Consumer Price Index, Bureau of Labor Statistics, February 2007 

Response Rates for the Consumer 

Price Indexes, 2006

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 2006. 

 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. The BLS 

publishes response rates annually to assist the data user in 

judging the accuracy of CPI data. 

The 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 2006 are presented in tables R-1 

through R-17. Table R-1 shows response rates for all data 

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

for all of 2006. Tables R-2 through R-17 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-17 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, or email her at Johnson.Doris@bls.gov. 
Table R-1. Response rates for the CPI-U, U.S. city average, by major group and shelter, 2006

 Quotes

Commodities and 

services

Outlets

Total Food

Housing 

(excluding 

shelter)

Apparel Transportation

Medical 

care

Recreation

Education and 

communication

Other 

goods and 

services

Eligible 318,461 1,109,172 422,311 174,780 142,341 132,282 48,183 79,261 64,475 45,539

Collected 

 Number 306,540 942,255 387,205 156,881 75,618 122,137 38,623 67,622 51,974 42,195

 Percent 96.3 85.0 91.7 89.8 53.1 92.3 80.2 85.3 80.6 92.7 

Used in estimation 

 Number 294,015 918,869 381,437 152,789 70,835 119,474 37,504 64,787 50,604 41,439

 Percent 92.3 82.8 90.3 87.4 49.8 90.3 77.8 81.7 78.5 91.0

Shelter All Units

Eligible

 Number 64,370

 Percent 100.0

Collected

 Data reported

 Number 46,985

 Percent 73.0

 Found vacant

 Number 6,463

 Percent 10.0

 Other

 Number 10,922

 Percent 17.0

Used in estimation

 Number 53,448

 Percent 83.0

Consumer Price Index, Bureau of Labor Statistics, February 2007
Table R-2. Response rates for the CPI-U, Chicago-GaryKenosha, IL-IN-WI, 2006

Commodities Total 

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 16,932 49,140 Eligible

Collected Number 2,104

 Number 16,309 40,773 Percent 100.0

 Percent 96.3 83.0 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 15,664 39,995 Number 1,207

 Percent 92.5 81.4 Percent 57.4

Found vacant

 Number 236

 Percent 11.2

Other

 Number 661

 Percent 31.4

Used in estimation

 Number 1,443

 Percent 68.6

Consumer Price Index, Bureau of Labor Statistics, February 2007
Table R-3. Response rates for the CPI-U, Los AngelesRiverside-Orange County, CA, 2006 

Commodities Total 

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 24,995 75,895 Eligible

Collected Number 4,258

 Number 24,362 62,250 Percent 100.0

 Percent 97.5 82.0 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 23,055 60,841 Number 3,098

 Percent 92.2 80.2 Percent 72.8

Found vacant

 Number 177

 Percent 4.2

Other

 Number 983

 Percent 23.1

Used in estimation

 Number 3,275

 Percent 76.9

Consumer Price Index, Bureau of Labor Statistics, February 2007
Table R-4. Response rates for the CPI-U, NY-Northern NJ-Long

Island, NY-NJ-CT-PA, 2006

Commodities Total 

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 34,036 112,473 Eligible

Collected Number 4,985

 Number 32,681 92,216 Percent 100.0

 Percent 96.6 82.0 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 31,350 90,207 Number 3,333

 Percent 92.1 80.2 Percent 66.9

Found vacant

 Number 281

 Percent 5.6

Other

 Number 1,371

 Percent 27.5

Used in estimation

 Number 3,614

 Percent 72.5

Consumer Price Index, Bureau of Labor Statistics, February 2007
Table R-5. Response rates for the CPI-U, Phil.-WilmingtonTrenton, PA-NJ-KE-MD, 2006 

Commodities Total 

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 8,041 24,013 Eligible

Collected Number 1,521

 Number 7,791 20,396 Percent 100.0

 Percent 96.9 84.9 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 7,490 19,723 Number 1,094

 Percent 93.1 82.1 Percent 71.9

Found vacant

 Number 165

 Percent 10.8

Other

 Number 262

 Percent 17.2

Used in estimation

 Number 1,259

 Percent 82.8

Consumer Price Index, Bureau of Labor Statistics, February 2007
Table R-6. Response rates for the CPI-U, San FranciscoOakland-San Jose, CA, 2006 

Commodities Total 

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 6,788 23,854 Eligible

Collected Number 2,925

 Number 6,531 19,883 Percent 100.0

 Percent 96.2 83.4 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 6,252 19,375 Number 2,103

 Percent 92.1 81.2 Percent 71.9

Found vacant

 Number 188

 Percent 6.4

Other

 Number 634

 Percent 21.7

Used in estimation

 Number 2,291

 Percent 78.3

Consumer Price Index, Bureau of Labor Statistics, February 2007
Table R-7. Response rates for the CPI-U, WashingtonBaltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV, 2006 

Commodities Total 

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 8,027 27,130 Eligible

Collected Number 1,765

 Number 7,782 22,531 Percent 100.0

 Percent 96.9 83.0 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 7,455 21,879 Number 1,454

 Percent 92.9 80.6 Percent 82.4

Found vacant

 Number 139

 Percent 7.9

Other

 Number 172

 Percent 9.7

Used in estimation

 Number 1,593

 Percent 90.3

Consumer Price Index, Bureau of Labor Statistics, February 2007
Table R-8. Response rates for the CPI-U, Boston-BrocktonNashua, MA-NH-ME-CT, 2006 

