1

A Comparison of Consumer Expenditure Surveys

Nhien To and Brett McBride

Division of Consumer Expenditure Survey

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

March 2013

I. INTRODUCTION

The Consumer Expenditure Survey (CE) is in the initial stages of a major redesign.  The overall

mission of the redesign is to improve data quality through a verifiable reduction in measurement error.  

As part of this effort, the CE studied the design features of household expenditure surveys

conducted in other countries.   This article presents an overview of the key design features of

these surveys, particularly the unique design features that other surveys have successfully

implemented for asking questions and collecting information about consumer expenditures.

The survey design elements were gathered from a number of sources including other countries’

consumer expenditure survey program websites, methodology reports, and e‐mail

correspondence with representatives from the survey programs.  For each survey program, the

following characteristics were collected:

a. Country and survey

b. Achieved sample size and year: The number of completed surveys is provided along with

the reference year. All sample sizes indicate the annual number of completed surveys

reported except where otherwise specified.

c. Data collection method: mode, instrument, and level of data collection

d. Reference period

e. Response rate and year, if different from that reported for the achieved sample size

f. Notable design features: the use of global questions, interview structure, proxy

reporting, recall period, split questionnaire design, new technology, and records and

receipts

The surveys included in this article were selected based on the diversity of their

characteristics and the accessibility of information about their design features.  Many of

the countries use the term “budget survey” which is considered interchangeable with

“expenditure survey” in this article. The surveys summarized in this article are

conducted by governmental statistical agencies in the following countries:   

1. United States

2. Australia  

3. Austria

4. Belgium

5. Bulgaria

6. Canada

7. Croatia

8. Cyprus  

9. Czech Republic

10. Denmark  
2

11. Estonia

12. Finland

13. France

14. Germany

15. Greece  

16. Hong Kong

17. Hungary  

18. Ireland

19. Italy

20. Latvia  

21. Lithuania

22. Luxembourg  

23. Malta

24. Netherlands

25. Norway

26. Poland

27. Portugal

28. Romania

29. Singapore

30. Slovakia

31. Slovenia

32. South Korea

33. Spain

34. Sweden  

35. United Kingdom

A table detailing the characteristics of each survey can be found in appendix A.

I. SUMMARY OF GENERAL SURVEY CHARACTERISTICS

Achieved Sample Size

One of the most notable differences between the United States and the other countries

examined was that the United States was the only country to use two independent

samples to collect expenditure data. There was a large range in the achieved sample

sizes countries used to get the required information for their stakeholders. The United

States obtained the largest number of completed surveys aside from Germany. This was

in part due to the United States’ unique use of two independent samples to collect

expenditure data.  Using samples of approximately 60,000 addresses for the interview

survey and 12,000 addresses for the diary survey, the CE obtained 35,843 completed

interviews and 14,599 one‐week diaries in 2010. Germany, with a gross sample size of

81,530, obtained 55,110 usable diaries in 2008, but Germany administered its survey

every five years, used a quota sampling method and collected the data using four

different components. In Denmark, Norway, Slovenia, and Sweden, data were

aggregated across multiple years. Thus, Denmark had the smallest annual achieved

sample size, 858, in 2010.  

Data Collection Method

All of the countries except South Korea used at least two instruments for collecting the

expenditure data (for example, an interview/questionnaire and a separate diary); South

Korea collected information using diaries only.  Even though most surveys used these

two collection methods, they varied in format.  Some countries used individual diaries in

addition to household diaries.  In addition to data collected from interviews and diaries,
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some countries collected data directly from registries. Notable format differences are

presented in Section III.   

Reference Period

For most of the countries, the reference period for an interview survey was either 1, 3,

or 12 months. Almost all countries used a 14‐day reporting period for a diary survey.   

The few exceptions included diary survey data collected over a period of 7 days, 1

month, or 2 months.  

Response Rates

Response rates among the surveys varied considerably from as low as 18 percent in

Luxembourg to as high as 89 percent in Cyprus.  The average response rate, across the

33 surveys for which information was available, was 60 percent and the median was 61

percent.

