Consumer

Expenditure

Surveys

Diary Survey 

Information Booklet 

CE-805

(1-1-2009)

U S C E N S U S B U R E A U 

Helping You Make Informed Decisions 

CE-805 (1-1-2009) Page 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Page 

2 Hispanic Origin 

2 Race 

2 Asian Origin 

3 Education 

4 Occupations 

5-7 Income 

 CARD A 

 CARD B 

 CARD C 

8-9 Diary Survey Checks 

10 2009 Calendar 

11 2010 Calendar 

12 2011 Calendar 

13 Privacy Act Statement 
Hispanic Origin 

1 – Mexican 

2 – Mexican-American 

3 – Chicano 

4 – Puerto Rican 

5 – Cuban 

6 – Cuban-American 

7 – Central or South American 

8 – Other 

 Race 

(Please choose one or more)

1 – White 

2 – Black or African American 

3 – American Indian or Alaskan Native 

4 – Asian 

5 – Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 

 Asian Origin 

1 – Chinese 

2 – Filipino 

3 – Japanese 

4 – Korean 

5 – Vietnamese 

6 – Asian Indian 

7 – Other group not listed 

CE-805 (1-1-2009) Page 2
Education

0 – Never attended, preschool, kindergarten 

1 - 11 – 1st grade through 11th grade 

38 – 12th grade, no diploma 

39 – High school graduate – high school diploma, 

 or the equivalent (For example: GED) 

40 – Some college but no degree 

41 – Associate degree in college – Occupational/ 

 Vocational 

42 – Associate degree in college – Academic program 

43 – Bachelor’s degree (For example: BA, AB, BS) 

44 – Master’s degree (For example: MA, MS, MEng, 

 MEd, MSW, MBA) 

45 – Professional School Degree (For example: MD, 

 DDS, DVM, LLB, JD) 

46 – Doctorate degree (For example: PhD, EdD) 

CE-805 (1-1-2009) Page 3
OCCUPATIONS

01 – Administrator, Manager 

administrator manager funeral director 

 02 – Teacher 

teacher guidance counselor 

 03 – Professional 

registered nurse accountant physician social worker computer systems 

lawyer engineer clergy computer programmer analyst 

 04 – Administrative Support, including Clerical 

secretary bookkeeper clerk 

receptionist computer assistant typist 

 05 – Sales, Retail 

cashier commodity salesperson door to door salesperson 

apparel salesperson motor vehicle salesperson 

 

 

 06 – Sales, Business Goods and Services 

mining sales representative real estate salesperson

financial services wholesale sales representative 

manufacturing sales representative insurance salesperson 

 07 – Technician 

health technician practical nurse drafting clinical laboratory technician 

electronic technician 

 08 – Protective Service 

private guard police officer firefighter 

 09 – Private Household Service 

nanny household worker 

 10 – Other Service (except private household) 

janitor cook waiter/waitress food preparer food counter/fountain 

child care worker hairstylist maid/houseman orderly worker 

 11 – Machine Operator, Assembler, Inspector 

machine operator assembler inspector 

 12 – Transportation Operator 

truck driver bus driver tractor operator taxi driver 

 13 – Handler, Helper, Laborer 

stock handler freight handler material handler packager construction laborer 

 14 – Mechanic or Repairer, Precision Production 

automobile mechanic machine repairer machinist meat cutter sheet metal worker 

 15 – Construction, Mining 

carpenter electrician painter plumber mining worker 

 16 – Farming 

farmer farm worker 

 17 – Forestry, Fishing, Groundskeeping 

forestry worker fisher groundskeeper animal caretaker 

 18 – Armed Forces 

armed forces 

CE-805 (1-1-2009) Page 4
INCOME - CARD A

0. Loss 

1. $ 0 – $ 4,999 

2. $ 5,000 – $ 9,999 

3. $ 10,000 – $ 14,999 

4. $ 15,000 – $ 19,999 

5. $ 20,000 – $ 29,999 

6. $ 30,000 – $ 39,999 

7. $ 40,000 – $ 49,999 

8. $ 50,000 – $ 69,999 

9. $ 70,000 – $ 89,999 

10. $ 90,000 – $ 119,999 

11. $ 120,000 and over 

CE-805 (1-1-2009) Page 5
INCOME - CARD B

0. Less than $300 

1. $ 300 – $ 399 

2. $ 400 – $ 499 

3. $ 500 – $ 599 

4. $ 600 – $ 699 

5. $ 700 – $ 799 

6. $ 800 – $ 899 

7. $ 900 – $ 999 

8. $ 1,000 – $ 1,499 

9. $ 1,500 and over 

CE-805 (1-1-2009) Page 6
INCOME - CARD C

0. Loss 

1. $ 0 – $ 999 

2. $ 1,000 – $ 1,999 

3. $ 2,000 – $ 2,999 

4. $ 3,000 – $ 3,999 

5. $ 4,000 – $ 4,999 

6. $ 5,000 – $ 9,999 

7. $ 10,000 – $ 14,999 

8. $ 15,000 – $ 19,999 

9. $ 20,000 – $ 29,999 

10. $ 30,000 – $ 39,999 

11. $ 40,000 – $ 49,999 

12. $ 50,000 and over 

CE-805 (1-1-2009) Page 7
CE-805 (1-1-2009) Page 8

DIARY SURVEY CHECKS

When reviewing the Diary, check each page in the form. Be sure that ALL entries have 

as much detail as possible. The following are EXAMPLES of information that is often 

omitted. 

