Response Rates for the Consumer 

Price Indexes, 2015 

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 2015. 

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 percent of the sample used 

at estimation is defined as the number of sample units 

used in estimation divided by the number of eligible 

sample units.1

Response rates for 2015 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 2015. Tables R-2 

through R-17 show rates for current data collection in 

selected areas for which indexes are published 

monthly, bimonthly, or semiannually. 

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, 

 

1

 Imputed prices, when used in estimation, are 

counted in this estimate. Beginning in July 2010, the 

BLS began using rent prices imputed by a noninterview adjustment technique in estimation. 

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 Bradley Akin at (202) 691-7000, or email 

him at Akin.Bradley@bls.gov. 

Therefore, nearly all eligible sample units have 

prices, collected or imputed, that are used in 

estimation. 

1
Table R-1. Response rates for the CPI-U, U.S. city average, by major group and shelter, 2015

Commodities and 

Services

Outlets Quotes

Total Food and 

Beverages

Housing 

(excluding 

shelter)

Apparel Transportation Medical 

Care

Recreation Education and 

Communication

Other 

Goods 

and

Services

Eligible 292,726 1,158,774 465,585 143,573 129,567 143,855 75,235 85,331 72,952 42,676Collected

Number 274,737 951,135 412,527 124,597 77,507 130,699 36,076 69,289 63,774 36,666Percent 93.9 82.1 88.6 86.8 59.8 90.9 48.0 81.2 87.4 85.9

Used in Estimation

Number 266,282 945,948 411,015 124,106 75,883 130,405 35,424 69,016 63,579 36,520Percent 91.0 81.6 88.3 86.4 58.6 90.7 47.1 80.9 87.2 85.6

Shelter All UnitsEligible

Number 98,874Percent 100.0

Collected

Data Reported

Number 70,969Percent 71.8

Found Vacant

Number 6,752Percent 6.8

Other

Number 21,153Percent 21.4

Used in Estimation

Number 98,874Percent 100.0

2
Table R-2. Response rates for the CPI-U, Chicago-GaryKenosha, IL-IN-WI, 2015

Commodities and 

Services

Total

Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 15,482 50,423 Eligible

Collected Number 3,657

Number 14,532 39,958 Percent 100.0

Percent 93.9 79.2 Collected

Used in Estimation Data Reported

Number 14,153 39,822 Number 2,462

Percent 91.4 79.0 Percent 67.3

Found Vacant

Number 219

Percent 6.0

Other

Number 976

Percent 26.7

Used in Estimation

Number 3,657

Percent 100.0

 

3
Table R-3. Response rates for the CPI-U, Los AngelesRiverside-Orange County, CA, 2015

Commodities and 

Services

Total

Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 21,968 72,903 Eligible

Collected Number 6,360

Number 20,596 57,588 Percent 100.0

Percent 93.8 79.0 Collected

Used in Estimation Data Reported

Number 19,763 57,266 Number 4,354

Percent 90.0 78.6 Percent 68.5

Found Vacant

Number 225

Percent 3.5

Other

Number 1,781

Percent 28.0

Used in Estimation

Number 6,360

Percent 100.0

 

4
Table R-4. Response rates for the CPI-U, NY-Northern NJ-Long 

Island, NY-NJ-CT-PA, 2015

Commodities and 

Services

Total

Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 30,918 110,001 Eligible

Collected Number 8,121

Number 28,714 89,879 Percent 100.0

Percent 92.9 79.9 Collected

Used in Estimation Data Reported

Number 27,794 87,525 Number 5,733

Percent 89.9 79.6 Percent 70.6

Found Vacant

Number 421

Percent 5.2

Other

Number 1,967

Percent 24.2

Used in Estimation

Number 8,121

Percent 100.0

 

5
Table R-5. Response rates for the CPI-U, Phil.-WilmingtonTrenton, PA-NJ-DE-MD, 2015

Commodities and 

Services

Total

Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 5,031 18,466 Eligible

Collected Number 2,743

Number 4,777 15,066 Percent 100.0

Percent 95.0 81.6 Collected

Used in Estimation Data Reported

Number 4,641 14,999 Number 2,046

Percent 92.2 81.2 Percent 74.6

Found Vacant

Number 224

Percent 8.2

Other

Number 473

Percent 17.2

Used in Estimation

Number 2,743

Percent 100.0

 

6
Table R-6. Response rates for the CPI-U, San FranciscoOakland-San Jose, CA, 2015

Commodities and 

Services

Total

Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 4,672 18,248 Eligible

Collected Number 4,446

Number 4,122 13,893 Percent 100.0

Percent 88.2 76.1 Collected

Used in Estimation Data Reported

Number 3,998 13,827 Number 3,136

Percent 85.6 75.8 Percent 70.5

Found Vacant

Number 211

Percent 4.7

Other

Number 1,099

Percent 24.7

Used in Estimation

Number 4,446

Percent 100.0

 

7
Table R-7. Response rates for the CPI-U, WashingtonBaltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV, 2015

Commodities and 

Services

Total

Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 6,895 25,286 Eligible

Collected Number 3,542

Number 6,608 20,787 Percent 100.0

Percent 95.8 82.2 Collected

Used in Estimation Data Reported

Number 6,382 20,675 Number 2,544

Percent 92.6 81.8 Percent 71.8

Found Vacant

Number 292

Percent 8.2

Other

Number 706

Percent 19.9

Used in Estimation

Number 3,542

Percent 100.0

 

