CE-803(L) (LA)

(4-2023) DC UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

U.S. Census Bureau

Office of the Director

Washington, DC 20233-0001

We are contacting you to request your help with an important survey—the Consumer Expenditure Survey. The

U.S. Census Bureau is conducting this survey for the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Your responses help update the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The CPI is one of the most important tools used

to measure how fast consumer prices are rising or declining. It directly affects wages, pensions, and the cost of

goods and services. Your response is a service to your community and the country.

Your participation in this survey is essential. The U.S. Census Bureau is required by law to protect your

information. The Census Bureau is not permitted to publicly release your responses in a way that could identify

you. We are conducting this survey under the authority of Title 13, United States Code, and Title 29, United

States Code. Federal law protects your privacy and keeps your answers confidential (Title 13, United States

Code, Sections 9 and 214). Per the Federal Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015, your data are protected

from cybersecurity risks through screening of the systems that transmit your data.

Soon a field representative will contact you for an interview and show you an official identification card. Please

welcome him or her.

On the back of this letter are answers to questions you may have about this survey. If you would like more

information, please contact the following:

Thank you for your cooperation in this important survey. We appreciate your help.

Sincerely,

Robert L. Santos

Director

census.gov

REGIONAL DIRECTOR

US CENSUS BUREAU

2300 W EMPIRE AVENUE SUITE 300

BURBANK CA 91504-3399

TELEPHONE: 1 (800) 992–3530
CE-803(L) (DN)

(4-2023) DC UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

U.S. Census Bureau

Office of the Director

Washington, DC 20233-0001

We are contacting you to request your help with an important survey—the Consumer Expenditure Survey. The

U.S. Census Bureau is conducting this survey for the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Your responses help update the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The CPI is one of the most important tools used

to measure how fast consumer prices are rising or declining. It directly affects wages, pensions, and the cost of

goods and services. Your response is a service to your community and the country.

Your participation in this survey is essential. The U.S. Census Bureau is required by law to protect your

information. The Census Bureau is not permitted to publicly release your responses in a way that could identify

you. We are conducting this survey under the authority of Title 13, United States Code, and Title 29, United

States Code. Federal law protects your privacy and keeps your answers confidential (Title 13, United States

Code, Sections 9 and 214). Per the Federal Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015, your data are protected

from cybersecurity risks through screening of the systems that transmit your data.

Soon a field representative will contact you for an interview and show you an official identification card. Please

welcome him or her.

On the back of this letter are answers to questions you may have about this survey. If you would like more

information, please contact the following:

Thank you for your cooperation in this important survey. We appreciate your help.

Sincerely,

Robert L. Santos

Director

census.gov

REGIONAL DIRECTOR

US CENSUS BUREAU

6950 W JEFFERSON AVENUE SUITE 250

LAKEWOOD CO 80235-2377

TELEPHONE: 1 (800) 852–6159
CE-803(L) (AT)

(4-2023) DC UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

U.S. Census Bureau

Office of the Director

Washington, DC 20233-0001

We are contacting you to request your help with an important survey—the Consumer Expenditure Survey. The

U.S. Census Bureau is conducting this survey for the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Your responses help update the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The CPI is one of the most important tools used

to measure how fast consumer prices are rising or declining. It directly affects wages, pensions, and the cost of

goods and services. Your response is a service to your community and the country.

Your participation in this survey is essential. The U.S. Census Bureau is required by law to protect your

information. The Census Bureau is not permitted to publicly release your responses in a way that could identify

you. We are conducting this survey under the authority of Title 13, United States Code, and Title 29, United

States Code. Federal law protects your privacy and keeps your answers confidential (Title 13, United States

Code, Sections 9 and 214). Per the Federal Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015, your data are protected

from cybersecurity risks through screening of the systems that transmit your data.

Soon a field representative will contact you for an interview and show you an official identification card. Please

welcome him or her.

On the back of this letter are answers to questions you may have about this survey. If you would like more

information, please contact the following:

Thank you for your cooperation in this important survey. We appreciate your help.

Sincerely,

Robert L. Santos

Director

census.gov

REGIONAL DIRECTOR

US CENSUS BUREAU

101 MARIETTA STREET NW SUITE 3200

ATLANTA GA 30303-2700

TELEPHONE: 1 (800) 424–6974
CE-803(L) (CG)

(4-2023) DC UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

U.S. Census Bureau

Office of the Director

Washington, DC 20233-0001

We are contacting you to request your help with an important survey—the Consumer Expenditure Survey. The

U.S. Census Bureau is conducting this survey for the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Your responses help update the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The CPI is one of the most important tools used

to measure how fast consumer prices are rising or declining. It directly affects wages, pensions, and the cost of

goods and services. Your response is a service to your community and the country.

Your participation in this survey is essential. The U.S. Census Bureau is required by law to protect your

information. The Census Bureau is not permitted to publicly release your responses in a way that could identify

you. We are conducting this survey under the authority of Title 13, United States Code, and Title 29, United

States Code. Federal law protects your privacy and keeps your answers confidential (Title 13, United States

Code, Sections 9 and 214). Per the Federal Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015, your data are protected

from cybersecurity risks through screening of the systems that transmit your data.