   

II. NOTABLE DESIGN FEATURES

  

Individual Diaries

A number of countries’ surveys collected expenditure information from each member of the

household over a certain age, with that age varying across countries. Countries that used

individual diaries included: Cyprus, France, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Latvia, Malta, the

Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and the United Kingdom. There were variations

in how expenditure information was collected. Some countries involved the younger household

members in data collection; the United Kingdom provided diaries to children aged 7 to 15, and

Portugal gave diaries to children as young as 10 years‐old, provided parental consent was given.

However, the most common minimum age at which individuals were asked to participate was

15 years old (in Cyprus, the Netherlands, Norway and Portugal). Malta provided three diaries

per households, and Latvia provided diaries for those who were temporarily absent from the

household as well as youth.  

Differences existed in the amount of diary information that a household needed to provide to

be considered a cooperating household. Spain did not require that all household members fill

out the one‐week personal diaries, but did require that the main two‐week household diary

collecting common household purchases be completed. Information from the Spanish survey

indicated that about 75 percent of cooperating households filled out all diaries, with imputation

used for the remaining household members. Ireland required that all individual diaries be

returned in order to classify a household as completing the survey. In Ireland, only 1.2 percent
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of the households that provided interview information in 2010 did not complete a single diary,

leading them to be re‐classified as refusals. France also required completion of all diaries in

order for a case to be classified as a complete.

Use of Administrative Records   

A number of European countries maintained population registries which were used to assist in

data collection. Scandinavian countries made use of administrative sources in their household

budget surveys, with income and education data taken from the registries in Norway and

Finland, and income, property tax, and taxable benefits information taken in Sweden. The

Netherlands took income and housing cost data from administrative records, when available.  

The Netherlands also used demographic data from their population registry to carry out non‐

response adjustments. Canada and Denmark also collected information on household

members’ incomes from administrative data files.

Incentives

Several of the countries examined provided incentives – whether monetary or non‐monetary –

in return for a household’s participation in their budget surveys. There was no standard

practice regarding the type or amount of incentive provided. These countries included: Austria,

Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, the

Netherlands, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Most incentives were

structured at the household level, with the exception of Ireland and the United Kingdom, where

incentives were given to each member who completed an individual diary. Ireland did not

withhold incentives if field interviewers verified that a returned diary with no expenditures

recorded reflected that persons’ actual lack of spending.  Belgium, while not making use of

individual diaries, did tailor incentive amounts to the size of the household (giving up to 124€

for households with six or more members). In Spain the 2006 survey redesign involved

introduction of a 30€ voucher starting in January of that year (analysis indicated this did not

bias the income composition of the respondent sample), while Lithuania ceased providing

incentives (worth approximately $6) after 2008.  South Korea offered households the option to

choose between three different types of surveys, each with a different incentive. A $10

incentive was provided for a paper diary, $40 for an e‐diary (a web version of the diary), and

$50 for an e‐diary that was connected to their credit accounts or bank records. Among non‐

monetary incentives offered, Estonia allowed respondents to request feedback on their

households’ aggregate expenditure categories, a feature requested by 20 percent of responding

households. Denmark provided households with a gift and entry into a lottery.

Technology  
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Belgium, South Korea, and the Netherlands, redesigned their surveys to include website data

collection. Belgium’s Household Budget Survey (HBS) initially planned to provide tablets with an

installed Blaise application for interviewers to collect household data. However, the amount of

technical support staff available to respond to problems with the tablets was judged to be

insufficient, leading them to postpone the introduction of tablets until the 2014 survey. The

Belgian HBS did move forward with a website component in their 2012 redesign, allowing

respondents the option to record expenditure information online or by paper. It indicated that

approximately 15 percent of households decided to use the website for recording expenditures.  

South Korea provided households the option to complete an e‐diary and encouraged them to

keep the e‐diary by offering a higher incentive than if they completed a paper diary.  A third

option which offered an even higher incentive was to use an e‐diary that was connected to

their credit accounts and bank records.   

