Response Rates for the Consumer 

Price Indexes, 2010 

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 2009. 

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 2010 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 2010. 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 Andrew 

Mauro at (202) 691-7000, or email him at 

mauro.andrew@bls.gov.

Consumer Price Index, Bureau of Labor Statistics, March 2011
Table R-1. Response rates for the CPI-U, U.S. city average, by major group and shelter, 2010

 Quotes

Commodities and services Outlets

Total Food and 

bever-ages

Housing

(excluding

shelter)

Apparel Transportation

Medical

care

Recreation

Educa- tion 

and

communication

Other

goods and 

services

Eligible 333,382 1,181,184 457,492 163,589 147,250 150,360 64,501 78,973 75,444 43,575

Collected 65967

 Number 319,572 997,435 417,749 146,612 81,430 135,144 44,562 65,967 66,390 39,581

 Percent 95.9 84.4 91.3 89.6 55.3 89.9 69.1 83.5 88.0 90.8 

Used in estimation 

 Number 304,056 971,023 412,091 143,127 76,529 130,263 42,897 62,449 64,847 38,820

 Percent 91.2 82.2 90.1 87.5 52.0 86.6 66.5 79.1 86.0 89.1

Shelter All Units

Eligible

 Number 61,353

 Percent 100.0

Collected

 Data reported

 Number 46,603

 Percent 76.0

 Found vacant

 Number 6,439

 Percent 10.5

 Other

 Number 8,311

 Percent 13.5

Used in estimation

 Number 57,015

 Percent 92.9
TableR2.ResponseratesfortheCPIU,ChicagoGary

Kenosha,ILINWI,2010

Commodities Total

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 17,388 52,357 Eligible

Collected Number 1,841

 Number 16,569 43,120 Percent 100.0

 Percent 95.3 82.4 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 15,703 42,082 Number 1,113

 Percent 90.3 80.4 Percent 60.5

Found vacant

 Number 234

 Percent 12.7

Other

 Number 494

 Percent 26.8

Used in estimation

 Number 1,551

 Percent 84.2
TableR3.ResponseratesfortheCPIU,LosAngeles

RiversideOrangeCounty,CA,2010

Commodities Total 

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 25,129 76,841 Eligible

Collected Number 4,184

 Number 24,032 62,609 Percent 100.0

 Percent 95.6 81.5 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 22,802 61,012 Number 3,191

 Percent 90.7 79.4 Percent 76.3

Found vacant

 Number 243

 Percent 5.8

Other

 Number 750

 Percent 17.9

Used in estimation

 Number 3,803

 Percent 90.9
TableR4.ResponseratesfortheCPIU,NYNorthernNJLong

Island,NYNJCTPA,2010

Commodities Total 

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 36,646 118,379 Eligible

Collected Number 4,779

 Number 35,028 95,710 Percent 100.0

 Percent 95.6 80.9 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 33,338 93,171 Number 3,549

 Percent 91.0 78.7 Percent 74.3

Found vacant

 Number 313

 Percent 6.5

Other

 Number 917

 Percent 19.2

Used in estimation

 Number 4,302

 Percent 90.0
TableR5.ResponseratesfortheCPIU,Phil.Wilmington

Trenton,PANJDEMD,2010

Commodities Total 

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 6,057 18,040 Eligible

Collected Number 1,387

 Number 5,814 15,006 Percent 100.0

 Percent 96.0 83.2 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 5,528 14,555 Number 1,007

 Percent 91.3 80.7 Percent 72.6

Found vacant

 Number 141

 Percent 10.2

Other

 Number 239

 Percent 17.2

Used in estimation

 Number 1,249

 Percent 90.1
TableR6.ResponseratesfortheCPIU,SanFrancisco

OaklandSanJose,CA,2010

Commodities Total 

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 5,232 16,161 Eligible

Collected Number 2,900

 Number 4,950 13,133 Percent 100.0

 Percent 94.6 81.3 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 4,602 12,666 Number 2,284

 Percent 88.0 78.4 Percent 78.8

Found vacant

 Number 130

 Percent 4.5

Other

 Number 486

 Percent 16.8

Used in estimation

 Number 2,667

 Percent 92.0
TableR7.ResponseratesfortheCPIU,Washington

Baltimore,DCMDVAWV,2010

Commodities Total 

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 7,910 26,936 Eligible

Collected Number 1,702

 Number 7,464 21,628 Percent 100.0

 Percent 94.4 80.3 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 7,046 20,898 Number 1,401

 Percent 89.1 77.6 Percent 82.3

Found vacant

 Number 132

 Percent 7.8

Other

 Number 169

 Percent 9.9

Used in estimation

 Number 1,619

 Percent 95.1
TableR8.ResponseratesfortheCPIU,BostonBrockton

Nashua,MANHMECT,2010

Commodities Total 

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 5,497 16,962 Eligible

Collected Number 1,445

 Number 5,250 13,981 Percent 100.0

 Percent 95.5 82.4 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 4,953 13,471 Number 1,056

