A Comparison of CE and PSID Expenditure Data: 1999–2011

Brett J. Creech

[Brett J. Creech is an Economist in the Branch of Information and Analysis, Division of Consumer 

Expenditure Survey.]

This report compares selected expenditures from the Consumer Expenditure (CE) Survey of the U.S. 

Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) of the University of Michigan 

Institute for Social Research. Comparisons of average annual expenditure data from the CE and the PSID 

were made for every odd-numbered year from 1999 through 2011, the most recent year for which PSID 

data are available. The data were adjusted to make them comparable because of several differences 

between the surveys. In many instances the CE expenditure categories did not have a directly 

comparable PSID counterpart. This problem was especially prevalent before 2005, when the PSID 

introduced new categories, including clothing, telephone and Internet, household furnishings and 

repairs, trips, and entertainment expenditures. Categories that either did not exist or for which 

comparable composite categories could not be created from the CE and the PSID were excluded from 

this analysis. Adjustments primarily consisted of moving expenditure items between existing categories 

to better align these categories for comparison. (See Appendix 1 for the categories compared in the CE 

and the PSID). 

Findings

After adjustments for comparability, PSID consumption expenditures for all comparable categories

(including food, housing, transportation, healthcare, and entertainment/trips) were consistently higher 

than the CE for each of the 7 years covered in this analysis. (See chart 1.) (Some CE categories are 

excluded from the comparison because they are not collected in the PSID.) 
CE/PSID ratios reflected the higher PSID expenditure estimates, ranging from 93.9 percent to 97.4 

percent. (See chart 2.) Possible reasons include different question wording and survey methodology 

between the two surveys. Items were moved from their original categories in the two surveys to try to 

create the most comparable categories possible. Nonetheless, differences remain in the composition of

these comparable categories because of the lack of PSID item detail as compared to the CE. The PSID 

data were more limited in coverage of expenditure categories than the CE data in the earlier years of 

the comparison. More extensive comparisons were made for later years (2005, 2007, 2009, and 2011), 

after the PSID added new categories. The CE/PSID ratios for the last 4 years in the comparisons were 

lower than the previous 3 years because the PSID added categories that showed higher spending in the 

$0

$5,000

$10,000

$15,000

$20,000

$25,000

$30,000

$35,000

$40,000

$45,000

1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011

Chart 1. CE and PSID average annual expenditures for comparable 

categories for all households, 1999–2011

CE PSID

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey; University of Michigan, Panel Study of 

Income Dynamics.
PSID than the CE. These included expenditures on telephone and internet and household furnishings 

and equipment. 

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey; University of Michigan, Panel Study of Income Dynamics.

Detailed Findings

Table 1 shows expenditures and ratios for the total and four major categories, adjusted for 

comparability. Overall, the PSID shows higher expenditures for food, housing, and transportation, while 

CE shows higher health care expenditures. The highest CE/PSID ratio was in healthcare in 2011 at 119.6 

percent, while transportation had the lowest CE/PSID ratio at 84.1 percent in 2009. 

 

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011

Chart 2 CE/PSID Expenditure Ratios for all comparable categories, 

1999-2011
Table 1. CE and PSID average annual expenditures and CE/PSID ratios for total and four major categories

