Issued January 2017

CE-805

Diary Survey

Information Booklet

Consumer Expenditure Surveys

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CE-805 (1-1-2017) 3

Page

Privacy Act Statement 4 

Demographics 5 

Hispanic Origin 5 

Race 5 

Asian Origin 5 

Education 6 

Armed Forces 6 

Occupations 7 

Income 8 

Card A 8 

Card B 9 

Card C 10

Diary Survey Checks 11

2017 Calendar 13 

2018 Calendar 14 

2019 Calendar 15 

Language Identification Cards 16
4 CE-805 (1-1-2017)

PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT

The U.S. Census Bureau is conducting the Consumer Expenditure Diary 

Survey for the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor 

under Title 29, United States Code. The survey’s purpose is to obtain 

information on what people in the U.S. are purchasing in order to update 

the Consumer Price Index. All survey information will be used for 

statistical purposes only. 

Any information you provide for this survey is confidential, by law, under 

Title 13, United States Code. Participation in this survey is voluntary and 

there are no penalties for refusing to answer any question(s). However, 

your cooperation is extremely important to help ensure the completeness 

and accuracy of these data.
DEMOGRAPHICS

CE-805 (1-1-2017) 5

Hispanic Origin

1. Mexican

2. Mexican-American

3. Chicano

4. Puerto Rican

5. Cuban

Race

(Please choose one or more)

1. White

2. Black or African American

3. American Indian or Alaska Native

4. Asian

5. Native Hawaiian

6. Guamanian or Chamorro

7. Samoan

8. Other Pacific Islander

Asian Origin

1. Chinese

2. Filipino

3. Japanese

4. Korean

5. Vietnamese

6. Asian Indian
Demographics

6 CE-805 (1-1-2017)

Education

1. No schooling completed or less than 1 year

2. Nursery, kindergarten, and elementary

(grades 1-8)

3. High school (grades 9-12, no degree)

4. High school graduate – high school diploma

or the equivalent (GED)

5. Some college but no degree

6. Associate’s degree in college

7. Bachelor’s degree (BA, AB, BS, etc.)

8. Master’s, professional, or doctoral degree

(MA, MS, MBA, MD, JD, PhD, etc.)

Armed Forces

A person is considered to be in the Armed 

Forces if he or she serves in any branch of the 

U.S. military. This includes the Army, Navy, 

Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard; their 

Reserve components; and the Air and Army 

National Guard.
OCCUPATIONS 

CE-805 (1-1-2017 7

1. Administrator, Manager

administrator funeral director manager

2. Teacher

guidance counselor teacher

3. Professional

accountant engineer lawyer physician registered nurse

clergy IT professional photographer social worker

4. Administrative Support, including Clerical

assistant bookkeeper clerk receptionist secretary

5. Sales, Retail

apparel salesperson commodity salesperson motor vehicle salesperson

cashier door-to-door salesperson

6. Sales, Business Goods and Services

insurance salesperson mining sales representative real estate salesperson

financial services manufacturing sales 

representative

wholesale sales 

representative

7. Technician

drafter electronic technician practical nurse 

clinical laboratory technician health technician

8. Protective Service

firefighter police officer private guard

9. Private Household Service

household worker nanny

10.Other Service (except private household)

