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

Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CE) Public 

Use Microdata (PUMD) File Structure

Grayson Armstrong

Economist

Division of Consumer Expenditure Surveys

2023 CE Microdata Users Workshop

July 18, 2023
2 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

File Naming Conventions

◼ Naming conventions used for each PUMD release are common to both 

Interview and Diary data. 

YY = Year

Q = Quarter

Q1 of 2018 → FMLI181 (2017 PUMD) or FMLI181x (2018 PUMD)

◼ The “X” signifies that the first quarter file of the current calendar year 

release is not identical to the fifth quarter file of the previous calendar 

year release.

◼ The “X” files are no longer utilized after the 2019 data package.

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The Interview Survey
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Quarter 1 (fmli201)

Oct 2019 Nov 2019 Dec 2019 Jan 2020 Feb 2020 March 2020

PQ PQ PQ INT

PQ PQ CQ INT

PQ CQ CQ INT
5 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

Interview Quarterly Files

◼ FMLI - Characteristics, income, taxes, weights, and summary 

level expenditures for the Consumer Unit (CU) as a whole. 

◼ MEMI - Characteristics and income for each member in the CU. 

◼ MTBI - Detailed monthly expenditures. 

◼ ITBI - Consumer Unit monthly income.

◼ ITII - Consumer Unit monthly imputed income.

◼ NTAXI - Federal and state tax information for each tax unit in 

the CU.

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FMLI

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Note: Not all the variables in the FMLI file are shown in the sample below

NEWID QINTRVMO QINTRVYR FAM_TYPE REF_RACE FINCBTXM EDUCAPQ EDUCACQ FINLWT21 WTREP01

1 4463713 2 2021 4 4 448842.8 50000 0 29555.46 NA

2 4610701 1 2021 9 1 202964 40000 0 34998.13 69685.21

3 4685991 3 2021 4 1 318441 35528 0 35039.98 72238.42

4 4616561 1 2021 5 1 318223.8 30000 0 32297.01 66656.29

5 4685581 3 2021 9 1 243189 25737 0 29816.85 59898.29

6 4551502 1 2021 3 1 140000 25000 0 29725.31 NA

7 4397404 2 2021 8 1 110000 24400 0 14725.96 30201.54

8 4384784 1 2021 1 1 245189 18300 0 16059 NA

9 4612701 1 2021 9 1 118099.6 16000 0 13184.44 NA

10 4661751 2 2021 8 4 105960 16000 500 2694.887 NA

11 4566822 2 2021 4 1 255757 14600 0 28452.66 51349.37

12 4387124 1 2021 8 1 104500 13500 0 23129.36 NA

13 4463713 2 2021 4 4 448842.8 50000 0 29555.46 NA
7 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

MEMI

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Note: Not all the variables in the MEMI file are shown in the sample below

NEWID MEMBNO CU_CODE AGE EARNER EDUCA SEX MEMBRACE SALARYXM

1 4384784 1 1 51 1 8 1 1 243189

2 4384784 2 2 49 2 8 2 1 NA

3 4551502 1 1 52 1 4 1 1 NA

4 4551502 2 2 49 1 7 2 1 NA

5 4551502 3 3 15 2 3 2 6 NA

6 4551502 4 3 13 NA NA 2 6 NA

7 4397404 1 1 58 1 8 1 1 110000
8 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

MTBI

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Note: Not all the variables in the MTBI file are shown in the sample below

NEWID EXPNAME SEQNO ALCNO UCC REF_MO REF_YR COST COST_ PUBFLAG

1 4384784 PROPVALX 39 0 800721 12 2020 31583.33 D 2

2 4384784 PROPVALX 39 0 800721 11 2020 31583.33 D 2

3 4384784 PROPVALX 39 0 800721 10 2020 31583.33 D 2

4 4551502 QADPTAX 17 0 220211 12 2020 391.66 D 2

5 4551502 QADPTAX 17 0 220211 11 2020 391.66 D 2

6 4551502 QADPTAX 17 0 220211 10 2020 391.66 D 2

7 4397404 QADPTAX 22 0 220211 1 2021 558.33 D 2

8 4397404 QADPTAX 22 0 220211 12 2020 558.33 D 2

9 4397404 QADPTAX 22 0 220211 11 2020 558.33 D 2
9 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