(adjusted for comparability) for all households, 1999-2011

Total Food Housing

Year CE PSID CE/PSID Ratio CE PSID CE/PSID Ratio CE PSID CE/PSID Ratio

1999 23,125 23,989 0.964 5,031 5,407 0.930 8,902 8,780 1.014

2001 25,159 25,936 0.970 5,321 5,851 0.909 9,784 9,976 0.981

2003 26,163 26,857 0.974 5,340 5,945 0.898 10,243 10,300 0.995

2005 36,723 38,711 0.949 5,931 6,367 0.932 15,563 15,773 0.987

2007 39,240 41,810 0.939 6,133 6,665 0.920 17,177 17,592 0.976

2009 38,395 40,574 0.946 6,372 6,560 0.971 17,127 17,394 0.985

2011 38,882 40,533 0.959 6,458 6,737 0.959 16,651 17,260 0.965

Transportation Health care

Year CE PSID CE/PSID Ratio CE PSID CE/PSID Ratio

1999 6,707 7,143 0.939 1,850 1,629 1.136

2001 7,324 8,186 0.895 2,082 1,923 1.082

2003 7,487 8,474 0.884 2,309 2,138 1.080

2005 7,999 8,953 0.894 2,559 2,464 1.039

2007 8,324 9,445 0.881 2,735 2,618 1.045

2009 7,292 8,667 0.841 3,007 2,795 1.076

2011 7,896 8,971 0.924 3,179 2,657 1.196

Food. Table 2 shows that total food expenditures in the PSID were consistently 3 to 10 percentage 

points higher than those in the CE. Spending on food at home in the PSID was 18 to 24 percentage 

points higher than in the CE. This category makes up the majority of total food expenditures in both 

surveys. However, CE expenditures were consistently higher for food away from home, ranging from 18 

to 33 percentage points higher than the PSID. To make the data more comparable, the PSID categories 
of Food Delivered at Home and Food Away from Home were combined to create the Food Away From 

Home category in the table. 

Table 2. CE and PSID average annual expenditures and CE/PSID ratios for total food and components for all 

households, 1999-2011

Food Food at Home Food Away from Home

Year CE PSID CE/PSID Ratio CE PSID CE/PSID Ratio CE PSID CE/PSID Ratio

1999 5,031 5,407 0.930 2,915 3,785 0.770 2,116 1,623 1.304

2001 5,321 5,851 0.909 3,086 4,052 0.762 2,235 1,798 1.243

2003 5,340 5,945 0.898 3,129 4,079 0.767 2,211 1,866 1.185

2005 5,931 6,367 0.932 3,297 4,326 0.762 2,634 2,041 1.291

2007 6,133 6,665 0.920 3,465 4,535 0.764 2,668 2,129 1.253

2009 6,372 6,560 0.971 3,753 4,597 0.816 2,619 1,964 1.334

2011 6,458 6,737 0.959 3,838 4,734 0.811 2,620 2,003 1.308

Housing. Expenditures on housing were higher in the PSID in all years except 1999. (See Table 3.) 

Several adjustments were required in this category to make the data comparable. For example, the PSID 

did not collect expenditures on telephone and internet and household furnishings and repairs until 

2005. Thus, these expenditures were excluded from the CE estimates for years before 2005. Also, the 

PSID mortgage calculation includes mortgage principal, interest, and mortgage insurance and does not

separate them into components. CE data on mortgage interest and charges and mortgage principal paid 

on owned property were combined to compare with PSID mortgage data. 

Within the housing category, there were differences in six detailed categories shown in Table 3: rent, 

utilities, property taxes, telephone/internet services, home insurance, and household furnishings and 

repairs. Expenditures on utilities and home insurance were much higher in the PSID than in the CE, while 

expenditures on property taxes were consistently higher in the CE. Rental expenditures were higher in 
the CE until 2007. For comparability purposes, CE expenditures on telephone services and computer 

information services were combined into one category. Also, CE household furnishings and equipment 

were combined with household maintenance/repair services and commodities into one category for 

comparison with the PSID. Table 3 shows that PSID expenditures for these categories were higher than 

CE expenditures. 
Table 3. CE and PSID average annual expenditures and CE/PSID ratios for total housing and components for all 