childcare worker food preparer janitor orderly 

cook hairstylist maid/houseman waiter/waitress

11.Machine or Transportation Operator, Laborer

assembler freight handler material handler taxi driver

bus driver inspector packager tractor operator

construction laborer machine operator stock handler truck driver

12.Construction Workers, Mechanics

automobile mechanic machine repairer mining worker sheet metal worker

carpenter machinist painter 

electrician meat cutter plumber

13.Farming

farm worker farmer 

14.Forestry, Fishing, Groundskeeping

animal caretaker fisher forestry worker groundskeeper 

15.Armed Forces
INCOME

8 CE-805 (1-1-2017)

CARD A

0. Loss

1. $ 1 – $ 4,999

2. $ 5,000 – $ 9,999

3. $ 10,000 – $ 14,999

4. $ 15,000 – $ 19,999

5. $ 20,000 – $ 29,999

6. $ 30,000 – $ 39,999

7. $ 40,000 – $ 49,999

8. $ 50,000 – $ 69,999

9. $ 70,000 – $ 89,999

10. $ 90,000 – $ 119,999

11. $ 120,000 and over
Income

CE-805 (1-1-2017) 9

CARD B

1. Less than $500

2. $ 500 – $ 699

3. $ 700 – $ 999

4. $ 1,000 – $ 1,299

5. $ 1,300 – $ 1,699

6. $ 1,700 and over
Income

10 CE-805 (1-1-2017)

CARD C

0. Loss

1. $ 1 – $ 999

2. $ 1,000 – $ 1,999

3. $ 2,000 – $ 2,999

4. $ 3,000 – $ 3,999

5. $ 4,000 – $ 4,999

6. $ 5,000 – $ 9,999

7. $ 10,000 – $ 14,999

8. $ 15,000 – $ 19,999

9. $ 20,000 – $ 29,999

10. $ 30,000 – $ 39,999

11. $ 40,000 – $ 49,999

12. $ 50,000 and over
DIARY SURVEY CHECKS

CE-805 (1-1-2017) 11

When reviewing the Diary, check each page in the form. Ensure that ALL entries have as 

much detail as possible. The following are EXAMPLES of information that is often omitted.

CONTENT CHECKS

1. All entries should be clearly readable. If there is an unreadable entry, rewrite it.

Entries that contain local names or acronyms should be clarified and rewritten.

2. If the respondent reports no expenditures for a day, mark the NONE box at the top

of the right page.

3. Ensure there is an amount entered in the total cost column for every item entry in the

diary and that the amount entered is reasonable.

a. If an amount is unusually high or low, confirm it with the respondent.

b. Whenever possible, a single cost for each item is required. Investigate any

combined expenses to determine if individual costs can be identified.

4. In Meals, Snacks, and Drinks Away from Home, ensure that all the checkboxes are

appropriately marked.

a. If an alcohol check box is marked, indicating that alcoholic beverages were

purchased, there should also be an amount entered in the last column.

b. There should always be an amount entered in the total cost column.

5. In Food and Drinks for Home Consumption, be sure a checkbox is marked to

indicate whether the food is fresh, frozen, etc.

6. In Clothing, Shoes, Jewelry, and Accessories, ensure a checkbox for a gender/age

category is marked.

7. If the item was purchased for someone not on your list, ensure there is an entry in

the last column for all sections except Meals, Snacks, and Drinks Away from Home.

EXPENDITURE DETAIL CHECKS

1. Food and Drinks for Home Consumption

BAKERY PRODUCTS: Specify type such as cupcakes, apple pie, etc.

BEEF: Specify the cut of beef and describe, such as ground beef, prime rib, etc.

PORK: Specify the cut of pork and describe, such as pork loin roast, whole ham, etc.

POULTRY: Specify whether it is chicken, turkey, or other

OTHER FOOD: Give a complete description, such as boxed scalloped potatoes

2. Meals, Snacks, and Drinks Away from Home

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES: If the purchase is exclusively alcohol, ensure the type(s) is

(are) specified and that the total cost and the alcohol cost are the same. Both cost

entries must be recorded.
Diary Survey Checks

12 CE-805 (1-1-2017)

MEALS: Check the type of meal (lunch, breakfast, dinner, snack/other) and the type of 

vendor. If alcohol is included, ensure the type(s) of alcohol is (are) marked in the 

checkboxes and the cost is recorded.

3. Clothing, Shoes, Jewelry, and Accessories

CLOTHING: Specify the type of clothing and give a description of the item

JEWELRY: Specify the type of jewelry, such as watches, etc.

SHOES: If sport shoes, specify sport, such as football cleats, ice skates, etc.

4. All Other Products, Services, and Expenses

ALBUM: Specify if photo album or record album

BOOKS: Specify whether it was a part of a book club, a school book, or a non-school

book. If the purchase was for school, then specify whether it was college, high school,

or other.

BUS, TRAIN: Specify intercity (between cities) or intra-city (within the city) fare

DISHWASHER: Specify whether it is portable or built-in

DOCTOR BILLS: Specify type of doctors, such as dentist, internist, etc.