The Netherlands’ expenditure survey, Budgetonderzoek (BO), moved entirely to online data

collection in an effort to save costs. In adopting a website for data collection, the survey was

able to take advantage of the Netherland’s high rate of Internet penetration (with 94 percent of

the population reporting access, and 80 percent having a broad‐band connection). The website

contained instructional videos assisting respondents with the multiple online questionnaires

and the downloadable diary. Aspects of monitoring were built into the survey. Respondents

could enter their email address or telephone number in the questionnaire, allowing them to be

contacted by survey staff. The website also contained coding tools and automated checks for

common mistakes. Although response rates to the pilot test of the website survey were

reportedly low, of those willing to respond, 78 percent expressed an inclination to participate in

a second round. In terms of measurement error, pilot tests indicated improved reporting for

small purchases with no effect on the reporting of larger purchases.  

In the new design, one household member reported for the household; there was some

indication of under‐reporting of expenditures for other household members (e.g., a reduction

in the reporting of entertainment expenses was noted for households with older children). The

BO plans to research the use of individual website accounts to allow for greater privacy in

expenditure reporting, as well as the use of Smart Phones to take photos of receipts. Although

response rates to the BO remained low, the redesigned survey resulted in noticeable cost

savings.  

The Singapore Household Expenditure Survey did not utilize a web diary but interviewers used

personal digital assistants (PDAs) in place of hardcopy survey forms to directly record
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expenditure information.   Additionally, Germanys’ Sample Survey of Income and Expenditure

(EVS) collected housing and socio‐demographic information online in some parts of the country.

Other Survey Features

Some countries involved different data collection requirements for different parts of their

sample.  The German EVS had households provide income and expenditure information for a

three month period. Every fifth household in the sample recorded expenditures on food,

beverages, and tobacco for a one‐month period in a ‘detailed log book.’   In Canada’s Survey of

Household Spending (SHS), only a subsample of households were asked to report their

expenditures in the diary due to budget constraints.   

Expenditure surveys often allowed households to provide receipts as part of the data collection

process. The Canadian SHS offered respondents the option to provide receipts in order to

reduce burden.  Sweden allowed households to send in receipts instead of reporting

information in the diary, which it credited as having reduced the rate of item non‐response.

Estonia’s HBS also gave responding households leeway in how to report expenditure

information. In 2011, in the 80 percent of households for which information was available, 57

percent of households provided a mix of receipts and diary entries, 27 percent provided only

receipts, and 16 percent only filled in the diary. Allowing submission of receipts does risk the

problem of collecting receipts that contain ambiguous or limited product information. The

Estonian HBS found that 3‐to‐5 percent of receipts did not provide sufficient information about

the product to allow proper classification, necessitating imputation. The Irish HBS sought to

address this problem by requesting households to annotate receipts with sufficient detail to

categorize purchases. For purchased items, respondents were asked to write in, if not already

noted, the weight or volume of the food purchase, and note whether the item was bought

online.

Countries have been modernizing their survey designs, seeking ways to minimize the burden

surveys place on respondents. In Estonia, the 2010 redesign was motivated by a response rate

which fell from 65 percent in 2000 to less than 50 percent in 2007. In order to address non‐

response, burden was limited by consolidating the HBS to only one household questionnaire

and one diary, cutting the diary reporting period in half to two weeks, and removing income

questions which were being collected in another survey.  In 2010, Estonia’s HBS also added

some retrospective questions about larger purchases to the household questionnaire.

Unfortunately, following the revisions, the response rate remained low, with 42 percent
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completing both the interview and diary in 2011, up only 4 percent from the prior year. The

French Family Budget Survey (BDF) is a mandatory survey carried out every five years. As in

Estonia, efforts were made to reduce the amount of data collected from respondents in the

redesigned 2010‐11 BDF survey. The number of interviews was reduced from three to two

(each lasting approximately one hour), and the diary reporting period was cut in half to one

week. Subsequent to the redesign, response rates to the BDF returned to their 2000 levels

(above 75 percent) after falling below 70 percent in 2005. Spain’s Household Budget Survey

(EPF) was unique in that, unlike many European budget surveys, it involved a second wave of

data collection. The redesign of the EPF occurred in 2006, doubling the amount of reporting

required for the diary to two weeks, while reducing the number of questions asked in the

interview. The EPF observed steady response rates following these changes with a response

rate of 71 percent in 2010, though analysis revealed underreporting in expenditure reports

during the second week of data collection.