households, 1999-2011

 Housing Mortgage at Primary Residence Rent

Year CE PSID CE/PSID Ratio CE PSID CE/PSID Ratio CE PSID CE/PSID Ratio

1999 8,902 8,780 1.014 3,914 3,645 1.074 2,027 1,984 1.022

2001 9,784 9,976 0.981 4,259 4,356 0.978 2,134 2,064 1.034

2003 10,243 10,300 0.995 4,519 4,447 1.016 2,179 2,137 1.020

2005 15,563 15,773 0.987 5,409 5,095 1.061 2,345 2,285 1.026

2007 17,177 17,592 0.976 6,169 5,459 1.130 2,602 2,695 0.965

2009 17,127 17,394 0.985 5,805 5,292 1.097 2,860 2,976 0.961

2011 16,651 17,260 0.965 5,192 4,660 1.114 2,905 3,226 0.900

Utilities Telephone / Internet Utilities without Telephone/Internet

Year CE PSID CE/PSID Ratio CE PSID CE/PSID Ratio CE PSID CE/PSID Ratio

1999 1,528 1,892 0.807 898 NA NA 1,528 1,892 0.807

2001 1,852 2,204 0.840 1,004 NA NA 1,852 2,204 0.840

2003 1,856 2,219 0.836 1,080 NA NA 1,856 2,219 0.836

2005 3,341 3,886 0.860 1,206 1,707 0.707 1,977 2,179 0.907

2007 3,674 4,310 0.852 1,307 1,902 0.687 2,170 2,408 0.901

2009 3,901 4,654 0.838 1,418 2,046 0.693 2,483 2,608 0.952

2011 4,041 4,831 0.837 1,540 2,108 0.731 2,501 2,723 0.919

 Home Insurance Property Taxes Household Furnishings/Repairs

Year CE PSID CE/PSID Ratio CE PSID CE/PSID Ratio CE PSID CE/PSID Ratio

1999 234 307 0.763 1,199 953 1.259 2,120 NA NA

2001 249 337 0.739 1,291 1,015 1.271 2,093 NA NA

2003 287 398 0.721 1,403 1,099 1.276 2,175 NA NA

2005 329 456 0.721 1,600 1,253 1.277 2,539 2,798 0.907

2007 340 503 0.676 1,804 1,357 1.330 2,588 3,268 0.792

2009 341 491 0.695 1,917 1,392 1.377 2,303 2,589 0.890

2011 352 507 0.695 1,961 1,373 1.428 2,200 2,663 0.826
Transportation. Table 4 shows CE and PSID expenditures and CE/PSID ratios for transportation. Like 

most of the other categories, PSID transportation expenditures were higher than CE transportation 

expenditures. These included much higher expenditures on vehicle insurance and vehicle maintenance 

and repairs. Vehicle maintenance and repair expenditures for PSID were twice those of CE in most 

years. Gasoline expenditures were much closer between the two surveys. 

Table 4. CE and PSID average annual expenditures and CE/PSID ratios for total transportation and components 

for all households, 1999-2011

Transportation Gasoline Vehicle Insurance Vehicle Repair

Year CE PSID CE/PSID Ratio CE PSID CE/PSID Ratio CE PSID CE/PSID Ratio CE PSID CE/PSID Ratio

1999 6,707 6,895 0.973 1,055 973 1.084 756 1,067 0.708 664 1,113 0.596

2001 7,324 8,186 0.895 1,279 1,413 0.905 819 1,162 0.705 662 1,401 0.473

2003 7,487 8,474 0.884 1,333 1,358 0.982 905 1,486 0.609 619 1,316 0.470

2005 7,999 8,953 0.894 2,013 1,862 1.081 913 1,459 0.626 671 1,399 0.480

2007 8,324 9,445 0.881 2,384 2,303 1.035 1,071 1,300 0.824 738 1,398 0.528

2009 7,292 8,667 0.841 1,986 1,865 1.065 1,075 1,371 0.784 733 1,484 0.494

2011 7,896 8,971 0.880 2,655 2,518 1.054 983 1,344 0.731 805 1,552 0.519

Health care. In the health care category, CE expenditures were consistently higher than PSID

expenditures. This is largely explained by the CE’s higher expenditures on both health insurance and 

prescription drugs. (See Table 5.) However, expenditures on medical services were higher in the PSID. 