 Percent 90.1 79.4 Percent 73.1

Found vacant

 Number 113

 Percent 7.8

Other

 Number 276

 Percent 19.1

Used in estimation

 Number 1,307

 Percent 90.4
TableR9.ResponseratesfortheCPIU,Cleveland

Akron,OH,2010

Commodities Total 

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 4,180 14,516 Eligible

Collected Number 1,194

 Number 4,012 12,257 Percent 100.0

 Percent 96.0 84.4 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 3,800 11,869 Number 861

 Percent 90.9 81.8 Percent 72.1

Found vacant

 Number 182

 Percent 15.2

Other

 Number 151

 Percent 12.6

Used in estimation

 Number 1,112

 Percent 93.1
TableR10.ResponseratesfortheCPIU,MiamiFort

Lauderdale,FL,2010

Commodities Total 

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 1,562 6,860 Eligible

Collected Number 855

 Number 1,512 6,239 Percent 100.0

 Percent 96.8 90.9 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 1,488 6,151 Number 701

 Percent 95.3 89.7 Percent 82.0

Found vacant

 Number 88

 Percent 10.3

Other

 Number 66

 Percent 7.7

Used in estimation

 Number 831

 Percent 97.2
TableR11.ResponseratesfortheCPIU,St.Louis,

MOIL,2010

Commodities Total 

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 1,338 6,087 Eligible

Collected Number 628

 Number 1,289 5,514 Percent 100.0

 Percent 96.3 90.6 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 1,272 5,431 Number 419

 Percent 95.1 89.2 Percent 66.7

Found vacant

 Number 84

 Percent 13.4

Other

 Number 125

 Percent 19.9

Used in estimation

 Number 574

 Percent 91.4
TableR12.ResponseratesfortheCPIU,DallasFort

Worth,TX,2010

Commodities Total 

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 1,942 6,869 Eligible

Collected Number 1,209

 Number 1,915 6,341 Percent 100.0

 Percent 98.6 92.3 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 1,888 6,253 Number 894

 Percent 97.2 91.0 Percent 73.9

Found vacant

 Number 106

 Percent 8.8

Other

 Number 209

 Percent 17.3

Used in estimation

 Number 1,076

 Percent 89.0
TableR13.ResponseratesfortheCPIU,DetroitAnn

ArborFlint,MI,2010

Commodities Total 

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 5,071 16,659 Eligible

Collected Number 1,127

 Number 4,767 13,199 Percent 100.0

 Percent 94.0 79.2 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 4,421 12,675 Number 760

 Percent 87.2 76.1 Percent 67.4

Found vacant

 Number 182

 Percent 16.1

Other

 Number 185

 Percent 16.4

Used in estimation

 Number 1,037

 Percent 92.0
TableR14.ResponseratesfortheCPIU,Houston

GalvestonBrazoria,TX,2010

Commodities Total 

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 3,977 13,573 Eligible

Collected Number 1,095

 Number 3,843 11,484 Percent 100.0

 Percent 96.6 84.6 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 3,661 11,078 Number 787

 Percent 92.1 81.6 Percent 71.9

Found vacant

 Number 166

 Percent 15.2

Other

 Number 142

 Percent 13.0

Used in estimation

 Number 1,022

 Percent 93.3
TableR15.ResponseratesfortheCPIU,

Pittsburgh,PA,2010

Commodities Total

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 3,440 12,179 Eligible

Collected Number 667

 Number 3,306 10,127 Percent 100.0

 Percent 96.1 83.2 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 3,150 9,845 Number 430

 Percent 91.6 80.8 Percent 64.5

Found vacant

 Number 105

 Percent 15.7

Other

 Number 132

 Percent 19.8

Used in estimation

 Number 590

 Percent 88.5
TableR16.ResponseratesfortheCPIU,

PhoenixMesa,AZ.,2010

Commodities Total 

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 3,515 12,410 Eligible

Collected Number 670

 Number 3,405 10,788 Percent 100.0

 Percent 96.9 86.9 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 3,230 10,456 Number 528

 Percent 91.9 84.3 Percent 78.8

Found vacant

 Number 95

 Percent 14.2

Other

 Number 47

 Percent 7.0

Used in estimation

 Number 651

 Percent 97.2
TableR17.ResponseratesfortheCPIU,

Atlanta,GA.,2010

Commodities Total

and services Outlets Quotes Shelter All Units

Eligible 4,722 14,337 Eligible

Collected Number 1,203

 Number 4,510 11,755 Percent 100.0

 Percent 95.5 82.0 Collected

Used in estimation Data reported

 Number 4,232 11,417 Number 840

 Percent 89.6 79.6 Percent 69.8

Found vacant

 Number 181

 Percent 15.0

Other

 Number 182

 Percent 15.1

Used in estimation

 Number 1,110

 Percent 92.3