1 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS • bl s.gov

Experimental State Weights: 

Providing More Geographic Data

Jimmy Choi

Economist

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Microdata Users’ Workshop

23 July 2020
2 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS • bl s.gov

State Estimates

First test estimates produced for three states (CA,FL, 

and NJ) using 2013 data.

First official weights 

published using 2016 data 

for three states in 2018.

Two additional states (NY

and TX) were added in 

2019.
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How do they work?

 Suppose the population of 

New Jersey was 20. 

 Each consumer unit in New 

Jersey is re-weighted to 

represent the population of 

New Jersey instead of the 

national population.

National Weight: 100

NJ Weight: 10

National Weight: 120

NJ Weight: 8

National Weight: 80

NJ Weight: 2
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How well do they work?

 Use of other sources which already have state weights for 

comparison. (ACS)

 Does the state weight produce a difference from other sources 

that is equal to or better than the national weight? 

CE ACS

?
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CE-ACS Comparison using New Jersey Weights from Each Survey, 2016
6 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS • bl s.gov

CE-ACS Comparison using National Weights from each Survey, 2016
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How well do they work?

 Compare population targets to US Census. 

1. Add up the weights for Florida from PUMD.

~8.5 Million Consumer Units (CU)

2. Compute average number of persons per CU 

with the weight. 

2.4 persons per CU

3. Multiply and compare to census value. 

8.5 * 2.4 = 20.4 million persons

Approximately equal to the 20.6 million 

reported Florida population. 
8 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS • bl s.gov

Who uses them?

 Academics

Researchers have been asking for greater 

geographic detail for a long time. This is an 

effort to provide it where we can. 

 Government

The New Jersey weights were utilized by 

the New Jersey State Government.

 You!

Curious individuals can now answer 

questions about state level expenditures. 
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Do you have an example?

 Use case to do a static examination of the housing market in 

New Jersey. 

 New Jersey has the highest population density of any state. 
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$0

$5,000

$10,000

$15,000

$20,000

$25,000

National New Jersey Washington, D.C.

Rented Dwellings Owned Dwellings Utilities Household Equipment Household Operations

Housing Expenditures and Components by Selected Geographies
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0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

National New Jersey Washington, D.C.

Rented Dwellings Owned Dwellings Utilities Household Equipment Household Operations

Proportion of Housing Expenditures and Components by Selected Geographies
12 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS • bl s.gov

Other Uses?

 Creating state-level market 

baskets

 Has the potential to calculate cost 

weights for future consumer price 

indexes. 

 Can be used to evaluate more 

local state-level decisions
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15%

37%

2%

15%

6%

4%

3%

2%

13%

3% Food

Housing

Apparel and services

Transportation

Healthcare

Entertainment

Education

Cash contributions

Personal insurance and pensions

All other expenditures

California, 2017
14 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS • bl s.gov

15%

33%

2%

20%

7%

4%

2%

3%

11%

3% Food

Housing

Apparel and services

Transportation

Healthcare

Entertainment

Education

Cash contributions

Personal insurance and pensions

All other expenditures

Texas, 2017
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Shares of Total Expenditure, by Major CPI Item Categories 

2017 data, Texas 

Texas Shares National Shares Absolute Difference

Food and Beverages 0.15 0.13 0.02

Housing 0.33 0.33 0.00

Apparel 0.02 0.03 0.01

Transportation 0.20 0.16 0.04

Medical Care 0.07 0.08 0.01

Recreation 0.04 0.05 0.01

Education 0.03 0.02 0.01

Other Goods and 

Services

0.16 0.20 0.04
16 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS • bl s.gov

What’s next?

 Every state is being 

evaluated for its potential 

to generate a weight. 

 The following concerns 

are evaluated:

Sample size

Confidentiality

Long term retention in the 

survey
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Interested?

 https://www.bls.gov/cex/csxresearchtables.htm#stateweights

Documentation

– How the weights are created

– How to utilize State Weights with PUMD

State weight files

Sample code
Contact Information

18 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS • bl s.gov

Jimmy Choi

(202) 691-7081

Choi.Jimmy@bls.gov