FURNITURE: Specify type such as kitchen chair, living room chair, etc.

GAS: Specify if gasoline or household fuel. If household fuel, indicate whether piped or

bottled.

LAUNDRY/DRY CLEANING: Specify if coin-operated or not coin-operated; specify

whether household item (such as drapes) or apparel

MEDICINE: Specify if prescription or non-prescription

SOAP: Specify hand soap or laundry soap

TABLEWARE: Specify type, such as china, flatware, silver service pieces, etc.

TOOLS: Specify if power or hand tool, such as power saw, etc.

TUITION: Specify high school, college, etc.

VEHICLE: Specify new or used and type of vehicle purchased

VEHICLE REGISTRATION: Specify state or local

VEHICLE REPAIR: Specify type of service such as an oil change, brake adjustment,

etc.
2017 CALENDAR

CE-805 (1-1-2017) 13

JANUARY

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30 31

JULY

S M T W T F S

1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

30 31

FEBRUARY

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28

AUGUST

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30 31

MARCH

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30 31

SEPTEMBER

S M T W T F S

1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

APRIL

S M T W T F S

1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

30

OCTOBER

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30 31

MAY

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 29 30 31

NOVEMBER

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30

JUNE

S M T W T F S

1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30

DECEMBER

S M T W T F S

1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

31
2018 CALENDAR

14 CE-805 (1-1-2017)

JANUARY

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 29 30 31

JULY

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30 31

FEBRUARY

S M T W T F S

1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28

AUGUST

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30 31

MARCH

S M T W T F S

1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30 31

SEPTEMBER

S M T W T F S

1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

30

APRIL

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30

OCTOBER

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 29 30 31

MAY

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30 31

NOVEMBER

S M T W T F S

1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30

JUNE

S M T W T F S

1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

DECEMBER

S M T W T F S

1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

30 31
2019 CALENDAR

CE-805 (1-1-2017) 15

JANUARY

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30 31

JULY

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 29 30 31

FEBRUARY

S M T W T F S

1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28

AUGUST

S M T W T F S

1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30 31

MARCH

S M T W T F S

1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

31

SEPTEMBER

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30

APRIL

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 29 30

OCTOBER

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30 31

MAY

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30 31

NOVEMBER

S M T W T F S

1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

JUNE

S M T W T F S

1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

30

DECEMBER

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30 31
CE-805 (1-1-2017)

16

Hello, I’m from the U.S. Census Bureau. Is someone here now who speaks 

English and can help us? If not, please give me your phone number and 

someone may contact you in English. 01. English

Buenos días (Buenas tardes), soy de la Oficina del Censo de los Estados 

Unidos. ¿Se encuentra alguien que hable inglés y pueda ayudarnos? Si no, 

favor, dígame su número de teléfono; es possible que alguien se comuniqu

con usted en español. 02. Español/Spanish

03.

04.

/

CantoneseSimplified

05.

/

MandarinSimplified 

06. /Korean

Dzień dobry. Jestem z Amerykańskiego Biura Spisu Ludności. Czy ktoś tut

mówi po angielsku I czy mógłby nam pomóc? Jeżeli nie, proszę podać mi sw

numer telefonu, pod którym można skontaktować się z Państwem po polsk 07. Polski/Polish

Здравствуйте! Я представляю Бюро переписи населения Соединенных

Штатов. Присутствует ли здесь кто-нибудь, кто говорит по-английски

мог бы нам помочь? Если нет, то, пожалуйста, дайте нам свой номер 

телефона, чтобы при необходимости наш сотрудник мог с вами 

поговорить по-русски.

08. Pусский/

Russian

Xin chào, tôi là nhân viên của Cục Thống Kê Dân Số Hoa Kỳ. Ở đây hiện c

ai biết nói tiếng Anh và có thể giúp chúng tôi không? Nếu không xin vui lo

cho biết số điện thoại của quý vị. Chúng tôi có thể liên lạc với quý vị bằng 

tiếng Việt. 

09. Tiếng Việt /

Vietnamese

LANGUAGE IDENTIFICATION CARDS

U.S. Department of Commerce

Economics and Statistics Administration 

U.S. Census Bureau