CONSUMER EXPENDITUR

SURVEYS

“Construction and Research Use of the Consumer ESurvey”
Outline

O i verv ewRecent ResearchPCE/CEX ComparisonsWrap - Up
The survey is designed to 

represent a represent

a

National Probability Sample National Probability Sample

– using the most recent decennial census

augmented by new construction permiaugmented by new construction permi

– consisting of primary sampling units (P– b d b biliti ti l t base

d on pro

b

abilities proportiona

l

to 

population size

– consists of counties group of counties 

consists of counties, group of counties

independent cities
Housing Units are selected Housing Units are selected...

Within each PSU using such inform

as:

– vacancy status – number of persons residing in housing 

number of persons residing in housing 

– value of the housing unit– rent paid for the housing unit rent paid for the housing unit

Definitions

CEX i i d i d i i CEX is interested in determining con

units - based on the financial relation

th b f th h h ld the members of the household.
How do we define 

Consumer Units? Consumer Units?

 Memb f h h ld l d b bl d i 

bers o

f a 

house

h

old re

late

d

by bloo

d, marr

iage, 

or other legal arrangement

 Single person living alone or sharing a household wit

but who is financially independent

 Two or more persons living together who are financi

dependent
How does this compare to oth

How does this compare to oth

SIPP d CPS h h ld SIPP an

d CPS use a 

house

h

old

definition... All persons who occ

h i it ous

i

n

g unit
Although we have slightly different Although we have slightly different

definitions - the CEX based on the f

relationship between members relationship between members -- the

difference between consumer unit an

housing unit is small About 3% of housing unit is small. About 3% of 

housing units contain more than one 

consumer unit consumer unit.
Respondent

 CEX - One person responds for the entire consu

One person responds for the entire consu

We ask for the person most knowledgeable of expenditures for the entire consumer unit

 CPS - One person, preferably most knowledgeab

the labor force activities of the others the labor force activities of the others.

 SIPP - A sep q arate questionnaire is administered 

member over age 15
Reference Person Reference Person

All h h i il d fi 

All t

hree surve

ys 

have a s

i

milar 

d

efi

the person or one of the persons who 

or rent th it ts the unit.
Survey Instruments Survey Instruments

 Diary

 Interview

– 2 consecutive 1-week– includes

 Interview

– 5 quarterly, o

inventor

y an

includes

» detailed expenditures 

for food, personal care, 

household supplies

y

sample data 

– excludes exp

for: household supplies

expenditures

– excludes

di f

f

for:

» housekeepi

(e.g., posta

» expenditures 

for out-o

ftown trips

»

personal ca

» non-prescri

NO QUANTITIE

S LIMITED 

QUANTITIES
Socio-demographic Variables demographic Variables

Collected during each interview Collected during each interview

– Member level – C il l onsumer unit level

» reference person» CU

Collected 2nd and/or 5th interview Collected 2nd and/or 5th interview
Both the Interview and Diary sample

Both the Interview and Diary sampl

purposely non-clustered

P hh h h l 

Past research has shown that cluster

samples for expenditure data would 

yi ld di e expenditure patterns that are 

representative of the entire area

Clustered samples tend to cut down 

travel expenses and hours per schedu
Let’s look at sample size Let’s look at sample size

Census uses the term Census uses the term

“cases

” when

referring to its collection workload a

costs.

Cases can be defined as one intervie

one di i i ar

y v

i

s

it.

For households with more than one 

consumer unit, each consumer unit wbe counted separately
Let’s look at some Census fig

Let’s look at some Census fig

In order to collect the equivalent of 

In order to collect the equivalent of 

households completing 5 quarterly 

interviews or 2 diaries we must fielinterviews or

2 diaries, we must fiel

60,000 cases for Interview

and

25,000 cases for Diary
How does this translate to 

households?

60,000 represents the size of the samp

p y rior to an

y refinement.

