2014 Changes 

INTERVIEW SURVEY AND DIARY SURVEY

CONSUMER EXPENDITURE 

PUBLIC USE MICRODATA 

September 3, 2015 

U.S. Department of Labor

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Division of Consumer Expenditure Survey
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Table of Contents

Interview Survey.......................................................................................................................................... 2

Diary Survey ................................................................................................................................................ 3

Changes in the 2014 Microdata Files from the 2013 Files

This document summarizes the changes in the 2014 files from the 2013 files for the Interview Survey and 

Diary Survey. Generally, there are three types of variable changes: Additions, deletions, and changes. 

Interview Survey

A. Variable Deletions in FMLI file 

Beginning in 2014Q1 the following variables will be deleted from the FMLI files. In the 2014 data, CE 

deleted variables that were related to calculating the poverty threshold. 

For more information of poverty thresholds, visit the poverty page on CENSUS.gov. 

Variable Description Flag Type

POVLEVCY Poverty threshold for this CU in the current year POVL_VCY NUM(8)

POVLEVPY Poverty threshold for this CU in the previous year POVL_VPY NUM(8)

POV_CY Is CU income below current year’s poverty threshold? 

(Income is defined as FINCBTAX-FOODSMPX)

CODED

1 Yes

2 No

BLS derived

POV_CY_ CHAR(1)

POV_PY Is CU income below current year’s poverty threshold? 

(Income is defined as FINCBTAX-FOODSMPX)

CODED

1 Yes

2 No

BLS derived

POV_PY_ CHAR(1)

RESPSTAT Completeness of income response status by code CHAR(1)
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B. Variable Additions in MCHI file 

Beginning in 2014Q1 the following variables will be added to the MCHI files. 

Variable Description Flag Type

NCTPER15 (PV noncontact) Other CHAR(1)

NCTTEL8 (PH noncontact) Other CHAR(1)

NONINTR8 (No interview) Other CHAR(1)

ATMPT1 Not attempting contact. What were you doing? 

Reviewing or changing case information

CHAR(1)

ATMPT3 Not attempting contact. What were you doing? Doing 

ACS geocode verification

CHAR(1)

ATMPT2 Not attempting contact. What were you doing? 

Readying case for transmission

CHAR(1)

ATMPT4 Not attempting contact. What were you doing? 

Locating activities

CHAR(1)

ATMPT5 Not attempting contact. What were you doing? 

Verification of Type B/C

CHAR(1)

ATMPT6 Not attempting contact. What were you doing? 

Opened case/CHI by mistake

CHAR(1)

ATMPT7 Not attempting contact. What were you doing? Other CHAR(1)

Diary Survey

A. Variable Deletions in FMLD file 

Beginning in 2014Q1 the following variables will be deleted from the FMLD files. In the 2014 data, CE 

deleted variables that were related to calculating the poverty threshold because CE determined that this 

data are not reliable. 

Variable Description Flag Type

POVLEVCY Poverty threshold for this CU in the current year POVL_VCY NUM(8)

POVLEVPY Poverty threshold for this CU in the previous year POVL_VPY NUM(8)

POV_CY Is CU income below current year’s poverty threshold? 

CODED

1 Yes

2 No

BLS derived

POV_CY_ CHAR(1)

POV_PY Is CU income below current year’s poverty threshold? 

CODED

1 Yes

2 No

BLS derived

POV_PY_ CHAR(1)

RESPSTAT Completeness of income response status by code CHAR(1)