Consumer Price Index Program, Bureau of Labor Statistics, January, 2004 

Response Rates for the Consumer 

Price Indexes, 2003

This article and the accompanying tables update articles 

previously published on response rates in the CPI Detailed 

Report for March 1991, and in the January issues of 1993 

through 2003. 

 In an effort to measure the outcome of data collection 

for the CPI, the BLS calculates response rates. Response 

rates measure the proportion of completed surveys to those 

issued and help measure the accuracy of the CPI. Failure of 

a data unit to respond at either the data collection stage or 

estimation stage represents a loss of statistical information 

which dilutes the accuracy of the sample. BLS publishes 

response rates annually to assist the data user in judging the 

accuracy of CPI data. 

BLS calculates response rates for the CPI-U at the data 

collection and data estimation phases for pricing. The 

response rate at the data collection phase is the number of 

responding sample units divided by the number of eligible 

sample units. A sample unit is eligible if it belongs to the 

defined target population and if it should provide 

information for one or more items. The response rate at 

estimation is defined as the number of sample units used in 

estimation divided by the number of eligible sample units. 

 Response rates for 2003 are presented in tables R-1 

through R-16. Table R-1 shows response rates for all data 

included in the CPI-U, U.S. city average, by major group, 

for all of 2003. Tables R-2 through R-16 show rates for 

current data collection in selected areas for which indexes 

are published monthly and bimonthly. 

The response rates in tables R-1 through R-16 are 

separated into commodities and services, and the shelter 

portion of housing. Commodities and services are further 

broken down into outlets and quotes. An "outlet" is a 

generic term that designates the place where prices are 

collected. A "quote" is a specific item to be priced in a 

specific outlet. There may be from 1 to more than 50 

quotes priced in each outlet.

In table R-1, it is important to note the relatively low 

percentages of quotes reported, collected and used in 

estimation for apparel. Low rates for these items can be 

partially attributed to the design of the apparel sample. 

Because seasonal apparel items commonly are in stores only 

during certain times of the year, most of the apparel sample 

is doubled, with each half of the sample designated for 

pricing during part of the year. Thus, at any particular time 

of the year, a large number of apparel quotes, although 

eligible, are designated out of season and are not collected. 

The response rates at the data collection phase for 

shelter are separated into three categories. If useable 

information is obtained, the unit is designated data 

reported. If the assigned unit is located but is unoccupied, 

the unit is designated found vacant. In instances where the 

unit is eligible but no data are available (for example, 

refusals or no one at home) the unit is designated other.

 For additional information on response rates, write to 

the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of Consumer Prices 

and Price Indexes, Room 3615, 2 Massachusetts Avenue, 

NE., Washington, DC 20212-0001, or call Doris L. Johnson 

at (202) 691-7000. 
Table R-1. Response rates for the CPI-U, U.S. city average, by major group and shelter, 2003

 Quotes

Commodities and 

services

Outlets

Total Food

Housing

(excluding

shelter)

Apparel Transportation

Medical

care

Recreation

Education and 

communication

Other

goods and 

services

Eligible 340,717 1,117,186 411,609 149,288 144,383 127,050 90,816 86,067 63,784 44,189

Collected 

 Number 329,344 947,010 373,782 133,171 75,452 117,662 80,739 73,264 52,357 40,583

 Percent 96.7 84.8 90.8 89.2 52.3 92.6 88.9 85.1 82.1 91.8 

Used in estimation 

 Number 316,773 926,775 368,186 130,107 71,581 115,338 79,480 70,702 51,337 40,044

 Percent 93.0 83.0 89.5 87.2 49.6 90.8 87.5 82.1 80.5 90.6

Shelter All Units

Eligible

 Number 68,624

 Percent 100.0

Collected

 Data reported

 Number 52,113

 Percent 75.9

 Found vacant

 Number 6,106

 Percent 8.9

 Other

 Number 10,405

 Percent 15.2

Used in estimation

 Number 58,219

 Percent 84.8

Consumer Price Index Program, Bureau of Labor Statistics, January, 2004
Table R-2. Response rates for the CPI-U, Chicago-GaryKenosha, IL-IN-WI, 2003

Commodities Total 

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 16,543 46,467 Eligible

Collected Number 2,218

 Number 15,965 39,129 Percent 100.0

 Percent 96.5 84.2 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 15,370 38,490 Number 1,423