About 1/5 of these cases are Interview 

the bounding interview the bounding interview

The field representatives refine the sa

to determine those housing units that to determine those housing units that 

out of scope of our survey
Once eligible households are determin

the field rep p resentatives attempt to colthe data. 

As in every survey they encounter ref

As in every survey they encounter ref

The result is the number of completed 

that can be used to determine expendithat can be used to determine expendi
Let’s do the math Let’s do the math...

 Total Cases 60,000 B di I t i Bounding 

I

n

terv

iew 12 000 ,

– equals 48,000

 O fS ut o

f

Scope 8 800 ,

 Refusals 8,000

Net Sample Yiel

d 31,200

Thi l b 7800This trans

lates to a

bout 7800 consumer 
In Comparison In Comparison

SIPP fields about 119,000 cases eacCPS fields about 722,000 cases each 
Average Time per Case Average Time per Case

CEX

– Diary 6.1 hours

– Interview 4.0 hours

SIPP 2.6 hoursCPS 51 2 minutes 51.2 minutesAll hours include travel time
Cost per Case Cost per Case

CEX $268 00 $268.00SIPP $193 00 $193.00CPS $51 00 .
Census Budgets Census Budgets

CEX $24 653 000 $24,653,000SIPP

$23,050.231

CPS $36,658,251
If sample size of CEX interview wer

If sample size of CEX interview wer

increased to the size of SIPP, the Ce

budget would be about: budget would be about:

$32,000,000
To increase the sample from its curr

To increase the sample from its curr

5400 households to size of CPS, wh

approximately 50 000 households approximately 50,000 households...

We would need to collect about 370

cases, at $268 a case = about $100,0
Response Rates Response Rates

85%90% Interview Diary80%70%75%65%

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 

(furlough)
How many households completed al

How many households completed al

interviews?

 ab 75% out 75%

How many households completed bo

diaries?

 about 92%
Consumer Price Index Initia

CPII

Provides for:

– 50% expansion in urban PSU’s - in 19– Development of CAPI instrument

» sl t d f i l t ti i 2003 l

a

t

e

d

for 

imp

lemen

t

ation 

in 2003
Survey Expansion Survey Expansion

A 50% increase in urban PSU A 50% increase in urban PSU s’ requ

requ

– about 57,000 cases for Interview–

ab f out 23,000 cases 

for D

iary

» This will yield approximately the equivale

7800 households of data for both the diary 7800 households of data for both the diary 

interview
Expenditure Data in the CEX
Outline

Defining consumptionData available in the CEXProcessing p of ex enditure dataData comparisons
Defining Consumption Defining Consumption

Expenditures

– Transaction costs, including taxes, for goods 

services

– Flow of services from durables and owned ho

In

-kind transfers kind transfers

– Private sources– Public sources

Home production
Expenditure Definitions used i

CEX Publications CEX Publications

Total Current

Item expenditures consumption 

Purchase price of all items buthousing and vehicles Yes Yes Mortgage principal payments No No Mort

gg py a

ge interest 

p

a

yments Yes Yes 

Purchase price of vehicles Yes Yes 

t

f

Vehicle loan principal payments No No Vehicle loan interest payments Yes Yes All other finance charges Yes Yes 
Expenditure Definitions used i

CEX Publications CEX Publications - (cont ) (cont

.

)

Ttl C t

Item

T

o

t

al

expenditures

Curren

t

Consumption O

Business purchases No No Occupational expenses Yes No Gifts given outside household Yes No Cash contributions Yes No Life, annuity, and otherpersonal insurance

Yes

N

o

Pension and retirementcontributions

Yes No 
Comparison of Expenditures

( l i i l d ll ) (annua

l means 

in nom

ina

l

d

ollars

)

