1 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS • bls.gov

Gemini Project: Redesigning the Consumer 

Expenditure Surveys

Adam Safir, BLS

Developing and Testing an Online Diary Survey: 

Memorial Seminar for Jennifer Edgar

Joint WSS/DC-AAPOR Statistical Seminar 

April 28, 2021
2 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS • bls.gov

Outline

 Consumer Expenditure Surveys

 Gemini Project 

 Jennifer’s Role in the Gemini Project

 9 Lessons from Jennifer
3 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS • bls.gov

CE Survey Overview

 CE data consist of estimates derived from two separate surveys:

The Interview Survey is designed to collect data on large and recurring 

expenditures that consumers can be expected to recall for a period of 

3 months or so, such as rent and utilities (approximately 5,500 

interviews/quarter)

The Diary Survey is designed to collect data on small, frequently 

purchased items, including most food and clothing (approximately 

3,000 diaries/quarter)

 Together, data from the two surveys cover the complete range of 

consumers’ expenditures
4 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS • bls.gov

CE Survey Overview

 CE data are collected for BLS by the U.S. Census Bureau, from consumer 

units (CUs), in other words people living at one address who share living 

expenses (in most cases, CUs are the same as households)

 The sample frame is a national probability sample of households designed 

to be representative of the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population

 Respondents report dollar amounts for all non-investment purchases; 

business expenses and reimbursements are excluded

 Response rates for the 2019 surveys were 54 percent for the Interview 

Survey and 56 percent for the Diary Survey
5 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS • bls.gov

Why Redesign

(... and what does High’s have to do with it?)
6 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS • bls.gov

Gemini Project Overview

Gemini Project “...aims to redesign the Consumer Expenditure (CE) survey to 

improve data quality through a verifiable reduction in measurement error—

particularly error caused by underreporting.”

2013 CNSTAT recommendations addressed three key factors believed to 

affect the survey’s ability to collect high quality data: 

(1) measurement error

(2) environmental changes related to new technology and consumption 

behaviors 

(3) need for greater flexibility in data collection strategies
7 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS • bls.gov

Current CE Design

Consumer Expenditure Survey 

Estimates

- 4 waves of personal interviews

- 3 month recall

- Large or recurring expenditures

- 2 one-week household paper diaries

- Contemporaneous recall

- Small, frequently purchased items
8 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS • bls.gov

CE Survey Redesign

 Phased implementation of the redesign plan to maintain effective design 

elements and implement them directly into CE’s Interview and Diary 

surveys.

Online diary: implement in 2022 (pending results of the LSF)

Streamlined questionnaire: phased implementation starting in 2023

Records focus & incentive ($20): to be included in records path

 Postpone single sample design pending changed requirements and/or 

additional funding and further testing
9 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS • bls.gov

Streamlined questionnaire features

 Reduce the level of detail

 Aggregate to the extent possible

 Records focus

 Facilitate the use of records, including a records path for certain 

groups of questions

 Question order/sections to improve flow of questions 

Some changes to the section order, and within section organization
10 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS • bls.gov

Streamlined questionnaire features

 The streamlined questionnaire with a records focus will not be field 

tested, but is undergoing cognitive testing and expert review before being 

put into production in a phased implementation starting in 2023

 Major sections with few or no changes will be released in the first phase 

in 2023 along with the revised processing system for those sections.

 Sections with more extensive changes will be released in subsequent 

years
11 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS • bls.gov

Exploring future enhancements 

 Leveraging new technologies: such as receipt scanning and geolocation

 Self-administered interviews: allow respondents to complete the survey 

themselves without an interviewer visit or phone call (i.e., pandemic 

proofing the survey)

 Single sample design: on hold, pending research and new requirements

 Adaptive design: measure/monitor indicators of progress to tailor field 

procedures and data collection efforts 

 Gold standard interviews: use a research sample to obtain the highest 

quality data for benchmarking
12 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS • bls.gov

Jennifer’s Role in the Gemini Project

* 2009 BLS CE Research Branch photo
13 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS • bls.gov

Jennifer’s Role in the Gemini Project

 2010 – Redesign of the CE Surveys (Survey Redesign Panel)

 2011 – Redesigning the CE Survey (SRMS Newsletter)

 2012 – Preliminary Redesign Proposal (Internal Report)

 2013 – CNSTAT Report Evaluation (Internal Memo)

 2013 – The Gemini Project to Redesign the CE Surveys (CE Symposium)

 2013 – CE Survey Redesign Research Highlights (Monthly Labor Review)

 2014 – Gemini Content Team: Final Report (Internal Report)

 2015 – Records Interview Feasibility Study Report (Internal Report)

 2016 – Proof of Concept Test Field Results (Internal Report)
14 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS • bls.gov

9 Lessons from Jennifer

1. Be present

2. Be reasonable

3. Be a peacemaker and bridge builder 

4. Find a lane

5. Make it make sense

6. Vet everyone

7. Connect with people 

8. Care about the work, and the people

9. Tell people the hard truth, with a friendly smile
Contact Information

15 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS • bls.gov

Adam Safir, Division Chief

Division of Consumer Expenditure Surveys

safir.adam@bls.gov