III. CONCLUSION

Information on design characteristics of other consumer expenditure survey programs is

valuable in allowing the United States CE program to evaluate best practices in terms of general

survey characteristics as well as notable design features, and determine whether they hold

promise for improving the redesign of the CE.   The CE shares similar data collection methods

and reference periods with many of the other surveys, but stands out as being the only survey

program to use independent samples for each instrument.   

In terms of notable design features, the only feature currently shared by the CE and the other

surveys is encouraging respondents to keep records or receipts to aid recall.  However, the CE is

considering many other design elements that are already employed by other survey programs,

including incentives, individual diaries, and a web diary.  In evaluating and determining which

elements to investigate for use in the CE redesign, it would be helpful to follow‐up with

representatives from specific survey programs that have those elements in their surveys.   

Based on the information gathered, the following is a summary of recommended action for

investigating potential design elements for the CE.

1. Sample Size – Evaluate the need for two separate samples.

2. Data Collection Method – Consider supplementing respondent‐collected data with

administrative data or data on expenditures collected by other surveys to reduce

respondent burden. Although this has the potential to reduce the amount of data

collected directly from respondents, some issues to consider with this approach
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would be the ability to gain both respondent consent and access to information held

by other data providers, and the need for the other data to be in a compatible

format.

3. Individual Diaries – Many countries use individual diaries (i.e., Cyprus, France,

Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Latvia, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal,

Slovenia, Spain and the United Kingdom).  Consider speaking with representatives

from those survey programs to learn more about their use of individual diaries.  In

particular, follow up with other countries about their definitions for what constitutes

a “complete” household interview.  For example, does receiving 50% of completed

individual diaries result in a “complete” household interview, or is some other

threshold used?   

4. Incentives – The CE is exploring the use of incentives, and should speak with

representatives from the following survey programs to learn more about their use of

incentives:  Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Hong Kong,

Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, and the

United Kingdom.  Of special interest is Estonia’s offer to provide a summary of a

family’s aggregate expenditures to participating households as a non‐monetary

incentive.  This is an idea that has been suggested for CE and perhaps worth

following‐up on with Estonian representatives.  In addition, South Korea’s use of a

higher incentive for e‐diaries connected to respondent bank and credit card

accounts is a very interesting idea and something to investigate.

5. Web Diary and Technology – Review screen shots of the web diary used by Belgium,

South Korea, and the Netherlands to extract any useful design elements.  Consider

speaking with representatives from those countries to obtain recommendations and

learn about problems encountered.   Obtain more detailed information from the

Netherlands about other benefits of using a web diary, such as instructional videos,

monitoring aspects, coding tools and automated checks for common mistakes.  The

Netherlands mentioned their planned research into the use of Smart Phones to take

photos of receipts, which is also of special interest to CE.

6. Multi‐mode – South Korea offers households different mode options for reporting

expenditure data.  Consider speaking with them about their experience with the

mode options as CE has contemplated all of the options at some point (i.e., paper

diary, web diary, and a collection method that connects with respondent’s credit

and bank accounts).

7. Records – CE has conducted a number of research projects related to record use.  

Consider speaking with Canada, Estonia, and Ireland about their experience with

allowing respondents to submit their records/receipts in production.   
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APPENDIX A. TABLE OF COUNTRIES’ EXPENDITURE SURVEY CHARACTERISTICS

Countryand Survey Notable Design Features

AchievedSample Size(year) Response Rate (%) Data Collecti

United StatesConsumerExpenditureSurvey (CE)

Respondents are encouraged to keep records/receipts to aid

recall.Interview: An accordion file is sometimes given to respondents to

store/organize receipts.

Diary: A pocket is included on the inside of the back cover for

respondents to store receipts.

http://bls.gov/cex/

Interview:35,843 (2010)Diary:14,599 (2010)

Interview:73.4Diary:71.5

Household I(CAPI)

Household D(Paper)

AustraliaHouseholdExpenditureSurvey (HES)

The HES sample of 6,957 households is a subsample of the Survey

of Income and Housing (SIH) sample of 11,361 households.

http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/6530.0/

6,957(2009‐10)

75 Household I

(CAPI)

Individual D

(Paper)

AustriaHouseholdBudget Survey

(HBS)

The Austrian HBS is a rotating panel survey, providing a detailed

description of the expenditures of private households by

demographic and socio‐economic characteristics.

