The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer 

Expenditure Survey (CE) routinely compares its expenditure estimates with outside sources to assess the 

integrity and reliability of CE data. The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) component of the National Income 

and Product Accounts produced by the Bureau of Economic 

Analysis (BEA) is the principal independent source of comparable aggregate spending data. While the two sources obtain 

their estimates in dissimilar ways and serve distinct purposes, 

they both ultimately measure expenditures made by consumers, and thus serve as a valuable check on each other’s data at 

any given point in time. It is to be expected that differences 

in survey methodology, definitions, and scope would lead to 

different expenditure estimates. Indeed, CE values are generally less than the corresponding PCE estimates, often by a 

wide margin. If, however, the ratio of CE-to-PCE estimates 

is relatively stable, it reflects favorably on survey consistency 

over a period of time. Frequent data comparisons have been 

made between the CE and PCE since the early 1980s, when

the CE became an ongoing survey. Initially CE-to-PCE ratios were believed to be stable, but recent studies by BLS 

economists showed that ratios decreased from 1992 to 2002.

An article in a 2006 CE report6 determined the CE/PCE ratio 

of all comparable goods (among durables, nondurables, and 

services) was 0.88 in 1992 and 0.86 in 1997. By 2002, th

CE/PCE ratio had fallen to 0.83. This divergence could be 

attributable to any number of factors in either or both sources, 

and more research is needed to determine the causes. The 

purpose of this article is to look at the latest CE-to-PCE ratios 

using the most recent data available and determine if the trend 

is continuing. It appears that the downward trend is abating; 

the CE ratio for all comparable goods leveled off at 0.83 for 

all years from 2002 to 2005.

Survey Comparability

The CE and PCE have the same goal―to measure personal 

consumption expenditures―but accomplish this objective in 

very different ways. The CE is a household survey, while 

the PCE is derived from sources that focus on industries. 

The CE gathers data from consumer units that represent the 

civilian, non-institutional population of the United States, 

while the PCE covers all persons resident in the United 

States, as well as non-profit institutions. As such, there are 

Consumer Expenditure Survey compared

with Personal Consumption Expenditures

6Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2002–2003, Report 990. U.S. 

Department of Labor, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, March 2006.

widespread differences in definitions and scope, so it is to be 

expected that total estimates may differ. Some expenditure 

categories are defined differently by the CE and PCE. The CE 

collects out-of-pocket expenditures, such as for education or 

contributions to retirement plans, whereas the PCE estimates 

these expenditures using data from institutional sources, such 

as the operating expenses of private educational institutions 

or the administrative expenses of pension plan managers. 

Differences in scope between the CE and PCE include, for 

example, that the PCE captures expenditures made by third 

parties for the consumer unit, such as employer-paid health 

benefits, while the CE only collects those expenditures made 

directly by the consumer unit. Additionally, the CE collects 

spending on used vehicles, whereas the PCE excludes 

purchases of used vehicles. New methodology developed by 

BLS researchers has isolated comparable categories between 

the surveys. Minor dissimilarities may still exist amongst 

comparable items, but these differences do not to have a 

significant impact on the estimates. 

Detailed Results

Text table 3 displays aggregate CE and PCE estimates and 

CE-to-PCE ratios for all major PCE categories for 2002 

through 2005, the most recent years for which published data 

are available. The PCE values are annual updates based on 

2002 benchmark estimates. Text table 4 shows the specific 

categories for which the CE and PCE have been determined 

conceptually comparable. As mentioned previously, the CE/

PCE ratio for total comparable durables, nondurables and 

services has been steady at 0.83 for the last 4 years (2002–

2005). 

Durables

Durables include the very broad categories of motor 

vehicles and parts; furniture and household equipment; and 

other durable goods. Each of the three major categories is 

comprised of many smaller groups, as shown in text table 3. 