$32 000$30,000$32,000$28,000$26,000$24,000

1991 1992 1993 1994

Total Expenditures Outlays Consumption
Expenditure Data in the Intervi

Expenditure Data in the Intervi

Quarterly

Annually in 

purchase of nondurables

Annually in 

interview on

– purchase of nondurables detailed cash

» global food» detail for other items

– detailed cash

contribution

– occu

pational 

– gifts given outside 

household

l b l h t ib ti

p 

–

g

l

o

b

a

l cas

h con

t

rib

utions
D rables in the CEX D

urables in the CEX

InitialIn entor

Purchases(2nd 5th

Disposals(2nd 5th

Current

In

ventory In ento

(1st Inteview)

(2nd

-5th

Interviews)

(2nd

-5th

Interviews)

In

vento

(2nd-5thIntervie

owned vehicles owned vehicles owned vehicles owned vehicles owned vehicles owned vehicles owned v

owned v

owned property owned property owned property owned 

p

other durables other durables not collected not avai
Additional Information on Dur

Additional Information on Dur

Method of acquisition and characteristi

Method of acquisition and characteristi

– owned property 

(not updated for new construction alterati(not updated for new construction, alterati

remodeling)

– owned vehicles owned vehicles

(not updated for changes in options)

Method of acquisition for other durable

(1st interview onl

y and not u

pdated

)

( y p)
In-Kind Private Transfers

C hV l as

h

V

a

lues

Meals as payRent as pay Rent as payEmployer contribution to purchased 

l d hi l ( l ) lease

d vehi

c

les 

(persona

l use

)

Educational expenses reimbursed by 

a

genc

y, emplo

yer, or person outside 
In-Kind Private Transfers

C hV l ( t) Cas

h

V

a

lues 

(con

t.)

Reimbursements from insurance com

Reimbursements from insurance com

medical provider, business, or perso

outside the CU for outside the CU for

– Vehicle services, parts, and equipment– M di l e ca

l expenses

– Repairs, maintenance, alterations, and 

const ti f t truction o

f proper

t

y
In-Kind Private Transfers

R i tO l Rece

i

p

t

O

n

l

y

Major appliances received as gifts Major appliances received as gifts

(inventory)

V hi l i d if V

ehi

c

les rece

ive

d as gifts

Real property received as gifts or 

inheritance

Health insurance 

p py remiums 

partiall

y 

entirely paid by employer, agency ooutside the CU
Other In Other In-Kind Transfers Kind Transfers

Public Transfers Public Transfers

– Cash values

» Food Sta ps (cou ted co e) Stamps (counted in income)

– Receipt only

» Medicaid» Public housing project or subsidized housi

Public/Private Transfers

– Receipt only

» Food, beverages or meals through public o

, g gp 

welfare agencies, including religious orga
Data Processing Data Processing for Expenditu

for Expenditu

Imputation

– About 5% of all cost records– O h lf f d f fi h 

Over 

h

alf o

f recor

ds 

for finance c

harge

auto and mortgage)

– Ab t ou

t one-f th f t 

fourth o

f mor

tgage paymen

ownership cost records

All ti oca on 

– About 6% of all cost records– Over one-fourth of fuel and utility cost 
Data Processing for Expenditu

(cont ) (cont

.

)

Allocation (cont ) Allocation (cont.)

– Over one-fifth of records for clothing o

persons 2 and over persons

2 and over

Time adjustmentSales taxesAdditional processin

g for public use 

– topcoding–

geo

gra

phic restrictions

g gp
Topcoding and Geographic 

Adjustment for Public Use DatAdjustment for Public Use Dat

 Subject content cannot present unusual ri

disclosure

– rent > $3,000– property or medical expenses > $200 000 property or medical expenses

> $200,000

– airplane purchases and ownership deleted 

 Geographic areas with fewer than 100,00

inhabitants cannot be identified

– regi ( b CU’ l ) ion 

(ur

ban CU’s on

l

y

)

– population size (not for rural CU’s and CU’s – limited information for states
Data Comparisons Data Comparisons

Diary and InterviewCEX and external sources
Data Available by Instrument Data Available by Instrument

