Advance Letters

DC

CE-303-L1 (CA)
(8-2010)

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration

U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR

FROM THE DIRECTOR
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU
We are contacting you to request your help with an important survey—the Consumer
Expenditure Survey. The U.S. Census Bureau is conducting this survey for the Bureau of Labor
Statistics.
Your responses help update the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The CPI is the most important
tool used to measure how fast prices are rising or declining. It directly affects wages, pensions,
and the cost of goods and services. Your response is a service to your community and the
country.
Your participation in this survey is essential; however, you may choose to decline to answer any
particular question. Federal law authorizes the collection of this information (Titles 13 and 29 of
the United States Code), and Sections 9 and 214 of Title 13 require us to keep all information
about you and your household strictly confidential, and to use that information for statistical
purposes only.
Soon a field representative will contact you for an interview and show you an official
identification card. Please welcome him or her.
On the back of this letter are answers to questions you may have about this survey. If you
would like more information, please contact:
Regional Director
U.S. Census Bureau
15350 Sherman Way Suite 400
Van Nuys CA 91406–4203
Telephone: 1 (800) 992–3530
Thank you for your cooperation in this important survey. We appreciate your help.
Sincerely,

Robert M. Groves

USCENSUSBUREAU
Helping You Make Informed Decisions

Blue Ink Pantone 281

Black Ink

www.census.gov

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the Census Bureau doing? I thought they only operated every ten years.
In addition to the decennial census, we collect data on a monthly basis. We collect these data to
provide up-to-date information on topics such as unemployment, spending, family income, housing,
manufacturing, and business activities to track the country’s economy.
What is this survey about?
The Consumer Expenditure Survey measures how people in the United States spend their money
on items such as housing, food, education, transportation, and healthcare.
Why is this survey important?
The information you provide will affect wages, pensions, and the cost of goods and services. In
addition, people in your community and throughout the country use the survey results for planning
public services and addressing consumer needs. Your voluntary response is essential for ensuring
that this survey’s results are complete and accurate.
What kinds of questions will I be asked?
We will ask you to recall information about recent purchases you have made. We will also ask you
questions about the people who live in your household, such as their ages, and questions about
things you already own like cars or property. A partial list includes:
•
•
•
•

How much money do you spend on clothing?
How much money do you spend on housing?
What are your out-of-pocket costs for medical care for consumers?
Do you spend more money on electricity or natural gas?

Why me? Why not interview someone else?
Through a scientific sampling process, we selected your address, not you personally. Your
household represents hundreds of other households in your region, so it is important that we talk to
you. Only you can accurately report how you spent your money.
What if I am retired, ill, unemployed, or just don’t spend much money?
We are interested in how all Americans spend their money. We can only have a complete picture if
we talk to people with different situations.
It is very important to know the purchasing habits of people of all ages and of all levels of spending.
This is especially true for medical spending and spending on entertainment.
How long will the interview take?
The average interview takes about 60 minutes.
Where can I find out more about the survey?
You can learn more about the survey by writing to the Division of Consumer Expenditure
Surveys, Room 3985, 2 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E., Washington, DC 20212. The
Consumer Expenditure Survey Web site also has information about the survey.
The address is .
The U.S. Office of Management and Budget has approved this survey and assigned it Control
Number 1220-0050.

CE-303(L1)

CE-303-L2
(11-2009)

DC

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration

U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR

FROM THE DIRECTOR
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU
About three months ago, you completed an interview for the Consumer Expenditure Survey.
We are contacting you again to request your ongoing help with this very important survey.
Soon a field representative with official identification will contact you again for an interview.
Your responses help update the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The CPI is the most important
tool used to measure how fast prices are rising or declining and directly affects wages and
pensions. Your response is a service to your community and the country.
To help shorten the interview, you may want to have some records of expenses available for
reference. On the back of this letter are examples of records that may reduce the interview
time and improve the quality of survey results.
Your participation in this survey is essential; however, you may choose to decline to answer
any particular question. Federal law authorizes the collection of this information (Titles 13 and
29 of the United States Code), and Sections 9 and 214 of Title 13 require us to keep all
information about you and your household strictly confidential, and to use that information for
statistical purposes only.
Thank you for your cooperation in this important survey. We appreciate your help.
Sincerely,