The comparable items as listed in text table 4 are: new autos; 

furniture, including mattresses and bedsprings; kitchen and 

other household appliances; video and audio goods, including 

musical instruments and computer goods; and wheel goods 

(including bicycles and motorcycles), sports (also includes 

guns) and photographic equipment, boats, and pleasure 

aircraft. From 2002 to 2005, the CE/PCE ratio for total 

comparable durables is 0.75, 0.75, 0.68, and 0.71 respectively
Durables is a category for which the ratios are generally 

higher, as auto purchases are typically higher in the CE. New 

autos, a category for which the CE traditionally reports higher 

values than the PCE, with ratios well above 1, has shown

volatility in its ratio recently. The ratio for new autos was 

1.10 in 2002, 1.23 in 2003, then fell to 0.94 in 2004, but ro

to 1.06 in 2005. An explanation for this variability may be that

only about 3.5–4 percent of CE survey respondents list new 

car purchases each year. This low response rate, coupled with 

the CE’s random sample may account for recent fluctuations 

in this category. The combination of low percent reporting 

and a large expenditure, in a particular category, means that 

small changes in the percent reporting that expenditure can 

cause fluctuations. As for other durables, wheel goods saw 

decreasing ratios, dropping from 0.72 in 2002 to 0.52 in 

2005. Ratios for the three remaining comparable groups rose 

slightly over the same period. 

Nondurables

Nondurables is comprised of four major categories: food; 

clothing and shoes; gasoline, fuel oil, and other energy 

goods; and other nondurables. The comparable items within 

these broad categories are: food purchased for off-premise 

consumption; alcoholic beverages purchased for off-premise 

consumption; purchased meals and beverages; alcoholic 

beverages in purchased meals; shoes; women’s and children’s 

clothing and accessories except shoes (also includes clothing 

for infants); men’s and boys’ clothing and accessories except 

shoes; gasoline, fuel oil, and other energy goods; tobacco 

products; and toilet articles and preparations. The CE/PCE 

ratio for total nondurable goods oscillated slightly from 2002 

to 2005: it was 0.63 in 2002, 0.61 in 2003, 0.64 in 2004, and

0.62 in 2005. Ratios for alcoholic beverages in purchased 

meals, as well as for tobacco, both increased slightly over 

the four year period. The ratio for alcoholic beverages in 

purchased meals rose steadily every year, beginning at 

0.40 and ending at 0.51. The ratio for alcoholic beverages

purchased for off-premise consumption fell by 7 percentage 

points over the same period. The tobacco products CEto-PCE ratio actually dropped in 2003, but in 2005 it was 

0.41, just a trace higher than it was in 2002. The remaining

comparable categories exhibited slight fluctuations with no 

major changes. 

Services

Services make up a large part of total expenditures and 

include eight major categories: housing and household 

operations; transportation; medical care; recreation; personal 

care; personal business; education and research; and religious 

and welfare activities. Due to conceptual differences between 

CE and PCE, most of these categories are not comparable. 

Housing, household operations, and transportation contain 

comparable items, all of which are listed in table 2. The 

CE/PCE ratio for total comparable services rose slightly; 

it was 1.03 in 2002, 1.04 in 2003 and 2004, and increase

to 1.05 in 2005. Two sub-categories had CE-to-PCE ratios

above 1―owner-occupied dwellings and other household 

operations (i.e., moving and storage, household insurance, 

rug and furniture cleaning, electrical repair, reupholstery 

and furniture, postage, household operation services not 

elsewhere classified). The owner occupied nonfarm dwelling 

ratio did not change significantly; other household operations 

increased slightly every year. The telephone and telegraph 

ratio increased more than any other services item, rising 

from .83 in 2002 to .90 in 2005, with increases every year. 

Additionally, the rent and utilities ratio rose by 4 percentage 

points over the period. The ratio for other lodging decreased 

from 0.68 in 2002 to 0.60 in 2005. The transportation 

ratio fell as well, dropping 6 percentage points over the 4-

year period. The cleaning, storage, and repair of clothing 

and shoes ratio decreased 4 percentage points. None of the 

remaining comparable categories changed appreciably over 

the period.

Summary

The CE and PCE both measure consumer expenditures; but 

even when accounting for comparability, discrepancies in 

survey methodology, scope, and concepts lead to unequal 

CE-to-PCE ratios. There has been a decreasing trend in ratios 

since the 1990s, but recent data show that this trend may

have run its course. The CE/PCE ratio for total comparable 

items has been steady at 0.83 from 2002-2005. Ratios for 

comparable durable goods have decreased slightly, while 

services ratios have increased and nondurable goods have 

remained mostly unchanged. Questions on discrepancies 

between the CE and PCE remain even with the steady ratios 

of recent years. BLS staff continue to examine the issue of CE 

and PCE comparability. For further discussion of differences 

in coverage and methodology between the CE and PCE, see 

the Monthly Labor Review article “The CE and the PCE: a 

Comparison” in the September 2006 issue.7

7Garner, Thesia I., George Janini, William Passero, Laura Paszkiewicz, 

Mark Vendemia – “The CE and the PCE: a Comparison,” Monthly Labor 

Review, Vol. 129 No. 9, pp 20-46, September 2006
Text Table 3. Comparison of 2002-2005 Aggregate Consumer Expenditures vs. Personal Consumption Expenditures based on