Diary

Both

Interview

Combination
Comparability of Selected Item

Comparability of Selected Item

Itemcode(UCC) Description

Surveyinstrumen

330110 Soaps and detergents Diary onl640110 Hair care products Diary onl190903 Food on out-of-town trips Interview 470113 Gasoline on out-of-town tri

ps Interview 

320340 Glassware Both320350 Silver serving pieces Both300210 Washin

g machines Diar

y 

 onl

300211 Washin

g machines, owner Interview 

300212 Washin

g machines, renter Interview 
S l S i i f S l d I 1993 Samp

le 

Stat

ist

ics 

for 

S

e

lecte

d

Items, 1993

It i It i Di 

Item

I

n

terview

mean

I

n

terview

CV

Diary

mean

Sofas $75.40 4.58 $52.72 Bedroom linens 33.10 2.87 44.60 Legal fees 99.43 7.52 33.34 Washing machines 38.10 

Washing machines Washing machines

 (renter) 5.21 6.89 Washing machines (owned) 14.27 5.52Physicians’ services 160.86 3.11 216.08 
How do CEX ex

penditure data 

compare between surveys and other sources, such PCE? as PCE?

“Reporting ratios” ($CEX/$PCE) 

show how man

y p dollars are re

porte

by CU’s in the CEX for every $1 

reported by PCE.
Food at Home Ratios using Dia

and Interview based on Means and Interview based on Means

1 20 81.01.20 40.60.80.00.20.4

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995

Diar

y detail/Interview Diar

y

global/Interview

y y g
Detailed Diary to Interview Ra

based on Means based on Means

1 61.21.41.60 60.81.0 0 00.20.40.60.0

Total food Food at

home

Food

away 

Alcohol Tobacco
CEX Interview/American Hou

Survey Ratios based on MedianSurvey Ratios based on Median

0 81.01.20 40.60.80 00.20.4 0.0

Market

value of

owned

home

Mortgage

principal

and interest

Property

taxes

Property

insurance

Rent

home
CEX Diary/Progressive Grocer 

based on Aggregates based on Aggregates

3 03.54.02.02.53.00 51.01.5 0.00.5

Total food Fresh fruits

& vegs

Non-alc

beverages

Fish &

seafood

& vegs. beverages seafood
CEX Integrated/Personal Consump

E dit R ti b d A Expenditures 

R

atios 

base

d on 

Aggr

1.001.200.600.80 0.200.40 0.00

Apparel Food Gasoline Vehicle

purchases
Income, Assets and Liabiliti

in the CEX in the CEX
Income Data Income Data

Collection procedures Collection proceduresSourcesReportin

g issues

Data 

q y ualit

y

Imputation
Income data are collected in Income data are collected in

both the Interview and Diar

Surveys

.
However, we will focus on 

Interview data Interview data

.

Questions are similar in both Intervi

Questions are similar in both Intervi

Diary.

Th I i d h d d 

The 

Interv

iew 

data are t

he 

data use

d

publications of “integrated” (Diary a

I i) l nterv

iew

) resu

lts.

The Interview survey provides infor

on total expenditures. 
Income data are collected 

during the second and fifth interviews and cover the 12 interviews, and cover the 12

months 

prior to the intervie

This is done in part to minimize 

res

pondent burden.

Data are collected after the 

expenditure data.expenditure data.
Income data are collected at both t

memb l l d it l 

ber 

leve

l an

d consumer unit

l

M b l l (M j

 Wages and Salaries

 Interest Income Dividend Income

Mem

ber 

leve

l (M

ajor sources;

All persons at least 14 years old) 

Consumer unit level

 Wages and Salaries Self-employment - farm Self-employment - non-farm Social Security and Railroad

 Dividend Income Rental of property Pensions and annuities

 Social Security and Railroad

 Unemplo ment ins rance

retirement

 Supplemental Security

 Unemplo

yment ins

urance

 Worker’s Compensation a

benefits

 Alimony and regular cont

Alimony and regular cont

 Child support Public Assistance/welfare Food Stamps

Food Stamps

 Other sources Lump sum receipts
This is similar to the CPS, wi

the following exceptions: the following exceptions:

 CPS collects most sources for each house

member.