8
Table R-8. Response rates for the CPI-U, Boston-BrocktonNashua, MA-NH-ME-CT, 2015

Commodities and 

Services

Total

Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 4,723 17,820 Eligible

Collected Number 2,744

Number 4,407 14,252 Percent 100.0

Percent 93.3 80.0 Collected

Used in Estimation Data Reported

Number 4,250 14,150 Number 1,990

Percent 90.0 79.4 Percent 72.5

Found Vacant

Number 123

Percent 4.5

Other

Number 631

Percent 23.0

Used in Estimation

Number 2,744

Percent 100.0

 

9
Table R-9. Response rates for the CPI-U, ClevelandAkron, OH, 2015

Commodities and 

Services

Total

Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 3,661 14,164 Eligible

Collected Number 1,057

Number 3,464 11,567 Percent 100.0

Percent 94.6 81.7 Collected

Used in Estimation Data Reported

Number 3,371 11,504 Number 790

Percent 92.1 81.2 Percent 74.7

Found Vacant

Number 101

Percent 9.6

Other

Number 166

Percent 15.7

Used in Estimation

Number 1,057

Percent 100.0

 

10
Table R-10. Response rates for the CPI-U, Miami-Fort 

Lauderdale, FL, 2015

Commodities and 

Services

Total

Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 1,040 5,603 Eligible

Collected Number 1,380

Number 1,008 5,117 Percent 100.0

Percent 96.9 91.3 Collected

Used in Estimation Data Reported

Number 994 5,114 Number 1,142

Percent 95.6 91.3 Percent 82.8

Found Vacant

Number 74

Percent 5.4

Other

Number 164

Percent 11.9

Used in Estimation

Number 1,380

Percent 100.0

 

11
Table R-11. Response rates for the CPI-U, St. Louis, 

MO-IL, 2015

Commodities and 

Services

Total

Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 972 5,163 Eligible

Collected Number 674

Number 946 4,620 Percent 100.0

Percent 97.3 89.5 Collected

Used in Estimation Data Reported

Number 928 4,598 Number 469

Percent 95.5 89.1 Percent 69.6

Found Vacant

Number 37

Percent 5.5

Other

Number 168

Percent 24.9

Used in Estimation

Number 674

Percent 100.0

 

12
Table R-12. Response rates for the CPI-U, Dallas-Fort 

Worth, TX, 2015

Commodities and 

Services

Total

Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 1,439 6,029 Eligible

Collected Number 1,701

Number 1,393 5,467 Percent 100.0

Percent 96.8 90.7 Collected

Used in Estimation Data Reported

Number 1,369 5,420 Number 1,281

Percent 95.1 89.9 Percent 75.3

Found Vacant

Number 104

Percent 6.1

Other

Number 316

Percent 18.6

Used in Estimation

Number 1,701

Percent 100.0

 

13
Table R-13. Response rates for the CPI-U, Detroit-Ann 

Arbor-Flint, MI, 2015

Commodities and 

Services

Total

Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 4,056 15,472 Eligible

Collected Number 2,081

Number 3,583 12,016 Percent 100.0

Percent 88.3 77.7 Collected

Used in Estimation Data Reported

Number 3,477 11,934 Number 1,189

Percent 85.7 77.1 Percent 57.1

Found Vacant

Number 146

Percent 7.0

Other

Number 746

Percent 35.8

Used in Estimation

Number 2,081

Percent 100.0

 

14
Table R-14. Response rates for the CPI-U, HoustonGalveston-Brazoria, TX, 2015

Commodities and 

Services

Total

Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 3,861 13,313 Eligible

Collected Number 1,400

Number 3,506 10,499 Percent 100.0

Percent 90.8 78.9 Collected

Used in Estimation Data Reported

Number 3,381 10,432 Number 1,011

Percent 87.6 78.4 Percent 72.2

Found Vacant

Number 91

Percent 6.5

Other

Number 298

Percent 21.3

Used in Estimation

Number 1,400

Percent 100.0

 

15
Table R-15. Response rates for the CPI-U, 

Pittsburgh, PA, 2015

Commodities and 

Services

Total

Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 3,081 11,345 Eligible

Collected Number 819

Number 2,987 9,773 Percent 100.0

Percent 96.9 86.1 Collected

Used in Estimation Data Reported

Number 2,902 9,718 Number 630

Percent 94.2 85.7 Percent 76.9

Found Vacant

Number 84

Percent 10.3

Other

Number 105

Percent 12.8

Used in Estimation

Number 819

Percent 100.0

 

16
Table R-16. Response rates for the CPI-U, 

Phoenix-Mesa, AZ., 2015

Commodities and 

Services

Total

Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 2,998 11,621 Eligible

Collected Number 1,381

Number 2,817 9,385 Percent 100.0

Percent 94.0 80.8 Collected

Used in Estimation Data Reported

Number 2,719 9,261 Number 1,003

Percent 90.7 79.7 Percent 72.6

Found Vacant

Number 90

Percent 6.5

Other

Number 288

Percent 20.9

Used in Estimation

Number 1.381

Percent 100.0

 

17
Table R-17. Response rates for the CPI-U, 

Atlanta, GA., 2015

Commodities and 

Services

Total

Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 4,134 14,273 Eligible

Collected Number 1,819

Number 3,969 11,408 Percent 100.0

Percent 96.0 79.9 Collected

Used in Estimation Data Reported

Number 3,861 11,361 Number 1,448

Percent 93.4 79.6 Percent 79.6

Found Vacant

Number 107

Percent 5.9

Other

Number 264

Percent 14.5

Used in Estimation

Number 1,819

Percent 100.0

18