2002 PCE benchmark ($ millions) 

2002 2003 2004 2005

PCE categories Aggregates CE/ Aggregates CE/ Aggregates CE/ Aggregates CE/

PCE PCE PCE PCE

PCE CE ratio PCE CE ratio PCE CE ratio PCE CE ratio

Total durables, nondurables, and services ..... 7,350,721 4,457,246 0.61 7,703,634 4,637,379 0.60 8,211,504 4,933,388 0.60 8,742,350 5,271,179 0.60

Durable goods ................................................ 923,940 693,653 .75 942,663 731,483 .78 986,260 725,419 .74 1,033,072 779,874 .75

Motor vehicles and parts .......................... 429,264 436,625 1.02 431,709 471,579 1.09 437,940 441,508 1.01 448,218 468,669 1.05

New autos1............................................ 101,703 111,924 1.10 97,175 119,911 1.23 97,653 91,625 .94 103,661 109,714 1.06

Net purchases of used autos................ 60,355 112,513 1.86 54,848 84,314 1.54 54,924 82,256 1.50 58,539 84,960 1.45

Other motor vehicles ............................ 216,911 195,506 .90 227,648 251,005 1.10 231,010 250,221 1.08 227,292 255,471 1.12

Trucks, new and net used..................... 204,602 183,394 .90 214,168 231,479 1.08 216,294 232,218 1.07 211,075 231,771 1.10

Recreational vehicles ........................... 12,309 12,112 .98 13,480 19,526 1.45 14,716 18,003 1.22 16,217 23,700 1.46

Tires, tubes, accessories and other

parts.................................................... 50,295 16,682 .33 52,038 16,349 .31 54,353 17,406 .32 58,726 18,524 .32

Furniture and household equipment......... 323,095 180,432 .56 331,507 185,954 .56 356,499 200,756 .56 377,195 227,115 .60

Furniture, including mattresses and

bedsprings1 ......................................... 68,913 46,171 .67 70,187 47,692 .68 75,461 49,807 .66 79,040 56,021 .71

Kitchen and other household

appliances1.......................................... 31,987 33,666 1.05 32,786 35,140 1.07 34,866 38,946 1.12 37,216 40,853 1.10

China, glassware, tableware, and

utensils................................................ 32,346 8,660 .27 33,124 7,511 .23 34,946 9,579 .27 36,493 9,421 .26

Video and audio goods, including

musical instruments and computer

goods1 ................................................. 120,010 51,134 .43 123,096 51,639 .42 133,400 53,306 .40 141,186 63,568 .45

Video and audio goods incl. musical

instruments1 ........................................ 75,413 33,617 .45 76,477 33,788 .44 81,790 35,422 .43 85,782 43,060 .50

Computers, peripherals, and software1 44,597 17,517 .39 46,619 17,851 .38 51,610 17,864 .35 55,404 20,508 .37

Other durable house furnishings

(i.e. floor coverings, lamps, blinds,

writing equipment, hand tools, and

supplies) ............................................. 69,839 40,801 .58 72,314 43,972 .61 77,826 49,118 .63 83,260 57,252 .69

Other durable goods................................. 171,581 76,596 .45 179,447 73,950 .41 191,821 83,155 .43 207,659 84,090 .40

Ophthalmic products and orthopedic

appliances........................................... 21,895 8,122 .37 22,360 8,147 .36 23,359 8,132 .35 24,974 8,231 .33

Wheel goods, including bicycles and

motorcycles, sports and photographic

equipment, boats and pleasure

aircraft1................................................ 61,399 43,976 .72 65,578 37,461 .57 71,402 45,985 .64 81,538 42,248 .52

Jewelry and watches ............................ 51,228 11,577 .23 52,835 15,837 .30 56,470 15,725 .28 58,913 19,285 .33

Books and maps................................... 37,059 12,921 .35 38,674 12,505 .32 40,590 13,313 .33 42,234 14,326 .34

Nondurable goods .......................................... 2,079,633 1,212,863 .58 2,190,197 1,231,571 .56 2,345,180 1,378,620 .59 2,539,295 1,455,393 .57

Food ......................................................... 1,001,902 659,973 .66 1,045,969 679,381 .65 1,114,782 746,620 .67 1,201,390 763,496 .64