Robert M. Groves
Director

USCENSUSBUREAU
www.census.gov

Helping You Make Informed Decisions

CE-303-L2, Blue Ink Pantone 281

Black Ink

The U.S. Census Bureau is conducting this voluntary survey
for the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Collecting bills, receipts, or bank statements before the field
representative arrives may help reduce the interview time.
Examples of useful documents are shown below.
Billing statements (paper or on-line) for:
• Utilities, such as electricity or natural gas
• Residential and cellular telephone service
• Insurance payments
• Medical expenses
• Education expenses
• Home repair and improvement expenses
• Cable or satellite television or satellite radio
• Internet services
Receipts, bill of sales, or contracts for:
• Vehicle Purchases
• Vehicle leases
• Furniture purchases
• Appliance purchases
• Service contracts, such as for pest control or appliance maintenance
Pay stubs showing:
• Insurance premiums
• Retirement deductions including 401Ks
• Social Security deductions
• Federal taxes deducted
• State and local taxes deducted
• Other deductions, such as union dues or charitable contributions
Credit card statements for:
• Expenses charged automatically to your credit card
• Credit card membership fees
• Any expenditures with no receipt or statement
Bank statements or check books for:
• Expenses automatically deducted from your bank account
• ATM fees and other banking fees
• Any expenditures with no receipt or statement
The U.S. Office of Management and Budget has approved this survey and assigned it
Control Number 1220-0050.

CE-303-L2 (11-2009)

Draft 1 (8-9-2010)

CE-303-L2R
(8-2010)

DC

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration

U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR

FROM THE DIRECTOR
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU
About three months ago, we contacted you to request your help with an important
survey—the Consumer Expenditure Survey. Although you were not able to participate at that
time, we are writing again to ask for your cooperation.
The U.S. Census Bureau is conducting this voluntary survey for the Bureau of Labor
Statistics. Your responses help update the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The CPI is the most
important tool used to measure how fast prices are rising or declining and directly affects
wages and pensions. Your response is a service to your community and the country.
Your participation in this survey is essential; however, you may choose to decline to
answer any particular question. Federal law authorizes the collection of this information
(Titles 13 and 29 of the United States Code), and Sections 9 and 214 of Title 13 require
us to keep all information about you and your household strictly confidential, and to use that
information for statistical purposes only.
Soon a field representative will contact you for an interview and show you an official
identification card. Please welcome him or her.
Thank you for your cooperation in this important survey. We appreciate your help.
Sincerely,

Robert M. Groves

USCENSUSBUREAU
www.census.gov

Helping You Make Informed Decisions

CE-303-L2R, Blue Ink Pantone 281

Black Ink

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the Census Bureau doing? I thought they only operated every ten years.
In addition to the decennial census, we collect data on a monthly basis. We collect these data
to provide up-to-date information on topics such as unemployment, spending, family income,
housing, manufacturing and business activities to track the country’s economy.
What is this survey about?
The Consumer Expenditure Survey measures how people in the United States spend their
money on items such as housing, food, education, transportation, and healthcare.
Why is this survey important?
The information you provide will affect wages, pensions, and the cost of goods and services. In
addition, people in your community and throughout the country use the survey results for
planning public services and addressing consumer needs. Your voluntary response is essential
for ensuring that this survey’s results are complete and accurate.
What kinds of questions will I be asked?
We will ask you to recall information about recent purchases you have made. We will also ask
you questions about the people who live in your household, such as their ages and questions
about things you already own like cars or property. A partial list includes:
•
•
•
•

How much money do you spend on clothing?
How much money do you spend on housing?
What are your out-of-pocket costs for medical care?
Do you spend more money on electricity or natural gas?

