Issued January 2013

CE-805

U.S. Department of Commerce

Economics and Statistics Administration

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

Consumer Expenditure Surveys

Diary Survey

Information Booklet

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CE-805 (1-1-2013) 1

Page

Demographics 2

Hispanic Origin 2

Race 2

Asian Origin 2

Education 3

Armed Forces 3

Occupations 4

Income 5

Card A 5

Card B 6

Card C 7

Diary Survey Checks 8

2013 Calendar 10

2014 Calendar 11

2015 Calendar 12

Privacy Act Statement 13
DEMOGRAPHICS

2 CE-805 (1-1-2013)

Hispanic Origin 

1. Mexican 

2. Mexican-American 

3. Chicano 

4. Puerto Rican 

5. Cuban

Race 

(Please choose one or more)

1. White 

2. Black or African American 

3. American Indian or Alaska Native 

4. Asian 

5. Native Hawaiian 

6. Guamanian or Chamorro 

7. Samoan 

8. Other Pacific Islander 

Asian Origin 

1. Chinese 

2. Filipino 

3. Japanese 

4. Korean 

5. Vietnamese 

6. Asian Indian 
Demographics

CE-805 (1-1-2013) 3

Education 

1. No schooling completed or less than 1 year

2. Nursery, kindergarten, and elementary 

(grades 1-8)

3. High school (grades 9-12, no degree)

4. High school graduate – high school diploma 

or the equivalent (GED)

5. Some college but no degree

6. Associate degree in college

7. Bachelor’s degree (BA, AB, BS, etc.)

8. Master’s, professional, or doctoral degree 

(MA, MS, MBA, MD, JD, PhD, etc.)

Armed Forces 

A person is considered to be in the Armed 

Forces if he or she serves in any branch of the 

U.S. military. This includes the Army, Navy, 

Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard; their 

Reserve components; and the Air and Army 

National Guard.
OCCUPATIONS 

4 CE-305 (4-1-2013)

1. Administrator, Manager 

administrator manager funeral director

2. Teacher 

teacher guidance counselor

3. Professional 

registered nurse accountant physician social worker computer systems

lawyer engineer clergy photographer analyst

4. Administrative Support, including Clerical 

secretary bookkeeper clerk receptionist computer assistant

5. Sales, Retail 

cashier commodity salesperson door-to-door salesperson

apparel salesperson motor vehicle salesperson 

6. Sales, Business Goods and Services 

mining sales representative real estate salesperson financial services

manufacturing sales representative wholesale sales representative insurance 

salesperson

7. Technician 

health technician practical nurse drafting clinical laboratory technician

electronic technician

8. Protective Service 

private guard police officer firefighter

9. Private Household Service 

nanny household worker

10. Other Service (except private household) 

janitor child care worker waiter/waitress food preparer food counter/

cook hairstylist maid/houseman orderly fountain worker

11. Machine or Transportation Operator, Laborer 

truck driver assembler inspector taxi driver construction laborer

bus driver packager tractor operator material handler

freight handler stock handler machine operator

12. Construction Workers, Mechanics 

automobile mechanic machine repairer machinist meat cutter

carpenter electrician painter plumber

sheet metal worker mining worker

13. Farming 

farmer farm worker

14. Forestry, Fishing, Groundskeeping 

forestry worker fisher groundskeeper animal caretaker

15. Armed Forces
INCOME

CE-305 (4-1-2013) 5

CARD A 

0. Loss

1. $ 0 – $ 4,999

2. $ 5,000 – $ 9,999

3. $ 10,000 – $ 14,999

4. $ 15,000 – $ 19,999

5. $ 20,000 – $ 29,999

6. $ 30,000 – $ 39,999

7. $ 40,000 – $ 49,999

8. $ 50,000 – $ 69,999

9. $ 70,000 – $ 89,999

10. $ 90,000 – $ 119,999

11. $ 120,000 and over
Income

6 CE-805 (1-1-2013)

CARD B 

1. Less than $500

2. $ 500 – $ 699

3. $ 700 – $ 999

4. $ 1,000 – $ 1,299

5. $ 1,300 – $ 1,699

6. $ 1,700 and over
Income

CE-805 (1-1-2013) 7

CARD C 

0. Loss

1. $ 0 – $ 999

2. $ 1,000 – $ 1,999

3. $ 2,000 – $ 2,999

4. $ 3,000 – $ 3,999

5. $ 4,000 – $ 4,999

6. $ 5,000 – $ 9,999

7. $ 10,000 – $ 14,999

8. $ 15,000 – $ 19,999

9. $ 20,000 – $ 29,999

10. $ 30,000 – $ 39,999

11. $ 40,000 – $ 49,999

12. $ 50,000 and over
DIARY SURVEY CHECKS

8 CE-305 (4-1-2013)

When reviewing the Diary, check each page in the form. Be sure that ALL entries have as 

much detail as possible. The following are EXAMPLES of information that is often omitted. 

CONTENT CHECKS 

1. All entries should be clearly readable. If there is an unreadable entry, rewrite it. 

Entries that contain brand names, local names, or acronyms should be clarified 

and rewritten. 

2. If the respondent reports no expenditures for a day, mark the NONE box at the 

bottom of the page. 

3. Be sure there is an amount entered in the total cost column for every item entry in 

the diary and that the amount entered is reasonable. If an amount is unusually high 

or low, confirm it with the respondent. Whenever possible, a single cost for each 

item is required. Investigate any combined expenses to determine if individual 

costs can be identified. 