A two‐week detailed household diary is provided.

Separate in‐person interviews are conducted with the same

household to collect housing and demographic information for

each household member. Response is compensated with a 50€

voucher.http://www.statistik.at/web_en/statistics/social_statistics/consu

mption_expenditures

6,534(2009‐10)

38.1 Household

Interview(CAPI)

Household D(Paper)
10

Countryand Survey Notable Design Features

AchievedSample Size(year) Response Rate (%) Data Collecti

BelgiumHouseholdBudget Survey

Involves an in‐person household questionnaire filled out with the

interviewer, with individual questions to record demographic and

income information. A household diary is used to record starting

and ending assets, income and daily expenses over a one‐month

period. Receipts are not collected and there is no panel

component.

Post‐completion incentives range from 74€ to 124€ depending on

household size.(Starting in 2012, the survey is conducted biennially but with a

larger sample size. Households complete a shorter survey, and

respondents can record expenditures via paper or web).

http://statbel.fgov.be/fr/statistiques/collecte_donnees/enquetes/budget_des_menages

3,578(2010)

77.6 Household 

(Paper)

Household D(Paper)

BulgariaHouseholdBudget Survey

(HBS)

The Bulgarian HBS involves a four‐wave rotating panel design,

with households interviewed one month per quarter. Interviewer

visits occur twice per month, providing two diaries.

Respondents record (by proxy) prior two months of expenses for

non‐food items and income. Incentives offered (in 2001). Survey

allows substitution of households to bolster response.

http://www.nsi.bg/otrasal‐metodologiaen.php?otr=44

2,870(2005)

65.1 Household I

(Paper)

Household D
11

Countryand Survey Notable Design Features

AchievedSample Size(year) Response Rate (%) Data Collecti

CanadaSurvey of

Household

Spending(SHS)

To reduce burden, respondents are given the option to provide

their receipts. Due to budget constraints, only a sub‐sample of

households are asked to report their expenditures in the diary.

Respondents are categorized into three groups: those who

provided receipts only, those who only provided transcribed

expenditures and those who combined the two modes of

reporting.Last payment approach and recall periods of one, three, or twelve

months for less frequent expenditures are used.

http://www.statcan.gc.ca/imdb‐bmdi/3508‐eng.htm

13,075 (2010) Interview:

67Diary:46

Household I(CAPI)

Household D(Paper)

CroatiaHouseholdBudget Survey

Croatia’s survey does not involve a panel component.

Interviewers collect information on income, earnings and most

household expenses through in‐person interviews.

http://www.dzs.hr/default_e.htm

3,461(2010)

61 Household I

Household D

CyprusHouseholdBudget Survey

Conducted every five years. Interviews are conducted using

laptops. Diaries are completed by all household members at least

15 years old. No incentives are provided.

http://www.moi.gov.cy/moi/pio/pio.nsf/6645bc8e70e73e2cc225

7076004d01c1/dd8a213e2dc1ff0ac22574f3003bbeef?OpenDocument

2,990(2005)

88.9 Interview (C

Individual D
12

Countryand Survey Notable Design Features

AchievedSample Size(year)

Response Rate (%) Data Collecti

CzechRepublicFamily Budget

Statistics

Czech Republic uses a quota sampling method. Households keep

detailed food and expenditure information for two months, and

only report total expenditures in the remaining months of the

year. Income and expenditure is reported using a monthly

reporting period.

http://www.czso.cz/eng/edicniplan.nsf/aktual/ep‐3

3,000(2011)

Unknown Household i

Household D

DenmarkHouseholdBudget Survey

Interviews are conducted using a laptop. Analysis of diary data

has indicated higher reporting in the first week than in the

second. Participating households receive a gift and entry into a

lottery for participation.

http://www.dst.dk/en/Statistik/dokumentation/Declarations/hou

sehold‐budget‐survey.aspx

858(2010)Data for a

three‐yearperiod areaggregated into

one sample of

approximately2,500households.