 Some sources in CEX (e.g., Social Securi

Railroad Retirement) are collected as sepcategories in CPS.

 O h i CEX ( i d O

t

her sources 

in CEX

(e.g., pens

ions an

d

annuities) are collected as many separate 

categories in CPS (e g private pensions categories in CPS (e.g., private pensions, 

government pensions, U.S. military pensi

black lun

g survivor income

)

g )
B d ti t t Base

d on reporting s

t

a

tus

,

Consumer units are divided into 

“com

p p lete” and “incom

plete” 

reporters of income.
“Complete” income reporter

income reporter

Report a value for at least one major 

Report a value for at least one major 

of income for their “reference person

R lf l j Report a value for at least one major 

of income for someone else (and the 

ref h erence person reports having no m

sources of income)

Report a value for some family leve

income; members have no major sou

income
Drawbacks of the definition: Drawbacks of the definition:

Not all complete reporters provide a 

Not all complete reporters provide

a 

accounting of income from all sourc

S di h h h “ l ” Studies 

have s

hown t

hat 

“comp

lete

”

reporters are not a random subset of 

consumer un

its.

The percentage of complete reporter

declined in recent 

years.
Percent Complete Reporters: 

1988

-1995

95%

100%

90%80%85%75%

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 
Notes on Complete Reporters: Notes on Complete Reporters:

 Complete reporters provide a value for 

Complete reporters provide

a value for 

one major source of income.

 About 85 percent of the total sample fo

About 85 percent of the total sample fo

Interview Survey.

 M t t di th t CEX i d t 

Mos

t s

t

udies th

a

t use CEX

income 

d

a

t

complete reporters.

 U i t i ti d fi iti f 

U

s

ing more res

t

r

i

ctive 

d

efi

nition o

f co

reporter yields a percent reporting com

to the CPSto the CPS.
Percent reporting differs by 

source of income source of income....

60%70%80%

Int

e

r

v

iew

40%50%60% e v ew

Diary

20%30%

0%

10%

Wages and Retirement Interest & Public Self- Unemployment/ Reg

salary dividends assistance employment worker's

compensation

contrib
...as do means for all comple

reporters (1995) reporters (1995)

.

$30 000 $25,000$30,000

Interview Diary

$15,000$20,000

Interview Diary 

$5 000

$10,000

$0

$5,000

Wages and

salary

Retirement Interest &

dividends

Public asst Selfemployment Unemploy- ment & Regular contribution

salary dividends employment ment

&

worker's

compensation

contribution
Tax data are also collected in 

the Interview survey the Interview survey....

Payroll tax Payroll taxProperty taxFederal income tax

– No separate value for EITC 

State and local income taxPersonal property tax Personal property taxOther taxes
However, as with income dat

tax reporting is an issue tax reporting is an issue

.

Percent Reporting Federal Income Taxes:

100% 87% 

Percent Reporting Federal Income Taxes:

2nd and 5th Interview Complete Reporters: 199

68%

58%

79%

60%80%

29%

40%

0%

20%

All

complete

reporters

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 

Income quintile
How do CEX income data 

compare to other sources, sucas CPS?

“Reporting ratios” ($CEX/$CPS) 

show how man

y income dollars CE

collects for every $1 CPS collects.
Over time, the following ratio

observed for selected sourcesobserved for selected sources

1

0 70.80.90.50.60.70 20.30.4

Wages and SalariesAll Sources

0

0.1

0.2 Property Income

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 
The following other patterns 

are observed: are observed:

“High

” Ratio Items Ratio Items: “Low

” Ratio Items

 Wage and salary Self employment

Low Ratio Items

 Property income

 Self-employment

 Unemployment/

 Social security P bli i t

 Unemployment/

Worker’s Comp

Veterans’ benefi



P

ublic ass

i

s

tance Veterans benefi

 Regular contribu

and other incom
CEX/CPS ratios by income 

source and household type: 1source and household type: 1

1.01.2 All households Singles Married couple0 60.80.40.60 00.20.0

Household income ages and Salaries Retirement Dividends Unemploym

worker's 
It is important to remember 

It is important to remember 

income data in the CPS data 

imputed for missing values, th t i th CEX they are no

t

in the CEX

.