4. In Part 1, Food and Drinks Away from Home, be sure that all the checkboxes are 

appropriately marked. If an alcohol check box is marked, indicating that alcoholic 

beverages were purchased, there should also be an amount entered in the last 

column. There should always be an amount entered in the total cost column. 

5. In Part 2, Food and Drinks for Home Consumption, be sure a checkbox is marked 

to indicate whether the food is fresh, frozen, etc. 

6. In Part 3, Clothing, Shoes, Jewelry, and Accessories, be sure the checkboxes for 

gender and age are marked. 

7. In Part 4, All Other Products, Services, and Expenses, be sure there is an entry in 

the last column to indicate if the item was purchased for someone not on your list. 

EXPENDITURE DETAIL CHECKS 

1. Food and Drinks Away from Home 

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES: If the purchase is exclusively alcohol, ensure the type(s) is 

(are) specified and that the total cost and the alcohol cost are the same. Both cost 

entries must be recorded. 

MEALS: Check the type of meal (lunch, breakfast, dinner, snack/other) and the type of 

vendor. If alcohol is included, make sure the type(s) of alcohol is (are) marked in the 

checkboxes and the cost is recorded. 

2. Food and Drinks for Home Consumption 

BAKERY PRODUCTS: Specify type such as cupcakes, apple pie, etc. 

BEEF: Specify the cut of beef and describe, such as ground beef, prime rib, etc. 

COFFEE: Specify if instant or ground 

JUICE, BEVERAGE: Specify type, such as orange juice, fruit punch, etc. 
Diary Survey Checks

CE-805 (1-1-2013) 9

BREAD: Specify if white, whole wheat, rye, pumpernickel, etc. 

PORK: Specify the cut of pork and describe, such as pork loin roast, whole ham, etc. 

POULTRY: Specify whether it is chicken, turkey, or other 

SOFT DRINKS: Specify if cola or other type; if not cola, specify if carbonated or 

noncarbonated 

OTHER FOOD: Give a complete description, such as boxed scalloped potatoes 

3. Clothing, Shoes, Jewelry, and Accessories 

CLOTHING: Specify the type of clothing and give a description of the item 

JEWELRY: Specify the type of jewelry, such as watches, etc. 

SHOES: If sport shoes, specify sport, such as football cleats, ice skates, etc. 

4. All Other Products, Services, and Expenses 

ALBUM: Specify if photo album or record album 

BOOKS: Specify whether it was a part of a book club, a school book, or a non-school 

book. If the purchase was for school, then specify whether it was college, high school, 

or other. 

BUS, TRAIN: Specify intercity or intracity fare 

DISHWASHER: Specify whether it is portable or built-in

DOCTOR BILLS: Specify type of doctors, such as dentist, internist, etc. 

FURNITURE: Specify type such as kitchen chair, living room chair, etc. 

GAS: Specify if gasoline or household fuel. If household fuel, indicate whether piped or 

bottled. 

LAUNDRY/DRY CLEANING: Specify if coin-operated or not coin-operated; specify 

whether household item (such as drapes) or apparel 

MEDICINE: Specify if prescription or non-prescription 

SOAP: Specify hand soap or laundry soap 

TABLEWARE: Specify type, such as china, flatware, silver service pieces, etc. 

TOOLS: Specify if power or hand tool, such as power saw, etc. 

TUITION: Specify high school, college, etc. 

VEHICLE: Specify new or used and type of vehicle purchased 

VEHICLE REGISTRATION: Specify state or local 

VEHICLE REPAIR: Specify type of service such as an oil change, brake adjustment, 

etc. 
2013 CALENDAR

10 CE-305 (4-1-2013)

JANUARY

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30 31

JULY

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 29 30 31

FEBRUARY

S M T W T F S

1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28

AUGUST

S M T W T F S

1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30 31

MARCH

S M T W T F S

1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

31

SEPTEMBER

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30

APRIL

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 29 30

OCTOBER

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30 31

MAY

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30 31

NOVEMBER

S M T W T F S

1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

JUNE

S M T W T F S

1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

30

DECEMBER

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30 31
2014 CALENDAR

CE-805 (1-1-2013) 11

JANUARY

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30 31

JULY

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30 31

FEBRUARY

S M T W T F S

1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28

AUGUST

S M T W T F S

1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29

31

MARCH

S M T W T F S

1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

30 31

SEPTEMBER

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 29 30

APRIL

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30

OCTOBER

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30 31

MAY

S M T W T F S

1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30 31

NOVEMBER

S M T W T F S

1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

30

JUNE

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30

DECEMBER

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 29 30 31
2015 CALENDAR

12 CE-305 (4-1-2013)

JANUARY

S M T W T F S

1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30 31

JULY

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30 31

FEBRUARY

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

AUGUST

S M T W T F S

1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

30 31

MARCH

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30 31

SEPTEMBER

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30

APRIL

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30

OCTOBER

S M T W T F S

1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30 31

MAY

S M T W T F S

1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

31

NOVEMBER

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30

JUNE

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 29 30

DECEMBER

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30 31
CE-805 (1-1-2013) 13

PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT 

The U.S. Census Bureau is conducting the Consumer Expenditure 

Surveys for the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor 

under Title 29, United States Code. The survey’s purpose is to obtain 

information on what Americans are purchasing in order to update the 

Consumer Price Index. All survey information will be used for statistical 

purposes only. 

Any information you provide for this survey is confidential, by law, under 

Title 13, United States Code. Participation in this survey is voluntary and 

there are no penalties for refusing to answer any question(s). However, 

your cooperation is extremely important to help ensure the completeness 

and accuracy of these data. 

U.S. Department of Commerce

Economics and Statistics Administration

U.S. Census Bureau