38 Household I

(CAPI)

Household D(Paper)

EstoniaHouseholdBudget Survey

A 2010 HBS redesign limited data collection to one household

questionnaire and one diary, for which the reference period was

cut in half to 2 weeks. Respondents are given the option of

placing expenditure receipts in an envelope or recording those

expenditures in the diary. Data for uncodable expenditure

receipts is imputed. Participating households receive a pen for

participation, as well as a feedback letter with aggregate

expenditure data, if requested.

http://www.stat.ee/51932

2,816

(2010)

Interview and Diary:

42(2011)

Household I(CAPI)

Household D(Paper)
13

Countryand Survey Notable Design Features

AchievedSample Size(year)

Response Rate (%) Data Collecti

FinlandHouseholdBudget Survey

Data is collected via interview (for durable goods, housing and

liabilities), diary (with receipts collected), and administrative

sources (for income and education)

http://www.stat.fi/meta/til/ktutk_en.html

4,007(2005)

52.6 Household I

(CATI)

Household D(Paper)

FranceFamily Budget

(BDF)

France’s BDF involves two interviews lasting approximately one‐

hour each, collecting information for broad expenditure

groupings (housing, services, insurance, taxes and gifts). The

same households are given individual diaries for household

members age 14 and older to record expenditures or attach

receipts.http://www.insee.fr/fr/methodes/default.asp?page=sources/sou‐

enq‐bdf‐2006.htm

~11,000(Mainland and

overseas, 2010‐11)

Interview and diary:75 (mainland) and 82

(overseas)

Household I(CAPI)

Household D(Paper)Individual D

GermanySample Survey

of Income and

Expenditure(EVS)

The EVS is administered every five years, using a quota sampling

method. Four components are used: income and expenditures

are recorded in a diary for three months, general information

(housing and socio‐demographics) is collected online in some

areas, money and asset information is collected through a

questionnaire, and food and beverage expenditures are recorded

in a “detailed log book” by a subsample for one month.

Households are given a stipend for participation.

https://www.destatis.de/EN/Meta/abisz/Einkommens_Verbrauc

hsstichprobe_e.html

55,110 (2008) Unknown Questionnai

(online in so

Household D(Paper)
14

Countryand Survey Notable Design Features

AchievedSample Size(year)

Response Rate (%) Data Collectio

GreeceFamily Budget

Survey (HBS)

Daily visits by the interviewer are used to prompt reporting to the

diary (as of 1999).

http://www.statistics.gr/portal/page/portal/ESYE/PAGE‐

themes?p_param=A0801

6,555(target, 2009)

60.3 (2005) Household

Questionnaire

Adult Individu

(Paper)

Individual Dia

Hong Kong

HouseholdExpenditureSurvey (HES)

The HES is conducted once every five years, for a one‐year period

which is broken down into 26 cycles (each comprising two

weeks). Households supplying required information were given

an honorarium of $150HKD.

Consists of 3 parts:

1. Household Schedule – collects housing conditions and

household characteristics

2. Expenditure Diary – individuals aged 12 and over each

kept the diary

3. Questionnaire on Infrequently Purchased Items

A Supplemental Questionnaire is specially designed for non‐

respondents for analysis of non‐response bias

http://www.censtatd.gov.hk/major_projects/2009_10_househol

d_expenditure_survey/

5,957 (2009‐10)

77 Household Sc

(Paper)

Individual DiaQuestionnaire Infrequently P

Items (Paper)

HungaryHouseholdBudget Survey

(HBS)

Income and expenditures are recorded by diary for two 15‐day

periods. A retrospective interview is conducted at the end of the

year.http://www.ksh.hu/income_and_living_conditions

9,058(2005)

50.3 Household Int

(CAPI)

Household Dia(Paper)
15

Countryand Survey Notable Design Features

AchievedSample Size(year)

Response Rate (%) Data Collectio

IrelandHouseholdBudget Survey

(HBS)

Ireland’s HBS uses substitute households to obtain a quota of

cooperating households. Each person age 16 and older is

interviewed. Household members age 16 and older are given

individual diaries to record expenses for two one‐week periods.

Respondents are asked to annotate information provided on

receipts to ensure it is comprehensive. Respondents receive a

40€ gift for completing the questionnaires and diary.

http://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/housingandhouse

holds/

5,891(2010)

40 Household Int

(CAPI)

Household Di(Paper)Individual Dia

(Paper)

ItalyHouseholdBudget Survey

Households complete two one‐week diaries.