Food purchased for off-premise

consumption1 ........................................ 612,237 389,640 .64 636,018 407,852 .64 677,906 444,202 .66 733,995 432,243 .59

Alcoholic beverages purchased for

off-premise1 ........................................ 75,283 25,497 .34 78,491 27,642 .35 86,172 32,306 .37 96,459 25,901 .27

Purchased meals and beverages1 ........ 379,461 267,770 .71 399,018 268,497 .67 425,484 299,575 .70 455,088 328,110 .72

Alcoholic beverages in purchased

meals1 ................................................. 40,728 16,487 .40 42,790 17,386 .41 44,874 20,986 .47 47,680 24,080 .51

Food supplied to civilians ..................... 9,052 2,563 .28 9557 3032 .32 10,033 2843 .28 10,520 3193 .30

Food supplied to military....................... 676 0 .00 907 0 .00 865 0 .00 1,298 0 .00

Food produced and consumed

on farms.............................................. 476 0 .00 469 0 .00 495 0 .00 489 0 .00

Clothing and shoes................................... 303,501 170,775 .56 310,922 160,942 .52 325,137 183,306 .56 341,809 189,542 .55

Shoes1 .................................................. 49,526 34,960 .71 50,333 33,823 .67 51,943 38,138 .73 54,245 37,536 .69

Women’s and children’s clothing and

accessories except shoes1 ................. 149,993 87,889 .59 153,689 82,418 .54 161,438 94,829 .59 170,221 98,009 .58

Men’s and boys’ clothing and

accessorie except shoes1 ................... 92,874 45,769 .49 95,256 42,800 .45 99,742 47,147 .47 104,850 51,561 .49

Standard clothing issued to military

personnel ............................................ 358 0 .00 546 0 .00 343 0 .00 350 0 .00

Sewing good for males and

females ............................................... 6,467 1,486 .23 6,649 1,188 .18 7,073 2,422 .34 7,359 1,629 .22

Luggage for males and females ........... 4,283 671 .16 4,449 713 .16 4,598 771 .17 4,784 807 .17
Text Table 3. Comparison of 2002-2005 Aggregate Consumer Expenditures vs. Personal Consumption Expenditures based on

2002 PCE benchmark ($ millions)—Continued 

2002 2003 2004 2005

PCE categories Aggregates CE/ Aggregates CE/ Aggregates CE/ Aggregates CE/

PCE PCE PCE PCE

PCE CE ratio PCE CE ratio PCE CE ratio PCE CE ratio

Gasoline, fuel oil, and other energy

goods1..................................................... 178,768 148,800 .83 209,607 166,716 .80 248,792 200,124 .80 302,138 253,297 .84

Other nondurable goods........................... 595,462 233,315 .39 623,699 224,532 .36 656,469 248,569 .38 693,598 242,095 .35

Tobacco products1 ................................ 89,156 35,668 .40 88,033 33,255 .38 87,523 33,270 .38 90,036 37,163 .41

Toilet articles and preparations1............ 54,401 31,144 .57 55,971 31,292 .56 58,230 37,011 .64 61,667 32,332 .52

Semi durable house furnishings ........... 37,805 16,258 .43 39,011 14,168 .36 41,157 20,368 .49 43,475 17,203 .40

Cleaning and polishing preparations

and miscellaneous household

supplies............................................... 66,262 46,275 .70 68,983 45,707 .66 72,928 51,105 .70 77,700 53,445 .69

Drug preparations and sundries ........... 213,118 57,980 .27 233,643 57,666 .25 251,338 60,373 .24 265,724 65,151 .25

Nondurable toys and sport supplies ..... 59,231 16,107 .27 60,642 14,214 .23 63,505 14,053 .22 67,233 13,168 .20

Stationery and writing supplies............. 18,333 14,609 .80 18,431 15,056 .82 18,820 18,832 1.00 19,619 17,470 .89

Net foreign remittances ........................ 4,035 0 .00 4,784 0 .00 5,044 0 .00 5,024 0 .00

Magazines, newspapers, and

sheet music......................................... 35,111 9,108 .26 36,292 8,480 .23 39,596 8,696 .22 43,751 7,736 .18

Flowers, seeds, and potted plants........ 18,010 6,166 .34 17,909 4,694 .26 18,329 4,862 .27 19,738 5,388 .27

Services.......................................................... 4,347,148 2,550,730 .59 4,570,774 2,674,325 .59 4,880,064 2,829,349 .58 5,169,983 3,035,912 .59