I. CONTENT CHECKS 

1. All entries should be clearly readable. If there is an entry which is not, rewrite 

it. Entries that contain brand names, local names or acronyms should be 

clarified and rewritten. 

2. If the respondent reports no expenditures for a day, mark the NONE box at 

the bottom of the page. 

3. Be sure there is an amount entered in the total cost column for every item 

entry in the diary and that the amount entered is reasonable. If an amount is 

unusually high or low, confirm it with the respondent. Whenever possible, a 

single cost for each item is required. Investigate any combined expense to 

determine if individual costs can be identified. 

4. In Part 1, Food and Drinks Away from Home, be sure that all the checkboxes 

are appropriately marked. If an alcohol check box is marked, indicating that 

alcoholic beverages were purchased, there should also be an amount entered 

in the last column. There should always be an amount entered in the total 

cost column. 

5. In Part 2, Food and Drinks for Home Consumption, be sure a checkbox 

indicating whether the food is fresh, frozen, etc. is marked. 

6. In Part 3, Clothing, Shoes, Jewelry, and Accessories, be sure the checkboxes 

for gender and age are marked. 

7. In Part 4, All Other Products, Services, and Expenses, be sure there is an 

entry in the last column to indicate if the item was purchased for someone not 

on your list. 
CE-805 (1-1-2009) Page 9

DIARY SURVEY CHECKS (continued)

II. EXPENDITURE DETAIL CHECKS 

 FOOD AND DRINKS AWAY FROM HOME 

 MEALS - Check the type of meal (lunch, breakfast, dinner, snack/other) and the type of vendor. 

 If alcohol is included, make sure the type is specified in the checkboxes and the cost is recorded. 

 ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES - If the purchase is exclusively alcohol, make sure the type is specified 

 and that the total cost and the alcohol cost are the same. Both cost entries must be recorded. 

 FOOD AND DRINKS FOR HOME CONSUMPTION 

 BREAD - Specify if white, whole wheat, rye, pumpernickel, etc.

 BAKERY PRODUCTS - Specify type such as cupcakes, apple pie, etc. 

 BEEF - Specify the cut of beef and describe, such as ground beef, prime rib, etc. 

 PORK - Specify the cut and describe, such as pork loin roast, whole ham, etc. 

 POULTRY - Specify whether it is chicken, turkey, or other 

 CHICKEN - Specify if whole or parts, such as chicken legs, chicken wings, etc. 

 JUICE, BEVERAGE - Specify type such as orange juice, fruit punch, etc. 

 SOFT DRINKS - Specify if cola or other type; if not cola, specify if carbonated or noncarbonated 

 COFFEE - Specify if instant or ground 

 OTHER FOOD - Give a complete description, such as boxed scalloped potatoes 

 CLOTHING, SHOES, JEWELRY, AND ACCESSORIES 

 CLOTHING - Specify the type of clothing and give a description of the item 

 SHOES - If sport shoes, specify sport such as football cleats, ice skates, etc. 

 JEWELRY - Specify the type of jewelry, such as watches, etc. 

 ALL OTHER PRODUCTS, SERVICES, AND EXPENSES 

 MEDICINE - Specify if prescription or nonprescription 

 DOCTOR BILLS - Specify type of doctor, such as dentist, internist, etc. 

 SOAP - Specify hand soap or laundry soap 

 LAUNDRY/DRY CLEANING - Specify if coin operated or not coin operated; specify whether 

 household item (such as drapes) or apparel 

 TABLEWARE - Specify type, such as china, flatware, silver service pieces, etc. 

 DISHWASHER - Specify whether it is portable or built-in 

 FURNITURE - Specify type such as kitchen chair, living room chair, etc. 

 TOOLS - Specify if power or hand tool, such as power saw, etc. 

 ALBUM - Specify if photo album or record album 

 GAS - Specify if gasoline or household fuel. If household fuel, indicate whether piped or bottled 

 VEHICLE - Specify new or used and type of vehicle purchased 

 VEHICLE REGISTRATION - Specify state or local 

 VEHICLE REPAIR - Specify type of repair done such as brake work other than brake adjustment, 

 exhaust system repair 

 VEHICLE SERVICE - Specify the type of service such as an oil change, brake adjustment, etc. 