Two adjustments were made for comparability on health care spending: expenditures on doctors were 

combined with hospital and nursing home expenditures in the PSID to create a category comparable to 

medical services in the CE, and expenditures on medical supplies collected in the CE were excluded from 

total health care.
Table 5. CE and PSID average annual expenditures and CE/PSID ratios for total healthcare and components for 

all households, 1999-2011

Healthcare Health Insurance Prescription drugs Medical Services

Year CE PSID CE/PSID Ratio CE PSID CE/PSID Ratio CE PSID CE/PSID Ratio CE PSID CE/PSID Ratio

1999 1,850 1,619 1.142 923 800 1.154 370 224 1.654 558 596 0.936

2001 2,082 1,923 1.082 1,061 944 1.124 449 299 1.502 573 680 0.843

2003 2,309 2,138 1.080 1,252 1,081 1.158 467 339 1.378 591 718 0.823

2005 2,559 2,464 1.039 1,361 1,261 1.079 521 401 1.299 677 802 0.844

2007 2,735 2,618 1.045 1,545 1,374 1.124 481 376 1.279 709 870 0.815

2009 3,007 2,795 1.076 1,785 1,453 1.228 486 354 1.373 736 988 0.745

2011 3,179 2,657 1.196 1,922 1,383 1.390 489 373 1.311 768 893 0.860

Clothing and education. Table 6 shows that expenditures on clothing were 13 to 26 percentage points

higher in the CE than in in the PSID from 2005 to 2011. (The PSID first collected clothing expenditure 

data in 2005.) PSID expenditures on education have been consistently higher than CE’s, but the 

difference has narrowed over time.

Table 6. CE and PSID average annual expenditures and CE/PSID ratios for clothing and education for all 

households, 1999-2011

Clothing Education

Year CE PSID CE/PSID Ratio CE PSID CE/PSID Ratio

1999 1,743 NA NA 635 1,030 0.617

2001 1,743 NA NA 648 1,140 0.568

2003 1,640 NA NA 783 1,126 0.695

2005 1,886 1,646 1.146 940 1,268 0.741

2007 1,881 1,661 1.133 945 1,422 0.665

2009 1,725 1,498 1.151 1,068 1,298 0.823

2011 1,740 1,380 1.261 1,051 1,361 0.772
Entertainment and trips. Table 7 shows that CE spending on entertainment ranged from 19 to 28 

percent higher than the PSID since 2005 (the first year PSID collected expenditures on entertainment). 

In contrast, PSID expenditures on out-of-town trips have been consistently higher than the CE since 

2005. For comparability purposes, entertainment expenditures excluding out-of-town trips were 

combined with reading expenditures in the CE. Public transportation, lodging, and entertainment 

expenditures for out-of-town trips were used to create a trips category for the CE. 

Table 7. CE and PSID average annual expenditures and CE/PSID ratios for entertainment and trips for all 

households, 1999-2011

Entertainment Trips

Year CE PSID CE/PSID Ratio CE PSID CE/PSID Ratio

1999 962 NA NA 683 NA NA

2001 956 NA NA 700 NA NA

2003 949 NA NA 665 NA NA

2005 1,065 854 1.248 780 1,387 0.562

2007 1,124 889 1.265 922 1,520 0.606

2009 1,022 855 1.194 783 1,507 0.519

2011 955 743 1.285 953 1,424 0.669

Data description for CE. The CE is an ongoing survey that collects information from a sample of the 

nation's households on their expenditures, income, and household characteristics1

. The data are 

collected by the U.S. Census Bureau for the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The survey consists of two 

components—a quarterly Interview Survey and a weekly Diary Survey—each with its own questionnaire 

and sample. In the Interview Survey, each consumer unit is interviewed every 3 months, for a total of 

five interviews. In the Diary Survey, respondents are asked to keep track of all of their purchases made 
each day for two consecutive 1-week periods. The Interview Survey yields approximately 28,000 usable 

interviews annually; the Diary Survey yields about 14,000.

For this report, data from the CE publication tables were used. Data from the Diary and Interview 

Surveys are integrated to provide a complete accounting of consumer expenditures and income that 

neither survey is designed to do on its own.2 For example, the Diary Survey does not collect data on 

expenditures for overnight travel or information on reimbursements, whereas the Interview Survey 

does. Examples of expenditures for which reimbursements are not collected in the Diary Survey are 

medical care; automobile repair; and construction, repairs, alterations, and maintenance of property. 

The Interview Survey does not collect detailed food expenditures or expenditures for housekeeping 

supplies, personal care products, and nonprescription drugs. These items are collected only in the Diary 

Survey.

