1 

CE Survey Methods Symposium July 16, 2013 

A Comparison of Consumer Expenditure Surveys 

Nhien To and Brett McBride 

Division of Consumer Expenditure Survey 

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 

Countries’ consumer expenditure surveys summarized: 

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

For each country’s 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: individual diaries, receipts, incentives, administrative records, new technology 
2 

CE Survey Methods Symposium July 16, 2013 

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 

each household member. Response is compensated with a 50€ 

voucher.

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

mption_expenditures

6,534

(2009-10)

38.1 Household

Interview

(CAPI)

Household Interview 

(CAPI)

1 month, and 12 

months

1 year

Household Diary 

(Paper)

14 days
3 

CE Survey Methods Symposium July 16, 2013 

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-completion incentives range from 74€ to 124€ depending on 

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
4 

CE Survey Methods Symposium July 16, 2013 

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

Croatia’s survey does not involve a panel component. 

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
5 

CE Survey Methods Symposium July 16, 2013 

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
6 

CE Survey Methods Symposium July 16, 2013 

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)

France’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

in a “detailed log book” by a subsample 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
7 

CE Survey Methods Symposium July 16, 2013 

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
8 

CE Survey Methods Symposium July 16, 2013 

Country 

and Survey Notable Design Features

Achieved 

Sample Size

(year)

Response Rate (%) Data Collection Method Reference Period

Ireland

Household 

Budget Survey 

(HBS)

Ireland’s HBS uses substitute households to obtain a quota 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 

40€ gift for completing the questionnaires and diary.

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 interviews for the ‘Family expenditure summary’ 

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 

obtain income information. A ‘Pocket Individual Diary’ is provided 

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
9 

CE Survey Methods Symposium July 16, 2013 

Country 

and Survey Notable Design Features

Achieved 

Sample Size

(year)

Response Rate (%) Data Collection Method Reference Period

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 collected. Participating households are reimbursed 85€. Noncontact 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
10

CE Survey Methods Symposium July 16, 2013 

Country 

and Survey Notable Design Features

Achieved 

Sample Size

(year)

Response Rate (%) Data Collection Method Reference Period

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 

for four weeks (with expenses below 20€ recorded for one of 

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

infrequent purchase data is also collected). Response is 

encouraged through helpdesk support and a 30€ incentive. 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
11

CE Survey Methods Symposium July 16, 2013 

Country 

and Survey Notable Design Features

Achieved 

Sample Size

(year)

Response Rate (%) Data Collection Method Reference Period

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
12

CE Survey Methods Symposium July 16, 2013 

Country 

and Survey Notable Design Features

Achieved 

Sample Size

(year)

Response Rate (%) Data Collection Method Reference Period

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. Responding households are paid 43.15€ for completing 

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)

Slovenia’s APG combines data collected during a three-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
13

CE Survey Methods Symposium July 16, 2013 

Country 

and Survey Notable Design Features

Achieved 

Sample Size

(year)

Response Rate (%) Data Collection Method Reference Period

Spain

Household 

Budget Survey 

(EPF)

Spain’s EPF underwent a redesign in 2006. Changes included 

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. 

Participating households are reimbursed with a 30€ voucher.

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 7-15 who keep a Children’s diary 

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 

Children’s’ Diary

(Paper)

14 days