Housing and Household operations1 ........ 1,530,788 1,647,839 1.08 1,591,191 1,743,165 1.10 1,686,073 1,830,483 1.09 1,787,064 1,965,864 1.10

Owner occupied nonfarm dwellings1 .... 809,035 1,014,126 1.25 846,353 1,079,220 1.28 910,117 1,135,957 1.25 963,343 1,215,065 1.26

Rent and utilities, excluding

telephone1 .......................................................................... 455,358 424,634 .93 470,397 451,468 .96 486,176 466,250 .96 520,946 507,667 .97

Tenant occupied nonfarm dwellings1 .... 247,773 240,872 .97 245,288 250,031 1.02 248,881 255,095 1.02 256,999 273,639 1.06

Electricity1 ............................................. 111,748 109,987 .98 115,596 118,577 1.03 121,066 123,772 1.02 134,242 135,543 1.01

Gas1 ...................................................... 40,734 36,967 .91 51,689 45,221 .87 55,487 49,305 .89 65,525 55,562 .85

Water and other sanitary services1 ....... 55,103 36,808 .67 57,824 37,639 .65 60,742 38,078 .63 64,180 42,923 .67

Rental value of farm dwellings1 ............ 11,678 0 .00 12,206 0 .00 12,013 0 .00 13,812 0 .00

Other lodging1 ....................................... 54,627 37,333 .68 57,961 33,992 .59 64,151 39,027 .61 69,913 41,720 .60

Telephone and telegraph1 ..................... 128,752 107,258 .83 129,721 110,246 .85 132,932 115,144 .87 135,955 122,946 .90

Domestic service1 ................................. 16,732 8,958 .54 18,474 10,743 .58 19,592 10,332 .53 19,894 10,813 .54

Other household operations (moving

and storage, insurance, furniture

cleaning, electrical repair, postage,

household operation services not

elsewhere classified)1 ......................... 54,606 55,530 1.02 56,079 57,496 1.03 60,192 63,771 1.06 63,201 67,653 1.07

Transportation1 ......................................... 288,430 252,818 .88 297,308 244,558 .82 307,781 262,908 .85 320,429 263,838 .82

Repair, greasing, washing, parking

storage, and leasing1 .......................... 185,951 107,196 .58 186,818 93,441 .50 189,498 96,869 .51 195,560 101,565 .52

Bridge, tunnel, ferry tolls1...................... 5,270 1,624 .31 5,510 1,928 .35 5,734 2,232 .39 6,006 2,218 .37

Insurance1............................................. 45,842 100,168 2.19 49,233 104,428 2.12 53,695 112,139 2.09 58,141 107,187 1.84

Mass transit systems1 ........................... 9,000 7,266 .81 9,519 7,036 .74 10,166 6,990 .69 10,826 7,977 .74

Taxicab1 ................................................ 3,336 2,833 .85 3,500 2,485 .71 3,648 3,372 .92 3,886 2,862 .74

Railway1 ............................................... 573 1,804 3.15 563 1,854 3.29 568 2,074 3.65 578 2,278 3.94

Bus1 ...................................................... 2,353 1,287 .55 2,322 1,033 .44 2,254 1,087 .48 2,175 1,420 .65

Airline1................................................... 28,319 27,306 .96 31,216 29,135 .93 33,070 32,087 .97 33,834 33,422 .99

Other including water passenger,

passenger transportation arrangement, limousine service, other local

transportation1..................................... 7,786 3,334 .43 8,627 3,218 .37 9,149 6,058 .66 9,424 4,908 .52

Medical care............................................. 1,206,198 197,331 .16 1,300,531 212,917 .16 1,395,745 230,901 .17 1,493,411 239,348 .16

Physicians ............................................ 277,204 16,539 .06 300,550 16,569 .06 322,204 17,044 .05 342,431 18,057 .05

Dentists................................................. 72,162 25,447 .35 74,601 26,214 .35 80,163 27,978 .35 85,492 29,848 .35

Other professional services .................. 188,238 13,164 .07 201,788 13,961 .07 217,151 15,613 .07 232,045 17,456 .08

Hospitals............................................... 475,061 9,875 .02 509,268 8,006 .02 541,182 10,607 .02 579,782 11,083 .02

Nursing homes ..................................... 96,960 1,397 .01 101,496 3,784 .04 104,620 4,806 .05 111,496 3,213 .03

Health insurance................................... 