Commodities Total 

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 5,432 18,504 Eligible

Collected Number 1,511

 Number 5,209 14,906 Percent 100.0

 Percent 95.9 80.6 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 4,951 14,335 Number 1,017

 Percent 91.1 77.5 Percent 67.3

Found vacant

 Number 134

 Percent 8.9

Other

 Number 360

 Percent 23.8

Used in estimation

 Number 1,151

 Percent 76.2

Consumer Price Index, Bureau of Labor Statistics, February 2007
Table R-9. Response rates for the CPI-U, ClevelandAkron, OH, 2006

Commodities Total 

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 3,881 14,327 Eligible

Collected Number 1,346

 Number 3,757 11,943 Percent 100.0

 Percent 96.8 83.4 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 3,607 11,573 Number 972

 Percent 92.9 80.8 Percent 72.2

Found vacant

 Number 210

 Percent 15.6

Other

 Number 164

 Percent 12.2

Used in estimation

 Number 1,182

 Percent 87.8

Consumer Price Index, Bureau of Labor Statistics, February 2007
Table R-10. Response rates for the CPI-U, Miami-Fort

Lauderdale, FL, 2006

Commodities Total 

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 1,418 5,684 Eligible

Collected Number 926

 Number 1,379 5,261 Percent 100.0

 Percent 97.2 92.6 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 1,364 5,188 Number 721

 Percent 96.2 91.3 Percent 77.9

Found vacant

 Number 64

 Percent 6.9

Other

 Number 141

 Percent 15.2

Used in estimation

 Number 785

 Percent 84.8

Consumer Price Index, Bureau of Labor Statistics, February 2007
Table R-11. Response rates for the CPI-U, St. Louis, 

MO-IL, 2006

Commodities Total 

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 1,314 5,588 Eligible

Collected Number 661

 Number 1,279 5,106 Percent 100.0

 Percent 97.3 91.4 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 1,262 5,018 Number 434

 Percent 96.0 89.8 Percent 65.7

Found vacant

 Number 75

 Percent 11.3

Other

 Number 152

 Percent 23.0

Used in estimation

 Number 509

 Percent 77.0

Consumer Price Index, Bureau of Labor Statistics, February 2007
Table R-12. Response rates for the CPI-U, Dallas-Fort

Worth, TX, 2006

Commodities Total 

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 1,805 6,095 Eligible

Collected Number 1,248

 Number 1,768 5,608 Percent 100.0

 Percent 98.0 92.0 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 1,747 5,522 Number 952

 Percent 96.8 90.6 Percent 76.3

Found vacant

 Number 149

 Percent 11.9

Other

 Number 147

 Percent 11.8

Used in estimation

 Number 1,101

 Percent 88.2

Consumer Price Index, Bureau of Labor Statistics, February 2007
Table R-13. Response rates for the CPI-U, Detroit-Ann 

Arbor-Flint, MI, 2006

Commodities Total 

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 4,976 16,993 Eligible

Collected Number 1,174

 Number 4,720 14,105 Percent 100.0

 Percent 94.9 83.0 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 4,518 13,596 Number 841

 Percent 90.8 80.0 Percent 71.6

Found vacant

 Number 176

 Percent 15.0

Other

 Number 157

 Percent 13.4

Used in estimation

 Number 1,017

 Percent 86.6

Consumer Price Index, Bureau of Labor Statistics, February 2007
Table R-14. Response rates for the CPI-U, HoustonGalveston-Brazoria, TX, 2006

Commodities Total 

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 3,928 12,759 Eligible

Collected Number 1,133

 Number 3,706 10,711 Percent 100.0

 Percent 94.3 83.9 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 3,564 10,327 Number 754

 Percent 90.7 80.9 Percent 66.5

Found vacant

 Number 141

 Percent 12.4

Other

 Number 238

 Percent 21.0

Used in estimation

 Number 895

 Percent 79.0

Consumer Price Index, Bureau of Labor Statistics, February 2007
Table R-15. Response rates for the CPI-U, 

Pittsburgh, PA, 2006

Commodities Total 

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 3,519 12,614 Eligible

Collected Number 754

 Number 3,398 10,281 Percent 100.0

 Percent 96.6 81.5 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 3,251 9,994 Number 491

 Percent 92.4 79.2 Percent 65.1

Found vacant

 Number 126

 Percent 16.7

Other

 Number 137

 Percent 18.2

Used in estimation

 Number 617

 Percent 81.8

Consumer Price Index, Bureau of Labor Statistics, February 2007
Table R-16. Response rates for the CPI-U, 

Phoenix-Mesa, AZ., 2006

Commodities Total 

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 3,409 12,911 Eligible

Collected Number 634

 Number 3,327 11,042 Percent 100.0

 Percent 97.6 85.5 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 3,179 10,679 Number 500

 Percent 93.3 82.7 Percent 78.9

Found vacant

 Number 78

 Percent 12.3

Other

 Number 56

 Percent 8.8

Used in estimation

 Number 578

 Percent 91.2

Consumer Price Index, Bureau of Labor Statistics, February 2007
Table R-17. Response rates for the CPI-U, 

Atlanta, GA., 2006

Commoditie Total 

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 4,474 13,307 Eligible

Collected Number 1,377

 Number 4,282 11,021 Percent 100.0

 Percent 95.7 82.8 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 4,096 10,735 Number 924

 Percent 91.6 80.7 Percent 67.1

Found vacant

 Number 170

 Percent 12.3

Other

 Number 283

 Percent 20.6

Used in estimation

 Number 1,094

 Percent 79.4

Consumer Price Index, Bureau of Labor Statistics, February 2007