Data Description for PSID. The PSID is the world's longest-running national longitudinal household 

survey.3 The PSID began in 1968 and was conducted annually through 1997, after which it became a 

biennial survey. The PSID follows members of households in the original 1968 sample and their 

descendants as they grow up and form their own families. This feature allows analyses of economic 

behavior across generations. The sample size has ranged from 4,800 families annually in 1968 to 

approximately 8,900 in 2011. 

The PSID expenditure data used in this article are from a series of questions that were added to the 

survey in 1999 to collect global and detailed information on healthcare, education, transportation and 

utilities spending.4 For this report, PSID unconditional annual means were compared with adjusted 

average annual CE expenditures5

. Additional expenditure questions were incorporated into the survey in 
2005 to include spending on home repairs and maintenance, household furnishings, clothing, trips and 

vacations, and entertainment, which enabled the PSID to cover a majority of household expenditure 

categories. (See Appendix 2 for examples of these questions.) 
Appendix 1. Components of Expenditure Categories Described in Text:

CE

Years in 

Survey PSID

Years In 

Survey

Food 1999-2011 Food 1999-2011

Food at Home 1999-2011 Food at Home 1999-2011

Food Away from Home 1999-2011 Food Away from Home 1999-2011

Food Delivered 1999-2011

Housing 1999-2011 Housing 1999-2011

Mortgage at Primary Residence 1999-2001 Mortgage

Rented Dwellings 1999-2011 Rent 1999-2011

Property Tax 1999-2011 Property Tax 1999-2011

Home Insurance 1999-2011 Home Insurance 1999-2011

Utilities 1999-2011 Utilities 1999-2011

Telephone Services 1999-2011 Telephone/Internet 2005-2011

Computer Information Services 1999-2011 Home repairs and Maintenance 2005-2011

Maintenance repairs 1999-2011 Household Furnishings and Equipment 2005-2011

Household furnishings and equipment 1999-2011

Transportation 1999-2011 Transportation 1999-2011

Vehicle Purchases 1999-2011 Vehicle Loan Payment 1999-2011

Gasoline and Motor Oil 1999-2011 Vehicle Down Payment 1999-2011

Vehicle Finance Charges 1999-2011 Vehicle Lease Payment 1999-2011

Maintenance and Repairs 1999-2011 Insurance 1999-2011

Vehicle Insurance 1999-2011 Repairs and Maintenance 1999-2011

Vehicle rental, leases, licenses, and other charges 1999-2011 Gasoline 1999-2011

Intercity bus fares 1999-2011 Parking and carpool 1999-2011

Intracity mass transit fares 1999-2001 Bus fares and train fares 1999-2011

Intercity train fares 1999-2011 Taxicabs 1999-2011

Taxi fares and limousine service 1999-2001 Other transportation 1999-2011

Healthcare 1999-2011 Healthcare 1999-2011

Health Insurance 1999-2011 Doctor 1999-2011

Medical Services 1999-2011 Prescription Drugs 1999-2011

Drugs 1999-2011 Insurance 1999-2011

Hospital/Nursing Home 1999-2011

Apparel and Services 1999-2011 Clothing 2005-2011

Education 1999-2011 Education 1999-2011

Entertainment 1999-2011 Entertainment 1999-2011

Recreation 1999-2011 Recreation 1999-2011

Reading 1999-2011 Reading 1999-2011

Trips 1999-2011 Trips 1999-2011
Appendix 2. Consumption Data Collected in the PSID: 1968-2011 

(Includes Categories Not Used In this Report.)

 

 

Domain Question Text Waves Available 

Food

 At home F17 & F18 F22: In addition to what you 

buy with food stamps, do [you and 

anyone else in your family/you] spend 

any money on food that you use at 

home? How much do you spend on that 

food in an average week? 

1968-2011, except '73, 

'88, '89 

 Delivered F19F23 & F20F24: Do you have any food 

delivered to the door which isn't 

included in that? How much do you 

spend on that food?

1968, 1994 - 2011

 Away from home F21F25: About how much do [you and 

everyone else in your family/you] spend 

eating out? 