Medical care and hospitalization

health insurance ................................. 80,138 130,909 1.63 95,015 144,383 1.52 111,209 154,854 1.39 121,633 159,691 1.31

Income loss insurance.......................... 1,999 0 .00 2,167 0 00 2,353 0 .00 2,572 0 .00

Workers’ compensation ........................ 14,436 0 .00 15,646 0 .00 16,863 0 .00 17,962 0 .00

Recreation................................................ 299,055 151,663 .51 317,705 161,789 .51 341,552 170,882 .50 360,632 194,587 .54

Admissions to all events1 ...................... 34,777 21,888 .63 36,032 21,312 .59 37,392 22,390 .60 38,324 25,566 .67

Motion picture theater, theatre, opera,

and entertainment............................... 21,276 16,129 .76 21,773 15,688 .72 22,248 16,336 .73 22,468 18,300 .81
1

Text Table 3. Comparison of 2002-2005 Aggregate Consumer Expenditures vs. Personal Consumption Expenditures based on

2002 PCE benchmark ($ millions)—Continued 

2002 2003 2004 2005

PCE categories Aggregates CE/ Aggregates CE/ Aggregates CE/ Aggregates CE/

PCE PCE PCE PCE

PCE CE ratio PCE CE ratio PCE CE ratio PCE CE ratio

Spectator sports ................................... 13,501 5,759 .43 14,259 5,624 .39 15,144 6,054 .40 15,856 7,266 .46

Radio and television repair1 .................. 4,089 360 .09 4,109 401 .10 4,601 459 .10 4,754 446 .09

Clubs and fraternal organizations......... 21,117 12,098 .57 22,209 10,966 .49 22,271 11,417 .51 23,453 14,645 .62

Commercial participant amusements ... 83,725 21,032 .25 91,205 19,575 .21 100,713 21,548 .21 107,307 23,160 .22

Pari-mutual net receipts........................ 5,312 5,491 1.03 5,235 5,000 .95 5,644 8,250 1.46 6,180 9,448 1.53

Other including pets and pet services,

veterinarians, cable TV, film

developing, lotteries, video rental,

commercial amusements not

elsewhere classified............................ 150,035 90,794 .61 158,914 104,535 .66 170,932 106,818 .62 180,613 121,323 .67

Personal care ........................................... 94,590 43,015 .45 99,459 43,415 .44 108,898 44,400 .41 114,607 45,819 .40

Cleaning, storage, and repair of

clothing and shoes1............................. 15,797 13,501 .85 15,169 12,570 .83 15,743 12,317 .78 15,763 12,786 .81

Barbershops, beauty parlors, and

health clubs......................................... 42,330 27,893 .66 44,432 29,549 .67 48,409 30,709 .63 50,515 31,401 .62

Other including watch, clock, and

jewelry repair, miscellaneous

personal services................................ 36,463 1,621 .04 39,858 1,296 .03 44,746 1,373 .03 48,329 1,632 .03

Personal business.................................... 546,990 40,022 .07 559,662 32,063 .06 612,448 37,097 .06 647,862 38,282 .06

Brokerage charges and investment

counseling........................................... 76,516 0 .00 77,373 0 .00 88,630 0 .00 90,461 0 .00

Bank service charges, trust services,

and safe deposit box rental................. 75,929 3,652 .05 81,807 2,980 .04 89,294 2,829 .03 99,856 3,091 .03

Services furnished by financial

intermediaries except life insurance

carriers................................................ 186,482 0 .00 180,921 0 .00 197,435 0 .00 203,709 0 .00

Expense of handling life insurance

and pension plans............................... 84,869 0 .00 85,869 0 .00 98,724 0 .00 106,932 0 .00

Legal services....................................... 71,249 14,910 .21 78,127 12,469 .16 81,988 14,826 .18 85,579 14,637 .17

Funeral and burial expenses ................ 14,780 10,534 .71 15,885 8,165 .51 15,570 9,217 .59 15,990 9,321 .58

Other personal business including

union expenses, professional

association expenses, employment

agency expenses, money orders,

classified ads, tax return services,

personal business services not

elsewhere classified............................ 37,165 10,926 .29 39,680 8,449 .21 42,808 10,224 .24 45,335 11,232 .25

Education and research ........................... 190,179 93,658 .49 203,096 97,770 .48 213,567 110,890 .52 226,497 121,967 .54

Higher education .................................. 103,147 52,716 .51 112,566 59,115 .53 119,573 68,629 .57 126,844 70,956 .56