CEX is experimenting with 

im

p g utation to fill in missin

g data. 

How might this affect outcomes?
First, some background on 

methodology

.

We are examining We are examining

“model

-based

”

imputation.

W l i “ li l ”i 

We are exp

lor

i

n

g

“mu

l

t

i

p

l

e

”

imputa

(Procedure involves estimating inco

severali d i h i 

l t

imes an

d averagi

n

g t

he est

im

We are considering the “hierarchica

approach (member 2’s income depenmember 1).
As this ork is still in progre

As this work is still in progre

the followin

g results are obta

from a “single” imputation musi th hi hi l th d ing the hierarchica

l meth

o

d

Imputation is for complete reporters onReported values preferred to imputed Reported values preferred to imputed

values

Negative values are removed

Negative values are removed
At least one family in every quintile is 

i t d t b l i th 5th i til impu

t

e

d

to 

b

e

lon

g

in the 5th qu

i

ntile.

$157 893 $157,893

$160,000 Observed Maximum

Imputed Maximu

m

$97,701

$81,899

$120,000

p

$34,729

$54,50

$80,000

$11,000 $21,200

,

$0

$40,000

1st Quintile 2nd Quintile 3rd Quintile 4th Q
Most of the movement is due to low-incom

reporters moving into higher (but not alwahi )i ghest

)

income classes.

22%18%20% Percent Distribution of Consum

By Income Range

12%14%16%

ObservedImputed

8%

10%

12%

2%4%6%0%

$10,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000 $60,000 $70,000 $80,000 $90,000 $1
CEX/CPS ratio for total 

household income by percenthousehold income by percent

1 11.01.10.90.8 Households: Observed

Households: Imputed

0.60.7 Married couples: Observed

Married couples: Imputed

2 6 10 14 18 22 26 30 34 38 42 46 50 54 58 62 66 70 74 78 82 

Percentile
Assets and Liabilities Assets and Liabilities

Collection proceduresSourcesReporting issues Reporting issuesData quality
Assets and Liabilities are collected in di

i t i d ti f th i

n

terv

iews an

d sections o

f the surve

y

.

 Financial Assets are collected in the 5th I

Financial Assets are collected in the 5th I

after income

 Consumer debt (other than home and veh

Consumer debt (other than home and veh

collected in the 2nd and 5th Interview jusincome 

 Real property information is collected in 

interview in the home-ownership expendisection

 Vehicle information is collected in the fir

quarter in the vehicle expenditure section
Market values are collected f

some items some items

.

Assets: Liabilities: Savings accounts Checkin

g accounts

Liabilities: Estimated mortga

g principal outstand

 U.S. Savings bonds Stocks, bonds, mutual funds

M d CU

 Vehicle principal Credit card debt



Mone

y

 Store Installment 

 owe

d to CU

 Store Installment  Other debt owed 

– Banks /saving

loans/credit ufinance comp

– Insurance com

Insurance com

– Health care pr
Changes in values are also 

available for selected variablavailable for selected variabl

Assets: Liabilities: Savings accounts Checking accounts

Liabilities: Amount owed to 

 Checking creditors accounts U.S. savings bonds Securities (stocks, bonds, 

 Mortgage princi

(special/lump-supayments regul

mutual funds)

 Money owed to CU

I t t / ithd l

payments, regul

reduction) for ohome/other prop



Inves

tmen

t

s

/

withdrawa

ls 

from farm/business

 Contributions/withdrawals

 Vehicle principa

from Pensions
Percent Reporting for Financ

Assets (All 5th I t i CU 1994 (All 5th

I

n

terv

iew CUs: 1994

-95)