ITBI

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NEWID UCC REFMO REFYR VALUE VALUE_ PUBFLAG

1 4397404 980000 1 2021 9166.67 NA 2

2 4397404 980000 12 2020 9166.67 NA 2

3 4397404 980000 11 2020 9166.67 NA 2

4 4551502 800940 12 2020 1785 NA 2

5 4551502 800940 11 2020 1785 NA 2

6 4551502 800940 10 2020 1785 NA 2

7 4551502 900160 12 2020 11666.67 NA 2

8 4551502 900160 11 2020 11666.67 NA 2

9 4551502 900160 10 2020 11666.67 NA 2

10 4384784 800940 12 2020 1134.73 T 2

11 4384784 800940 11 2020 1134.73 T 2

12 4384784 800940 10 2020 1134.73 T 2
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ITII

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NEWID UCC REFMO REFYR IMPNUM VALUE VALUE_ PUBFLAG

1 4397404 900000 1 2021 1 701.25 NA 2

2 4397404 900000 1 2021 2 701.25 NA 2

3 4397404 900000 1 2021 3 701.25 NA 2

4 4397404 900000 1 2021 4 701.25 NA 2

5 4397404 900000 1 2021 5 701.25 NA 2

6 4551502 800940 10 2020 1 1785 NA 2

7 4551502 800940 10 2020 2 1785 NA 2

8 4551502 800940 10 2020 3 1785 NA 2

9 4551502 800940 10 2020 4 1785 NA 2

10 4551502 800940 10 2020 5 1785 NA 2

11 4384784 800940 10 2020 1 1134.73 T 2

12 4384784 800940 10 2020 2 1134.73 T 2

13 4384784 800940 10 2020 3 1134.73 T 2

14 4384784 800940 10 2020 4 1134.73 T 2

15 4384784 800940 10 2020 5 1134.73 T 2
11 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

NTAXI

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NEWID TAX_UNIT DEPCNT FILESTAT TAXYR_CY TAXYR_PY WAGE_HD WAGE_SP OTHTXINC SOSSECB

1 4397404 1 0 1 2020 2019 110000 0 0 0

2 4551502 1 2 2 2020 2019 70000 70000 0 0

3 4384784 1 0 2 2020 2019 243189 0 0 0

Note: Not all the variables in the MTBI file are shown in the sample below
12 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

Interview Annual Files

◼ EXPN – Expenditures by type (about 50 separate files)

Each file covers a class of expenditures such as vehicles and is 

derived from its corresponding section of the questionnaire.

◼ FPAR - Data about the survey.

◼ MCHI - Data about the contact history between the field 

representative and the respondent.

Note that FPAR and MCHI are only published with the annual PUMD 

release

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EDA (EXPN)

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NEWID QYEAR SEQNO ALCNO JEDUCNET EDUC_AY EDSCHL_A EDMONTHA

1 4551502 20211 4 0 25000 300 1 12

2 4384784 20211 13 0 18000 300 1 12

3 4384784 20211 14 0 4000 310 NA 11

4 4384784 20211 15 0 300 350 1 11
14 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

FPAR

NEWID QYEAR OUTCOME HOW_INTV HSG_UNIT INFOBOOK LANGUAGE RECORDS

4384784 20211 201 6 1 5 1 3

4397404 20211 201 6 1 5 1 3

4551502 20211 201 6 1 5 1 3

Note: Not all the variables in the FPAR file are shown in the sample below
15 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

MCHI

Note: Not all the variables in the MCHI file are shown in the sample below

NEWID QYEAR CNTCKEY VISIT_YR VISIT_MO VISTWKDY CTSTATUS CTTYPE INTERI

1 4397404 20211 401 2021 2 2 1 3 4

2 4397404 20211 402 2021 2 2 1 3 4

3 4397404 20211 403 2021 2 5 NA NA 4

4 4397404 20211 404 2021 2 5 1 1 4

5 4551502 20211 201 2021 1 7 3 NA 2

6 4551502 20211 202 2021 1 2 3 NA 2

7 4551502 20211 203 2021 1 4 3 NA 2

8 4384784 20211 401 2021 1 3 1 3 4

9 4384784 20211 402 2021 1 3 3 NA 4

10 4384784 20211 403 2021 1 3 1 1 4
16 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS • bls.gov

The Diary
17 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

Diary Files

◼ A Diary “quarter” refers to the calendar quarter in which the 

Diary booklet was placed in the home of the CU by the Census 

Field Representative. 