Nursery, elementary, and secondary

schools................................................ 38,421 38,080 .99 40,473 36,191 .89 42,472 39,107 .92 44,763 47,127 1.05

Elementary and secondary schools...... 28,323 14,455 .51 29,844 14,409 .48 31,404 16,605 .53 33,218 20,720 .62

Nursery schools.................................... 10,098 23,625 2.34 10,629 21,782 2.05 11,068 22,502 2.03 11,545 26,407 2.29

Other education and research .............. 48,611 2,862 .06 50,057 2,464 .05 51,523 3,154 .06 54890 3,885 .07

Commercial and vocational schools ..... 33,319 0 .00 34,552 0 .00 35,580 0 .00 38,124 0 .00

Foundations and nonprofit research .... 15,292 0 .00 15,505 0 .00 15.943 0 .00 16.766 0 .00

Religious and welfare activities ................ 200,090 124,384 .62 207,142 138,648 .67 218,958 141,789 .65 224,473 166,207 .74

All contributions including religion

(CE) .................................................... ... 110,900 ... ... 126,569 ... ... 129,440 ... ... 154,864 ...

Political organizations........................... 3,626 ... ... 962 ... ... 4,674 ... ... 812 ... ...

Museums and libraries ......................... 8,501 ... ... 8,980 ... ... 9,070 ... ... 9,432 ... ...

Foundations to religion and welfare...... 11,838 ... ... 12,218 ... ... 12,693 ... ... 13,141 ... ...

Social welfare ....................................... 

Child care ............................................. 30,280 7,107 .23 32,151 6,926 .22 33,789 7,350 .22 35,297 8,244 .23

Social welfare including membership

organizations, job training, residential

care, individual and family services,

social services not elsewhere

classified, and civic-social-fraternal

associations ........................................ 94,897 6,377 .07 100,967 5,153 .05 103,774 4,999 .05 108,404 3,099 .03

Religion................................................. 50,948 0 .00 51,864 0 .00 54,957 0 .00 57,387 0 .00

Net foreign travel...................................... -9,172 0 .00 -5,320 0 .00 -4,958 0 .00 -4,993 0 .00

1

 Indicates comparable CE and PCE items.
Text Table 4. Summary Comparison of Aggregate Consumer Expenditures vs. Personal Consumption Expenditures for 2002-2005 ($ millions)

Restricted to Most Comparable Based on Concepts and Comprehensiveness

2002 2003 2004 2005

PCE categories Aggregates CE/ Aggregates CE/ Aggregates CE/ Aggregates CE/

PCE PCE PCE PCE

PCE CE ratio PCE CE ratio PCE CE ratio PCE CE ratio

Total Durables, Nondurables, and

Services (Comparable)................................. 3,980,320 3,306,901 0.83 4,141,837 3,427,180 0.83 4,405,576 3,655,812 0.83 4,725,354 3,901,136 0.83

All items (including those not

comparable)........................................ 7,350,721 4,457,246 .61 7,703,634 4,637,379 .60 8,211,504 4,933,388 .60 8,742,350 5,271,179 .60

Ratio of most comparable to all items ... 54 .74 .54 .74 .54 .74 .54 .74

Durable Goods ......................................... 

Total comparable .................................. 384,012 286,871 .75 388,822 291,843 .75 412,782 279,669 .68 442,641 312,404 .71

All durables (including those not

comparable)........................................ 923,940 693,653 .75 942,663 731,483 .78 986,260 725,419 .74 1,033,072 779,874 .75

Ratio of most comparable to

all durables ......................................... .42 .41 .41 .40 .42 .39 .43 .40

New autos............................................. 101,703 111,924 1.10 97,175 119,911 1.23 97,653 91,625 .94 103,661 109,714 1.06

Furniture, including mattresses

and bedsprings ................................... 68,913 46,171 .67 70,187 47,692 .68 75,461 49,807 .66 79,040 56,021 .71

Kitchen and other household

appliances........................................... `31,987 33,666 1.05 32,786 35,140 1.07 34,866 38,946 1.12 37,216 40,853 1.10

Video and audio good, including

musical instruments, and

computer goods .................................. 120,010 51,134 .43 123,096 51,639 .42 133,400 53,306 .40 141,186 63,568 .45

Wheel goods (including bicycles and

motorcycles), sports (also includes

guns) and photographic equipment,

boats and pleasure aircraft ................. 61,399 43,976 .72 65,578 37,461 .57 71,402 45,985 .64 81,538 42,248 .52

Nondurable Goods ................................... 