1969 - 2011, except '73, 

'88, '89

Home repairs & maintenance

F87: How much did you spend 

altogether in 2008 on home repairs and

maintenance, including materials plus 

any costs for hiring a professional?

2005-2011

Household furnishings & equipment

F88: How much did you spend 

altogether in 2008 on household 

furnishings and equipment, including 

household textiles, furniture, floor 

coverings, major appliances, small 

appliances and miscellaneous 

housewares?

2005-2011

Clothing & apparel

F89: How much did you spend 

altogether in 2008 on clothing and 

apparel, including footwear, outerwear, 

and products such as watches or 

jewelry?

2005-2011

Trips & vacations

F90: How much did you spend 

altogether in 2008 on trips and 

vacations, including transportation, 

2005-2011
accommodations, and recreational 

expenses on trips?

Recreation & entertainment F91: How much did you spend 

altogether in 2008 on recreation and 

entertainment, including tickets to 

movies, sporting events, and performing 

arts and hobbies including exercise, 

bicycles, trailers, camping, photography, 

and reading materials?

2005-2011

Health care

 Hospital & nursing home H64: About how much did you pay outof-pocket for nursing home and hospital 

bills in 2007 and 2008 combined? 

UNFOLDING BRACKETS

1999-2011

 Doctor H70: About how much did you pay outof-pocket for doctor, outpatient surgery, 

dental bills in 2007 and 2008 combined? 

UNFOLDING BRACKETS6

1999-2011

 Prescription drugs H76: About how much did you pay outof-pocket for prescriptions, in-home 

medical care, special facilities, and other 

services in 2007 and 2008 combined? 

UNFOLDING BRACKETS

1999-2011

 Insurance H63: Altogether, how much did 

[you/your family] pay for health 

insurance premiums, in 2007 and 2008 

combined, for (all of) the health 

insurance or health care coverage(s) you 

just mentioned? Please include amounts 

that you had automatically deducted 

from your pay, as well as amounts you 

paid directly.

1999-2011

 Total medical care H82: Could you give me your best 

estimate of the total cost of all medical 

care for you in 2007 and 2008 

combined? That is, the total of your 

out-of-pocket costs you gave me, plus 

the costs covered by Medicare, 

Medicaid, or other health insurance? 

UNFOLDING BRACKETS

1999-2011

Medical Bills W39B2: If you added up all medical bills 

(for all of (your/the) family living there), 

about how much would they amount to 

right now?

2011

Housing
 Mortgage A25: How much are your monthly 

mortgage payments? 

A30: Do your payments include 

insurance premiums?

A29: Do your payments include property 

tax? 

1968 - 2011, except '73, 

'74, '75, '82, '88, '89

 Rent A31: About how much rent do you pay a 

month? A31b. Is heat included in your 

monthly rent?

1968 - 2011, except '88, 

'89 

A31a. Does (the rent/this amount) 

include water and sewer?

2011

 Insurance A22: How much is your total yearly 

homeowner's insurance premium? 

1991 - 2011

 Property tax A21: About how much are your total 

yearly property taxes, including city, 

county, and school taxes? 

1968-2011, except '78, 

'88, '89

 Electricity A42 (A48): The next few questions are 

about amounts paid for utilities, such as 

electricity and water. How much [do 

you/does your family] usually pay for 

electricity per month? 

1981 - 1983, 1999-2011

 Heat A41 (A49): How much [do you/does your 

family] usually pay) for gas or other 

types of heating fuel per month on 

average? 

1981 - 1983, 1999-2011

 Electricity and gas combined

A42a: How much do you [and your 

family living there] usually pay for gas 

and electricity combined? IF COMBINED

2007-2011

 Water and sewer A43 (A50): How much [do you/does your 

family] usually pay) for water and sewer 

per month?

1981 - 1983, 1999-2011

 Other utilities A45 (A51): And do you have any other 

utility expenses? 

A45a (A52): What were those other 

utilities expenses? 

A45b (A53): On average, how much are 

these other utility expenses per month? 

1981 - 1983, 1999-2011

 Telecommunication A44. How much do you usually pay for 

telephone, including cell phone, cable or 

satellite TV, Internet service per month?