◼ All Diary files are organized as quarterly files.

◼ A CU reports expenditures for two separate weeks.

◼ Each week’s diary is a separate record for each CU.

◼ Most Diary files are analogous to Interview files.

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18 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

Diary Quarterly Files

◼ FMLD - a file with characteristics, income, weights, and 

summary level expenditures for the CU.

◼ MEMD - a file with characteristics and income for each 

member in the CU. 

◼ EXPD - Detailed weekly expenditures.

◼ DTBD - Detailed annual income. 

◼ DTID - Consumer Unit imputed income.

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Two Ways to Organize the Data
20 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

FMLI

NEWID QINTRVMO QINTRVYR FAM_TYPE REF_RACE FINCBTXM EDUCAPQ EDUCACQ FINLWT21 WTREP01

1 4220234 4 2020 4 4 113998 7000 0 26183.84 NA

Total Education Expenditures: 

$7,000
21 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

FMLI

NEWID QINTRVMO QINTRVYR FAM_TYPE REF_RACE FINCBTXM EDUCAPQ EDUCACQ FINLWT21 WTREP01

1 4220234 4 2020 4 4 113998 7000 0 26183.84 NA

EDA (EXPN)

NEWID QYEAR SEQNO ALCNO JEDUCNET EDUC_AY EDSCHL_A EDMONTHA

1 4220234 20202 11 0 160 100 NA 3

2 4220234 20202 12 0 177 100 NA 13

3 4220234 20202 13 0 7000 300 1 1

Additional $337 ?
22 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

FMLI

NEWID QINTRVMO QINTRVYR FAM_TYPE REF_RACE FINCBTXM EDUCAPQ EDUCACQ FINLWT21 WTREP01

1 4220234 4 2020 4 4 113998 7000 0 26183.84 NA

EDA (EXPN)

NEWID QYEAR SEQNO ALCNO JEDUCNET EDUC_AY EDSCHL_A EDMONTHA

1 4220234 20202 11 0 160 100 NA 3

2 4220234 20202 12 0 177 100 NA 13

3 4220234 20202 13 0 7000 300 1 1

EDUC_AY:

Code 100 – Fees for recreational lessons

Code 300 – Tuition
23 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

From the Questionnaire

1. Recreational Lessons

3. Tuition
24 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

From the Dictionary
25 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

From the Interview Stub File

Education

Section

Entertainment

Section
26 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

MTBI

FMLI

NEWID QINTRVMO QINTRVYR FAM_TYPE REF_RACE FINCBTXM EDUCAPQ EDUCACQ FINLWT21 WTREP01

1 4220234 4 2020 4 4 113998 7000 0 26183.84 NA

NEWID SEQNO ALCNO EXPNAME COST UCC COST_ REF_MO REF_YR PUBFLAG

4 4220234 11 0 JEDUCNET 160 620310 D 3 2020 2

5 4220234 12 0 JEDUCNET 177 620310 D 2 2020 2

4220234 13 0 JEDUCNET 7000 670110 D 1 2020 2

EDA (EXPN)

NEWID QYEAR SEQNO ALCNO JEDUCNET EDUC_AY EDSCHL_A EDMONTHA

1 4220234 20202 11 0 160 100 NA 3

2 4220234 20202 12 0 177 100 NA 13

3 4220234 20202 13 0 7000 300 1 1
27 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

Organizing Expenditure Categories

◼ Interview EXPN files are organized according to the survey 

questionnaires.

Use the corresponding survey dictionary for all variables

◼ MTBI and Diary EXPD files are organized according to 

hierarchical groupings for publication

Use the corresponding stub file for UCC definitions

◼ FMLI and FMLD file summary variables aggregated using UCC 

groupings
Contact Information

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

Grayson Armstrong

Economist

Division of Consumer Expenditure Surveys

202-691-6519

Armstrong.Grayson@bls.gov