Household interviews for the ‘Family expenditure summary’

involve collection of demographic and large‐scale purchases.

http://www.istat.it/it/archivio/66174

24,107(2005)

75.2 Household Int

Household Dia(Paper)

LatviaHouseholdBudget Survey

(HBS)

Interviewers conduct two interviews, a preliminary interview

(averaging 32 minutes) to collect demographic information and

explain the diary and a Final interview (averaging 35 minutes) to

obtain income information. A ‘Pocket Individual Diary’ is provided

for those temporarily absent from the household and for youth.

http://www.csb.gov.lv/en/notikumi/household‐consumption‐

expenditure‐2010‐32044.html

3,798(2010)

43.1 Household Int

(Paper)

Household Dia(Paper)Individual Dia
16

LithuaniaHouseholdBudget Survey

In 2008, half of sampled households completed the diary in the

first half of the month with the rest completing it in the second

half. Households were given a monetary gift of 15.4 LTL

(approximately $6) for participation.

In 2012 the HBS questionnaire was simplified and households are

no longer remunerated for participating.

http://www.stat.gov.lt/en/news/view/?id=7418

6,103(2008)

55.3 Household Int

(Paper)

Household Dia(Paper)

LuxembourgFamily Budget

Survey (BDM)

At the first interviewer visit, the interviewer collects socio‐

demographic and housing information and provides the diary.

Respondents are asked to prepare receipts to assist their

reporting at the follow‐up visit, where information about income

is collected. Participating households are reimbursed 85€. Non‐

contact is a significant proportion (47 percent) of the high non‐

response rate, for which solutions are being considered.

http://www.statistiques.public.lu/fr/methodologie/methodes/co

nditions‐sociales/Cond‐vie/budget‐menages/index.html

3,846(2008‐10)

18 Household Int

Household Dia(Paper)

MaltaHouseholdBudgetarySurvey

Interviewers carry out several visits to recruited households to

encourage recording of expenditures.

A questionnaire collects income and major expenditure

information, typically with a 12‐month reference period.

Households are also given a total of three diaries to complete for

the 2‐week period. Responding households receive a monetary

stipend for participating.

http://www.nso.gov.mt/site/page.aspx?pageid=204

3,732(2008)

57.1 Household Int

(Paper)

Household Dia(Paper)Individual Dia
17

NetherlandsHouseholdBudget Survey

(BO)

In 2012, the design of the BO was modernized to collect data by

website. One household member reports data for the household

for four weeks (with expenses below 20€ recorded for one of

those weeks), then collection occurs again 3 months later (when

infrequent purchase data is also collected). Response is

encouraged through helpdesk support and a 30€ incentive. To

compensate for low response rates, administrative data is used

for non‐response adjustment.

http://www.cbs.nl/en‐GB/menu/themas/inkomen‐

bestedingen/nieuws/default.htm

6,000(2005‐10)

25 Household

Questionnaire(website)

Household Dia(website)

NorwayThe Survey ofConsumerExpenditure

Two face‐to‐face interviews take place before and after diary

placement.Individual diaries are provided to household members over 15

years old.

Since 1998, Norway has used tax registries to collect information

on household income and education.

http://www.ssb.no/forbruk_en/

3,420*(2007‐09)

*representsaggregatedsample of

householdsover a 3‐year

period

50 Household Int

(CAPI)

Household Dia(Paper)Individual Dia

(Paper)

PolandHouseholdBudget Survey

Interviewers visit at least four times per month. Visits are to

ensure households correctly record expenditures in the diary and

to conduct end‐of‐month interview collecting housing and regular

purchase information. Households are also contacted quarterly

to collect rarer expenditures.

Survey allows substitution of households to bolster response

(response rate represents the initial households contacted prior

to substitution).http://www.stat.gov.pl/gus/5840_3467_ENG_HTML.htm

37,375(2011)

43.7 Household Int

Individual Dia
18

PortugalHouseholdBudget Survey

(IDEF)

Interviewers make four to six visits to recruit and collect data.