2005-2011

Transportation

 Vehicle loan payment F67 (V20): How much are your 

payments and how often are they 

made? 

1968, 1999-2011

 Down payment F64 (V17): How much did you put down 

in cash?

1999-2011

 Vehicle lease payment F71 (V24): How much was your initial 

outlay for that lease -- including your 

down payment and any fees?

F72 (V25): How much are your 

1999-2011
payments and how often are they 

made?

 Insurance F77 (X1): How much do [you/you and 

your family living there] pay for car 

insurance [per year/for all your vehicles 

per year]? 

1968, 1999-2011

 Repairs and maintenance F80a (X4a): Altogether in the last month, 

how much did [you/you and your family 

living there] pay for each of these 

transportation related expenses... 

1999-2011

 Gasoline F80b (X4b). 1999-2011

 Parking and carpool F80c (X4c). 1999-2011

 Bus fares and train fares F81a (X4d). 1999-2011

 Taxicabs F81b (X4e). 1999-2011

 Other transportation F81c (X4f). 1999-2011

 Other vehicle expenditures F79 (X3): (Other than the car payments 

you already told me about,) how much 

did you pay in car payments?

1999-2011

Education F82 (X6): In 2008, did [you/you and your 

family living there] have any schoolrelated expenses such as: 

 - Purchase or rental of books, 

supplies, uniforms, or equipment 

including computers and software; 

 - Tuition or tutoring not 

including any amounts for day care or 

nursery school. I will ask you about 

those later; 

 - Room and board for a family 

member who is away at school? -Any 

other expenses?

F83 (X7): How much in total were these 

expenses?

1999-2011

F84 (X8): In 2008, were there any other 

school-related expenses not already 

covered in the previous question? 

F85 (X9): What other types of schoolrelated expenses did you have? 

F86 (X10): Altogether, how much were 

these other expenses?

1999-2011

W39B1. If you added up all student 

loans (for all of (your/the) family living 

there), about how much would they 

amount to right now?

2011

Child Care F6d (F7): How much did [you and your 

family living there/you] pay for child 

care in 2008? for which months?

1970, '71, '72, '76, '77, 

'79, '85, 1988-2011
Notes

1 The terms consumer unit, family, and household are often used interchangeably for convenience. However, the technical term 

for purposes of the Consumer Expenditure Survey is consumer unit. .A consumer unit consists of any of the following: (1) All 

members of a particular household who are related by blood, marriage, adoption, or some other legal arrangement; (2) a person 

living alone or sharing a household with others or living as a roomer in a private home or lodging house or in permanent living 

quarters in a hotel or motel, but who is financially independent; (3) two or more persons living together who use their incomes to 

make joint expenditure decisions. Financial independence is determined by spending behavior with regard to the three major 

expense categories: housing, food, and other living expenses. To be considered financially independent, the respondent must 

provide at least two of the three major expenditure categories, either entirely or in part.

2 For more information on source selection details, see Brett J. Creech and Barry Steinberg, “CE Source Selection for Publication 

Tables,” in Consumer Expenditure Survey Anthology, 2011, Report 1030 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, July 2011).

3 See Panel Study of Income Dynamics, Consumer Expenditure Data, which is produced and distributed by the Survey Research 

Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

4 Patricia Andreski, Geng Li, Zahid Samancioglu, and Robert F. Schoeni, “Estimates of Annual Consumption Expenditures and Its 

Major Subcomponents in the PSID in Comparison to the CE,” American Economic Review, Papers and Proceedings, May 2014. 

5 For a random variable yt, the unconditional mean is simply the expected value. In contrast, the conditional mean of yt is the 

expected value of yt given a conditioning set of variables. Ωt. For more information, see “Conditional Mean Models, 

Documentation Center, MathWorks.com, http://www.mathworks.com/help/econ/what-is-a-conditional-mean-model.html.

6 Steven G. Heeringa, Daniel H. Hill, and David H. Howell, “Unfolding Brackets for Reducing Item Nonresponse in Economic 

Surveys,” 1995. https://psidonline.isr.umich.edu/publications/Papers/tsp/1995-01_Reducing_Item_Nonresponse.pdf