Soon a field representative will contact you for an interview and show you an official identification card. Please

welcome him or her.

On the back of this letter are answers to questions you may have about this survey. If you would like more

information, please contact the following:

Thank you for your cooperation in this important survey. We appreciate your help.

Sincerely,

Robert L. Santos

Director

census.gov

REGIONAL DIRECTOR

US CENSUS BUREAU

1111 W 22ND STREET SUITE 400

OAK BROOK IL 60523-1918

TELEPHONE: 1 (800) 865-6384
CE-803(L) (NY)

(4-2023) DC UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

U.S. Census Bureau

Office of the Director

Washington, DC 20233-0001

We are contacting you to request your help with an important survey—the Consumer Expenditure Survey. The

U.S. Census Bureau is conducting this survey for the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Your responses help update the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The CPI is one of the most important tools used

to measure how fast consumer prices are rising or declining. It directly affects wages, pensions, and the cost of

goods and services. Your response is a service to your community and the country.

Your participation in this survey is essential. The U.S. Census Bureau is required by law to protect your

information. The Census Bureau is not permitted to publicly release your responses in a way that could identify

you. We are conducting this survey under the authority of Title 13, United States Code, and Title 29, United

States Code. Federal law protects your privacy and keeps your answers confidential (Title 13, United States

Code, Sections 9 and 214). Per the Federal Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015, your data are protected

from cybersecurity risks through screening of the systems that transmit your data.

Soon a field representative will contact you for an interview and show you an official identification card. Please

welcome him or her.

On the back of this letter are answers to questions you may have about this survey. If you would like more

information, please contact the following:

Thank you for your cooperation in this important survey. We appreciate your help.

Sincerely,

Robert L. Santos

Director

census.gov

REGIONAL DIRECTOR

US CENSUS BUREAU

32 OLD SLIP 9TH FLOOR

NEW YORK NY 10005-3504

TELEPHONE: 1 (800) 991-2520
CE-803(L) (PH)

(4-2023) DC UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

U.S. Census Bureau

Office of the Director

Washington, DC 20233-0001

We are contacting you to request your help with an important survey—the Consumer Expenditure Survey. The

U.S. Census Bureau is conducting this survey for the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Your responses help update the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The CPI is one of the most important tools used

to measure how fast consumer prices are rising or declining. It directly affects wages, pensions, and the cost of

goods and services. Your response is a service to your community and the country.

Your participation in this survey is essential. The U.S. Census Bureau is required by law to protect your

information. The Census Bureau is not permitted to publicly release your responses in a way that could identify

you. We are conducting this survey under the authority of Title 13, United States Code, and Title 29, United

States Code. Federal law protects your privacy and keeps your answers confidential (Title 13, United States

Code, Sections 9 and 214). Per the Federal Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015, your data are protected

from cybersecurity risks through screening of the systems that transmit your data.

Soon a field representative will contact you for an interview and show you an official identification card. Please

welcome him or her.

On the back of this letter are answers to questions you may have about this survey. If you would like more

information, please contact the following:

Thank you for your cooperation in this important survey. We appreciate your help.

Sincerely,

Robert L. Santos

Director

census.gov

REGIONAL DIRECTOR

US CENSUS BUREAU

100 S INDEPENDENCE MALL W SUITE 410

PHILADELPHIA PA 19106-2320

TELEPHONE: 1 (800) 262–4236
CE-803(L) (4-2023)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the Census Bureau doing?

I thought they only operated every ten years. In addition to the decennial census, we collect data on a

monthly basis. We collect these data to provide up-to-date information on topics such as unemployment,

spending, family income, housing, manufacturing and business activities to track the country’s economy.

What is this survey about?

The Consumer Expenditure Survey measures how people in the United States spend their money on

items such as housing, food, education, transportation, and healthcare.

Why is this survey important?

The information you provide will affect wages, pensions, and the cost of goods and services. In addition,

people in your community and throughout the country use the survey results for planning public services

and addressing consumer needs. Your voluntary response is essential for ensuring that this survey’s

results are complete and accurate.

What kinds of questions will I be asked?

We will ask you to record in a diary information about all the purchases you make. We will also ask the

people who live in your household to record their purchases. In some instances, we will ask you to record

details about where an item was purchased.

Why me? Why not interview someone else?

Your address was selected, not you personally, as part of a scientifically determined sample. Your

household represents hundreds of other households in your region. We need to talk with you because

only you can accurately report how you spent your money.

What if I am retired, ill, unemployed, or just don’t spend much money?

We are interested in how all people in the United States spend their money. We can only have a

complete picture if we talk to people with different situations. It is very important to know the purchasing

habits of people of all ages and of all levels of spending. This is especially true for medical spending and

spending on entertainment.

How long will the interview take?

We expect that it will take about 9 minutes to record your expenditures daily; in addition, it will take about

19 minutes for each of our visits over this two-week period.

Where can I find out more about the survey?

You can learn more about the survey at the Consumer Expenditure Survey website. The address is

www.bls.gov/respondents/cex. Send any comments regarding the time estimate or any other aspect of

this survey by email to CEcomments@bls.gov.

This survey could not be conducted without a valid OMB Control Number. The U.S. Office

of Management and Budget has approved this survey and assigned it Control Number 1220-0050.