Percent 92.9 82.8 Percent 64.2

Found vacant

 Number 178

 Percent 8.0

Other

 Number 617

 Percent 27.8

Used in estimation

 Number 1,601

 Percent 72.2

Consumer Price Index Program, Bureau of Labor Statistics, January, 2004
Table R-3. Response rates for the CPI-U, Los AngelesRiverside-Orange County, CA, 2003

Commodities Total 

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 28,193 77,253 Eligible

Collected Number 4,644

 Number 27,641 64,087 Percent 100.0

 Percent 98.0 83.0 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 26,341 62,779 Number 3,857

Percent 93.4 81.3 Percent 83.1

Found vacant

 Number 189

 Percent 4.1

Other

 Number 598

 Percent 12.9

Used in estimation

 Number 4,046

 Percent 87.1

Consumer Price Index Program, Bureau of Labor Statistics, January, 2004
Table R-4. Response rates for the CPI-U, NY-Northern NJ-Long

Island, NY-NJ-CT-PA, 2003

Commodities Total 

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 37,458 106,888 Eligible

Collected Number 5,147

 Number 35,674 86,858 Percent 100.0

 Percent 95.2 81.3 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 34,221 84,999 Number 3,285

Percent 91.4 79.5 Percent 63.8

Found vacant

 Number 215

 Percent 4.2

Other

 Number 1,647

 Percent 32.0

Used in estimation

 Number 3,500

 Percent 68.0

Consumer Price Index Program, Bureau of Labor Statistics, January, 2004
Table R-5. Response rates for the CPI-U, Phil.-WilmingtonTrenton, PA-NJ-KE-MD, 2003

Commodities Total 

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 8,932 24,469 Eligible

Collected Number 1,679

 Number 8,615 20,168 Percent 100.0

 Percent 96.5 82.4 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 8,184 19,670 Number 1,197

Percent 91.6 80.4 Percent 71.3

Found vacant

 Number 111

 Percent 6.6

Other

 Number 371

 Percent 22.1

Used in estimation

 Number 1,308

 Percent 77.9

Consumer Price Index Program, Bureau of Labor Statistics, January, 2004
Table R-6. Response rates for the CPI-U, San FranciscoOakland-San Jose, CA, 2003

Commodities Total 

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 8,411 24,818 Eligible

Collected Number 3,144

 Number 8,242 21,349 Percent 100.0

 Percent 98.0 86.0 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 7,913 20,756 Number 2,430

Percent 94.1 83.6 Percent 77.3

Found vacant

 Number 261

 Percent 8.3

Other

 Number 453

 Percent 14.4

Used in estimation

 Number 2,691

 Percent 85.6

Consumer Price Index Program, Bureau of Labor Statistics, January, 2004
Table R-7. Response rates for the CPI-U, WashingtonBaltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV, 2003

Commodities Total 

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 8,324 25,665 Eligible

Collected Number 1,928

 Number 7,970 21,058 Percent 100.0

 Percent 95.7 82.0 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 7,635 20,394 Number 1,517

Percent 91.7 79.5 Percent 78.7

Found vacant

 Number 128

 Percent 6.6

Other

 Number 283

 Percent 14.7

Used in estimation

 Number 1,645

 Percent 85.3

Consumer Price Index Program, Bureau of Labor Statistics, January, 2004
Table R-8. Response rates for the CPI-U, Boston-BrocktonNashua, MA-NH-ME-CT, 2003

Commodities Total 

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 5,957 16,381 Eligible

Collected Number 1,655

 Number 5,730 13,701 Percent 100.0

 Percent 96.2 83.6 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 5,483 13,357 Number 1,153

Percent 92.0 81.5 Percent 69.7

Found vacant

 Number 111

 Percent 6.7

Other

 Number 391

 Percent 23.6

Used in estimation

 Number 1,264

 Percent 76.4

Consumer Price Index Program, Bureau of Labor Statistics, January, 2004
Table R-9. Response rates for the CPI-U, ClevelandAkron, OH, 2003

Commodities Total 

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 4,080 12,506 Eligible

Collected Number 1,390

 Number 3,935 10,725 Percent 100.0

 Percent 96.4 85.8 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 3,776 10,444 Number 1,092