100%

80%90% Valid response

With positive assets

50%60%70%30%40%

0%

10%20%

Any Financial

asset

Savings

Accounts

Checking

Accounts

U.S Savings

Bonds

Se
Market value of financial 

securities

$15 000

All 5th Interview CUs: 1994-95

$7,437

$10

$10,000$15,000

$2,645

$465 $5,000

$10,000

$0

S i Ch ki USS i S iiSavin

g

s

Accounts

Checki

n

g

Accounts

U.S

Savin

g

s

Bonds

Securiti
Percent reporting values for 

financial liabilities financial liabilities

60% 48%70% All 5th Interview CUs: 1994-95

42%

40%50%20% 9% 8% 730%

0%

10%

All consumer

debt

Credit cards Store

Installment

Banks, credit

unions, etc

Other d
Value of outstanding financial 

Value of outstanding financial 

$2 000

All 5th Interview CUs: 1994-95

$1,156 $1,500

$2,000

$67

$454

$29

$500

$1,000

$0

Credit cards Store Banks, credit Other deb

Installment union, etc
Property assets and liabilities Property assets and liabilities

Market value of owned home Market value of owned homeMarket value of other propertyMort

g

a

g

e

Other 

pp y ( q y 

ro

pert

y debt 

(home e

quit

y lo

Vehicles - ownership and purchase pVehicle debt Vehicle debt
Real Property: 1995 Real Property: 1995

Percent reporting Average Market Valu

$70,000$80,000

60%70%

$50,000$60,000

40%50%

$30,000$40,000

20%30%40%

With mortgage

$10,000$20,000

10%20%

$0

Owned

home

Vacation

home

0%

Owned home Vacation

home

other real

estate
R hS esearc

h

Summary
Recent Research Recent Research

How can we reduce respondent burd

while improving the expenditure estiwhile improving the expenditure esti

– W l k d t ibl l ti d 

We 

loo

k

e

d a

t one possible so

l

ution: re

d

the number of questions for certain 

expenditures in the interview replacing expenditures in the interview, replacing 

with “globals”
At the same time we looked at redes

At the same time we looked at redes

the diary.

– The diary could be segmented into The diary could be segmented into “targeted targeted” 

with separate samples.

– One would be similar to our p y resent diary -- 

“everyday” expenditures

– Another would be asking for detailed expend

th h d k d f l b l those areas we had earmarked for global que

the interview
A very small field test was conduct

A very small field test was conduct

the two diaries.

– R lt h d th t d t 

Results showed that respondents were 

understand the concept of some versus 

expenditures

– But, the level of expenditures received 

diary were low diary were low
– W l i d th ti i th We a

lso rev

iewe

d other sections 

in the 

interview 

» Child Care» Business Expenses Business Expenses» Cash Contributions» Income
Changes with the introduction of C

Business ExpensesCash Contributions Cash ContributionsGifts
Diary Research Project Diary Research Project

Chartered with providing: Chartered with providing:

– R d ti i Di 

Recommen

d

ations on prev

ious Diary w

– Recommendations on use of scanning 

technology

– Recommendations on “User Friendly” 

research project research project

– Costs associated with recommendation
Proposed Research Proposed Research

Request for funding in FY99“im

p yp rove the reliabilit

y of ex

pendit

estimates”
What is the most efficient, most accu

method for collecting expenditures aincome data?
Issues we need to consider: Issues we need to consider:

Household underreportingNonresponseRes

pondent Burden

CostUses and Users Uses and Users
Credits

Introduction and Research Summary Introduction and Research Summary

– Mary E. McCarthy, DCEX Chief

Expendi i h C ditures in the CEX

– Thesia I. Garner and William D. Passe– DPINR and DCEX 

Income, Assets, and Liabilities in th

– David S. Johnson and Geoffrey D. Pau– DPINR and DCEX