Diaries are provided to individuals aged 15 and older (or 10 and

older with parental consent), and a household diary is given to

the person most knowledgeable about household purchases.

http://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_publicaco

es&PUBLICACOESpub_boui=26973702&PUBLICACOESmodo=2&xlang=en

10,403(2005‐06)

65 Household Int

(CAPI and Pap

Household DiaIndividual Dia

(Paper)

RomaniaFamilyBudgetsSurvey (ABF)

Interviewers make at least three visits during the month of

expenditure data collection. In cases where households cannot

complete the diary, interviewers collect the information in person

or through receipts. Questionnaires collect data for all household

members.http://statistici.insse.ro/shop/index.jsp?page=tempo3&lang=en&

ind=BUF115I

37,440(target, 2011)

81.6 Household

Questionnaire 

Household Dia(Paper)

SingaporeHouseholdExpenditureSurvey (HES)

PDAs are used in place of hardcopy survey forms to capture

remaining information required.

Reference period varies based on question (1 month, 3 months,

and 12 months).

http://www.singstat.gov.sg/stats/themes/people/house.html

7,545(2007‐08)

84.0 Household Int

(CAPI)

Household Dia(Paper)Individual Dia(Paper)
19

SlovakiaHouseholdBudget Survey

(HBS)

Households are interviewed with retrospective data covering the

prior 12 months collected. One household member records

expenditures for two months, providing aggregated expenditure

information the first month and detailed information the second

month. Responding households are paid 43.15€ for completing

the HBS.http://portal.statistics.sk/showdoc.do?docid=3025

4,718(2008)

74.6 Household Int

Household Dia(Paper)

SloveniaHouseholdBudget Survey

(APG)

Slovenia’s APG combines data collected during a three‐year

period to produce estimates for the middle year (e.g., 2010

estimates result from 2009‐11 data collection).

http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=4867

3,725*(2004)*representsaggregatedsample ofhouseholdsover a 3‐year

(2003‐05)

period

70.7 Household Int

Individual Dia

South KoreaHouseholdIncome andExpenditureSurvey(HIES)

An Interviewer visits a household during each month for diarydistribution, diary collection, and weekly guidance. Householdsparticipate for three years before being rotated out.Monthly cash incentives are provided:

 $10.00 for regular paper diary $40.00 for e‐diary $50.00 for B‐case who have their e‐diary connected to their

credit accounts or bank records

http://www.kostat.go.kr/portal/english/surveyOutlines/4/1/index.static

11,200(target, 2006)

80 Household Dia

(Paper) 60 peHousehold E‐D(Web)Household B‐C(Web) Diary cto credit/bank 
20

SpainHouseholdBudget Survey

(EPF)

Spain’s EPF underwent a redesign in 2006. Changes included

increasing diary collection from one to two weeks, reducing the

number of questions in the interview, and reducing the sample

size by 25 percent. Households remain in the sample two

consecutive years. One person fills out the household diary for

two weeks, while other household members age 14 and older

complete individual diaries for one week. Analysis of household

diary data has indicated under‐reporting in the second week.

Participating households are reimbursed with a 30€ voucher.

The EPF involves a re‐interview process for a subsample ofhouseholds to ensure good data quality.

http://www.ine.es/jaxi/menu.do?type=pcaxis&path=/t25/p458&f

ile=inebase

16,299(2010)

70.8 Household Int

(Paper)

Household Dia(Paper)Individual Dia

(Paper)

SwedenHouseholdBudget Survey

(HBS)

HBS data is collected via in‐person visit, telephone, diaries and

the use of administrative records. Households can choose to

send in receipts instead of noting spending in the diary. Property

tax, income and taxable benefits are collected from

administrative sources.

http://www.scb.se/Pages/Product____22952.aspx

4,000

(target, 2009)

51 Household Int

(CATI)

Individual Dia

UnitedKingdomLiving Costs

and Food

Survey (LCF)

The LCF allows household interviews to be carried out by proxy

(representing 21 percent of responding households in 2009).

Each individual aged 16 or over who keeps a diary (and whose

income information is collected) is paid £10, as a token of

appreciation. Respondents aged 7‐15 who keep a Children’s diary

are given a £5 payment.http://www.esds.ac.uk/findingData/snDescription.asp?sn=6945

5,320(2009)

50.4(Great Britain)

Household Int(CAPI)

Individual andChildren’s’ Dia(Paper)