Total comparable .................................. 1,722,427 1,083,624 .63 1,809,206 1,111,681 .61 1,942,104 1,247,588 .64 2,116,379 1,320,232 .62

All nondurables (including those not

comparable)........................................ 2,079,633 1,212,863 .58 2,190,197 1,231,571 .56 2,345,180 1,378,620 .59 2,539,295 1,455,393 .57

Ratio of most comparable to all

nondurables ........................................ .83 .89 .83 .90 .83 .90 .83 .91

Food purchased for off-premise

consumption ....................................... 612,237 389,640 .64 636,018 407,852 .64 677,906 444,202 .66 733,995 432,243 .59

Alcoholic beverages purchased for

off-premise consumption..................... 75,283 25,497 .34 78,491 27,642 .35 86,172 32,306 .37 96,459 25,901 .27

Purchased meals and beverages ......... 379,461 267,770 .71 399,018 268,497 .67 425,484 299,575 .70 455,088 328,110 .72

Alcoholic beverages in purchased

meals .................................................. 40,728 16,487 .40 42,790 17,386 .41 44,874 20,986 .47 47,680 24,080 .51

Shoes ................................................... 49,526 34,960 .71 50,333 33,823 .67 51,943 38,138 .73 54,245 37,536 .69

Women’s and children’s clothing and

accessories except shoes (also

includes clothing for infants) ............... 149,993 87,889 .59 153,689 82,418 .54 161,438 94,829 .59 170,221 98,009 .58

Men’s and boys’ clothing and

accessories except shoes................... 92,874 45,769 .49 95,256 42,800 .45 99,742 47,147 .47 104,850 51,561 .49

Gasoline, fuel oil, and other

energy goods ...................................... 178,768 148,800 .83 209,607 166,716 .80 248,792 200,124 .80 302,138 253,297 .84

Tobacco products ................................. 89,156 35,668 .40 88,033 33,255 .38 87,523 33,270 .38 90,036 37,163 .41

Toilet articles and preparations............. 54,401 31,144 .57 55,971 31,292 .56 58,230 37,011 .64 61,667 32,332 .52

Services.................................................... 

Total comparable .................................. 1,873,881 1,936,406 1.03 1,943,809 2,023,656 1.04 2,050,690 2,128,555 1.04 2,166,334 2,268,500 1.05

All services (including those not

comparable)........................................ 4,347,148 2,550,730 .59 4,570,774 2,674,325 .59 4,880,064 2,829,349 .58 5,169,983 3,035,912 .59

Ratio of most comparable to all

services............................................... .43 .76 .43 .76 .42 .75 .42 .75

Owner occupied nonfarm dwellings...... 809,035 1,014,126 1.25 846,353 1,079,220 1.28 910,117 1,135,957 1.25 963,343 1,215,065 1.26

Rent and utilities, excluding telephone . 455,358 424,634 .93 470,397 451,467 .96 486,176 466,250 .96 520,946 507,667 .97

Rental value of farm dwellings.............. 11,678 0 .00 12,206 0 .00 12,013 0 .00 13,812 0 .00

Other lodging ........................................ 54,627 37,333 .68 57,961 33,992 .59 64,151 39,027 .61 69,913 41,720 .60

Telephone and telegraph ...................... 128,752 107,258 .83 129,721 110,246 .85 132,932 115,144 .87 135,955 122,946 .90

Domestic service .................................. 16,732 8,958 .54 18,474 10,743 .58 19,592 10,332 .53 19,894 10,813 .54

Other household operations (i.e.,

moving and storage, household

insurance, rug and furniture cleaning,

electrical repair, reupholstery and

furniture, postage, household operation services not elsewhere classified) . 54,606 55,530 1.02 56,079 57,496 1.03 60,192 63,771 1.06 63,201 67,653 1.07

Transportation....................................... 288,430 252,818 .88 297,308 246,209 .83 307,781 262,908 .85 320,429 263,838 .82

Admissions to all events ....................... 34,777 21,888 .63 36,032 21,312 .59 37,392 22,390 .60 38,324 25,566 .67

Radio and television repair................... 4,089 360 .09 4,109 401 .10 4,601 459 .10 4,754 446 .09

Cleaning, storage, and repair of

clothing and shoes.............................. 15,797 13,501 .85 15,169 12,570 .83 15,743 12,317 .78 15,763 12,786 .81