 BUS, TRAIN - Specify intercity of intracity fare 

 TUITION - Specify high school, college, etc. 

 BOOKS - Specify whether it was a part of a book club, a school book, or a non-school book. If the 

 purchase was for school, then specify whether it was college, high school, or other. 
CALENDAR 

2009 

JANUARY 

S M T W T F S 

1 2 3 

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 2 8 29 30 31

JULY 

S M T W T F S 

1 2 3 4 

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 

19 20 21 22 23 24 25 

26 27 28 29 30 31 

FEBRUARY 

S M T W T F S 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

AUGUST 

S M T W T F S 

1 

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 

23 24 25 26 27 28 29 

30 31

MARCH 

S M T W T F S 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30 31 

SEPTEMBER 

S M T W T F S 

1 2 3 4 5 

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 

20 21 22 23 24 25 26 

27 28 29 30

 

APRIL 

S M T W T F S 

1 2 3 4 

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 2 9 30 

OCTOBER 

S M T W T F S 

1 2 3 

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 

18 19 20 21 22 23 24 

25 26 27 28 29 30 31 

MAY 

S M T W T F S 

1 2 

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

31 

NOVEMBER 

S M T W T F S 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 

22 23 24 25 26 27 28 

29 30

JUNE 

S M T W T F S 

1 2 3 4 5 6 

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 29 30 

DECEMBER 

S M T W T F S 

1 2 3 4 5 

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 

20 21 22 23 24 25 26 

27 28 29 30 31 

CE-805 (1-1-2009) Page 10
CALENDAR 

2010 

JANUARY 

S M T W T F S 

1 2 

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

31 

JULY 

S M T W T F S 

1 2 3 

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 

18 19 20 21 22 23 24 

25 26 27 28 29 30 31 

FEBRUARY 

S M T W T F S 

1 2 3 4 5 6 

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 

AUGUST 

S M T W T F S 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 

22 23 24 25 26 27 28 

29 30 31

MARCH 

S M T W T F S 

1 2 3 4 5 6 

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 29 30 31 

SEPTEMBER 

S M T W T F S 

1 2 3 4 

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 

19 20 21 22 23 24 25 

26 27 28 29 30 

APRIL 

S M T W T F S 

1 2 3 

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 2 8 29 30 

OCTOBER 

S M T W T F S 

1 2 

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 

24 25 26 27 28 29 30 

31

MAY 

S M T W T F S 

1 

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

30 31 

NOVEMBER 

S M T W T F S 

1 2 3 4 5 6 

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 

28 29 30

JUNE 

S M T W T F S 

1 2 3 4 5 

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 3 0

DECEMBER 

S M T W T F S 

1 2 3 4 

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 

19 20 21 22 23 24 25 

26 27 28 29 30 31 

CE-805 (1-1-2009) Page 11
CALENDAR 

2011 

JANUARY 

S M T W T F S 

1 

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

30 31 

JULY 

S M T W T F S 

1 2 

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 

24 25 26 27 28 29 30 

31

FEBRUARY 

S M T W T F S 

1 2 3 4 5 

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 

AUGUST 

S M T W T F S 

1 2 3 4 5 6 

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 

28 29 30 31

MARCH 

S M T W T F S 

1 2 3 4 5 

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30 31 

SEPTEMBER 

S M T W T F S 

1 2 3 

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 

18 19 20 21 22 23 24 

25 26 27 28 29 30 

APRIL 

S M T W T F S 

1 2 

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 2 7 28 29 30

OCTOBER 

S M T W T F S 

1 

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 

23 24 25 26 27 28 29 

30

MAY 

S M T W T F S 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30 31 

NOVEMBER 

S M T W T F S 

1 2 3 4 5 

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 

20 21 22 23 24 25 26 

27 28 29 30

JUNE 

S M T W T F S 

1 2 3 4 

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 2 9 30 

DECEMBER 

S M T W T F S 

1 2 3 

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 

18 19 20 21 22 23 24 

25 26 27 28 29 30 31 

CE-805 (1-1-2009) Page 12
CE-805 (1-1-2009) Page 13

PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT 

The U.S. Census Bureau is conducting the Consumer Expenditure Surveys 

for the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor under 

title 29, United States Code. The survey’s purpose is to obtain information 

on what Americans are purchasing in order to update the Consumer Price 

Index (CPI). All survey information will be used for statistical purposes only. 

Any information you provide for this survey is confidential, by law, under 

title 13, United States Code. Participation in this survey is voluntary and 

there are no penalties for refusing to answer any question(s). However, your 

cooperation is extremely important to help ensure the completeness and 

accuracy of these data. 

U.S. Department of Commerce

Economics and Statistics Administration 

U.S. Census Bureau