 

An Interviewer visits a household during each month for diary 

distribution, diary collection, and weekly guidance. Households 

participate for three years before being rotated out. 

Monthly cash incentives are provided: 

 $10.00 for regular paper diary 

 $40.00 for e-diary 

 $50.00 for B-case who have their e-diary connected to their 

credit accounts or bank records 

http://www.kostat.go.kr/portal/english/surveyOutlines/4/1/inde

x.static

11,200 

(target, 2006)

80 Household Diary 

(Paper) 60 percent 

1 month 

Household E-Diary 

(Web) 

 1 month 

Household B-Case 

(Web) Diary connected 

to credit/bank record 

 1 month 

 
Spain 

Household 

Budget Survey 

(EPF) 

“paiミげs EPF uミdeヴ┘eミt a ヴedesigミ iミ ヲヰヰヶ. Chaミges iミIluded 

increasing diary collection from one to two weeks, reducing the 

number of questions in the interview, and reducing the sample 

size by 25 percent. Households remain in the sample two 

consecutive years. One person fills out the household diary for 

two weeks, while other household members age 14 and older 

complete individual diaries for one week. Analysis of household 

diary data has indicated under-reporting in the second week. 

PaヴtiIipatiミg households aヴe ヴeiマHuヴsed ┘ith a ンヰ€ ┗ouIheヴ.

The EPF involves a re-interview process for a subsample of 

households to ensure good data quality. 

http://www.ine.es/jaxi/menu.do?type=pcaxis&path=/t25/p458&f

ile=inebase

16,299 

(2010)

70.8 Household Interview 

(Paper) 

1 month, 3 

months, 12 

months 

Household Diary 

(Paper) 

14 days 

Individual Diary 

(Paper) 

 7 days 

Sweden 

Household 

Budget Survey 

(HBS) 

HBS data is collected via in-person visit, telephone, diaries and 

the use of administrative records. Households can choose to 

send in receipts instead of noting spending in the diary. Property 

tax, income and taxable benefits are collected from 

administrative sources. 

http://www.scb.se/Pages/Product____22952.aspx

4,000 

(target, 2009) 

51 Household Interview 

(CATI) 

12 months 

Individual Diary (Paper) 14 days 

United 

Kingdom 

Living Costs 

and Food 

Survey (LCF) 

The LCF allows household interviews to be carried out by proxy 

(representing 21 percent of responding households in 2009). 

Each individual aged 16 or over who keeps a diary (and whose 

income information is collected) is paid £10, as a token of 

appreciation. Respondents aged 7-ヱヵ ┘ho keep a Childヴeミげs diaヴ┞ 

are given a £5 payment. 

http://www.esds.ac.uk/findingData/snDescription.asp?sn=6945 

5,320

(2009) 

50.4 

(Great Britain) 

Household Interview 

(CAPI) 

3 months, 12 

months 

Individual and 

Childヴeミげsげ Diaヴ┞ 

(Paper) 

14 days