Qeq Faq

CE-303A
(1-99)

Information on
Your Participation
in the Consumer
Expenditure Survey

U.S. Department of Commerce
Economics and Statistics Administration

Helping You Make Informed Decisions

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

Frequently Asked Questions About the
Consumer Expenditure Survey
What Is the Consumer
Expenditure Survey?
The Consumer Expenditure (CE) Survey collects information on expenditures and income of individual households. We attempt
to collect data from approximately 5,000
households per month. Your information
is combined with responses from throughout the country. The combined information
shows how the economy is affecting the
various parts of the population such as the
young, the old, the retired, and the disabled.
The Office of Management and Budget has
approved this survey and assigned the Control Number 1220-0050.

Why Did You Choose
Me for This Survey?
We selected your address, not you personally, as part of a sample throughout the
country.

What Guarantee Do I Have
That the Information I Give
to You is not Reported to Other
Persons or Organizations?
Every Census Bureau employee takes an oath
and is subject to a jail penalty, a fine, or both
if he or she discloses any information that
would identify you as an individual. We release the information for statistical purposes
only, and we never release information that
would disclose your identity. The information you give is confidential by law (Section
9 of Title 13, United States Code). We are
conducting this survey for the Department of
Labor under the authority
of Title 29, United States Code.

What Will You Ask Me?
Your cooperation will help us collect accu-

rate data. You will be asked questions about
your expenditures, such as for housing, food,
education, transportation, and health care,
and about the types of income you receive.
We expect the average interview to take about
70 minutes. However, your interview may
be somewhat shorter or longer depending
on your circumstances. There will be five
interviews over a period of 13 months. Your
participation in this survey, while voluntary, is
extremely important. If you have any comments about this survey or recommendations
for reducing its length, send them to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division
of Management Systems, Project 1220-0050,
Washington, DC 20212.

Who Uses the CE Data?
Your responses will help to update the
Consumer Price Index, which is the primary
tool used to measures inflation and directly
affects wages, pensions, and the cost for
goods and services. The Federal Government
also uses the data in trying to understand how
government policy affects different kinds of
families. For example, the CE data show the
effects of tax changes on various groups such
as those of different ages, income levels, and
marital status.
In addition, people in your community and
the Nation use the information to make important decisions that can help to create jobs.
Shopkeepers or persons wanting to expand
or start a business use it to decide where to
locate based on consumer spending habits.
State governments also use CE data to estimate their revenue. For example, when states
increase gasoline taxes, they can calculate the
amount of additional funds they will receive
by using CE data.

CE-303A
(1-99)