Percent 92.5 83.5 Percent 78.6

Found vacant

 Number 145

 Percent 10.4

Other

 Number 153

 Percent 11.0

Used in estimation

 Number 1,237

 Percent 89.0

Consumer Price Index Program, Bureau of Labor Statistics, January, 2004
Table R-10. Response rates for the CPI-U, Miami-Fort

Lauderdale, FL, 2003

Commodities Total 

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 1,471 4,621 Eligible

Collected Number 1,110

 Number 1,451 4,421 Percent 100.0

 Percent 98.6 95.7 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 1,432 4,377 Number 958

Percent 97.3 94.7 Percent 86.3

Found vacant

 Number 92

 Percent 8.3

Other

 Number 60

 Percent 5.4

Used in estimation

 Number 1,050

 Percent 94.6

Consumer Price Index Program, Bureau of Labor Statistics, January, 2004
Table R-11. Response rates for the CPI-U, St. Louis, 

MO-IL, 2003

Commodities Total 

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 1,412 5,204 Eligible

Collected Number 699

 Number 1,400 4,960 Percent 100.0

 Percent 99.2 95.3 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 1,369 4,813 Number 505

Percent 97.0 92.5 Percent 72.2

Found vacant

 Number 54

 Percent 7.7

Other

 Number 140

 Percent 20.0

Used in estimation

 Number 559

 Percent 80.0

Consumer Price Index Program, Bureau of Labor Statistics, January, 2004
Table R-12. Response rates for the CPI-U, Dallas-Fort

Worth, TX, 2003

Commodities Total 

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 1,703 5,651 Eligible

Collected Number 1,214

 Number 1,680 5,244 Percent 100.0

 Percent 98.6 92.8 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 1,650 5,122 Number 918

Percent 96.9 90.6 Percent 75.6

Found vacant

 Number 106

 Percent 8.7

Other

 Number 190

 Percent 15.7

Used in estimation

 Number 1,024

 Percent 84.3

Consumer Price Index Program, Bureau of Labor Statistics, January, 2004
Table R-13. Response rates for the CPI-U, Detroit-Ann 

Arbor-Flint, MI, 2003

Commodities Total 

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 5,766 16,715 Eligible

Collected Number 1,218

 Number 5,556 14,041 Percent 100.0

 Percent 96.4 84.0 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 5,312 13,677 Number 898

Percent 92.1 81.8 Percent 73.7

Found vacant

 Number 143

 Percent 11.7

Other

 Number 177

 Percent 14.5

Used in estimation

 Number 1,041

 Percent 85.5

Consumer Price Index Program, Bureau of Labor Statistics, January, 2004
Table R-14. Response rates for the CPI-U, HoustonGalveston-Brazoria, TX, 2003

Commodities Total 

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 4,594 12,694 Eligible

Collected Number 1,175

 Number 4,469 10,993 Percent 100.0

 Percent 97.3 86.6 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 4,298 10,707 Number 868

Percent 93.6 84.3 Percent 73.9

Found vacant

 Number 108

 Percent 9.2

Other

 Number 199

 Percent 16.9

Used in estimation

 Number 976

 Percent 83.1

Consumer Price Index Program, Bureau of Labor Statistics, January, 2004
Table R-15. Response rates for the CPI-U, 

Pittsburgh, PA, 2003

Commodities Total 

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 3,763 12,026 Eligible

Collected Number 774

 Number 3,530 9,750 Percent 100.0

 Percent 93.8 81.1 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 3,372 9,487 Number 539

Percent 89.6 78.9 Percent 69.6

Found vacant

 Number 74

 Percent 9.6

Other

 Number 161

 Percent 20.8

Used in estimation

 Number 613

 Percent 79.2

Consumer Price Index Program, Bureau of Labor Statistics, January, 2004
Table R-16. Response rates for the CPI-U, 

Pheonix-Mesa, AZ., 2003

Commodities Total 

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 2,846 10,052 Eligible

Collected Number 656

 Number 2,810 8,528 Percent 100.0

 Percent 98.7 84.8 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 2,682 8,245 Number 565

Percent 94.2 82.0 Percent 86.1

Found vacant

 Number 73

 Percent 11.1

Other

 Number 18

 Percent 2.7

Used in estimation

 Number 638

 Percent 97.3

Consumer Price Index Program, Bureau of Labor Statistics, January, 2004