Why me? Why not interview someone else?
Through a scientific sampling process, we selected your address, not you personally. Your
household represents hundreds of other households in your region, so it is important that we
talk to you. Only you can accurately report how you spent your money.
What if I am retired, ill, unemployed, or just don’t spend much money?
We are interested in how all Americans spend their money. We can only have a complete
picture if we talk to people with different situations.
It is very important to know the purchasing habits of people of all ages and of all levels of
spending. This is especially true for medical spending and spending on entertainment.
How long will the interview take?
The average interview takes about 60 minutes.
Where can I find out more about the survey?
You can learn more about the survey by writing to the Division of Consumer Expenditure
Surveys, Room 3985, 2 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E., Washington, DC 20212. The Consumer
Expenditure Survey Web site also has information about the survey.
The address is .
The U.S. Office of Management and Budget has approved this survey and assigned it Control
Number 1220-0050.

CE-303-L2R (8-2010)

CE-303-L5
(12-2009)

DC

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration

U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR

FROM THE DIRECTOR
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU
Very soon a field representative will visit you again to conduct the final interview
for your household for the Consumer Expenditure Survey. In this interview, as in
previous ones, we will ask about your household expenditures during the past
three months.
The Consumer Price Index is the most important tool used to measure how fast
prices are rising or declining and directly affects wages and pensions. Your
response is a service to your community and the country.
To help shorten the interview, you may want to have some records of expenses
available for reference. On the back of this letter are examples of records that
may reduce the interview time and improve the quality of survey results.
Your participation in this survey is essential; however, you may choose to decline
to answer any particular question. Federal law authorizes the collection of this
information (Titles 13 and 29 of the United States Code), and Sections 9 and 214
of Title 13 requires us to keep all information about you and your household
strictly confidential, and to use that information for statistical purposes only.
Thank you for your cooperation and voluntary participation in this important
survey. We appreciate your help.
Sincerely,

Robert M. Groves

USCENSUSBUREAU
www.census.gov

Helping You Make Informed Decisions

CE-303-L5, Blue Ink Pantone 281

Black Ink

The U.S. Census Bureau is conducting this voluntary survey for
the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Collecting bills, receipts, or bank statements before the
field representative arrives may help reduce the interview time.
Examples of useful documents are shown below.
Billing statements (paper or online) for:
Utilities, such as electricity or natural gas
Residential and cellular telephone service
Insurance payments
Medical expenses
Education expenses
Home repair and improvement expenses
Cable or satellite television or satellite radio
Internet services
Receipts, bill of sales, or contracts for:
Vehicle purchases
Vehicle leases
Furniture purchases
Appliance purchases
Service contracts, such as for pest control or appliance maintenance
Pay stubs showing:
Insurance premiums
Retirement deductions, including 401Ks
Social security deductions
Federal taxes deducted
State and local taxes deducted
Other deductions, such as union dues or charitable contributions
Credit card statements for:
Expenses charged automatically to your credit card
Credit card membership fees
Any expenditures with no receipt or statement
Bank statements or check books for:
Expenses automatically deducted from your bank account
ATM fees and other banking fees
Any expenditures with no receipt or statement
The U.S. Office of Management and Budget has approved this survey and
assigned it Control Number 1220-0050.

CE-303-L5 (12-2009)

Draft 3 (8-17-2009)

DC

CE-803(L)(CA)
(10-2009)

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration

U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR

FROM THE DIRECTOR
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU
We are contacting you to request your help with an important survey—the Consumer
Expenditure Survey. The U.S. Census Bureau is conducting this survey for the Bureau of
Labor Statistics.
Your responses help update the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The CPI is the most important
tool used to measure how fast prices are rising or declining. It directly affects wages,
pensions, and the cost of goods and services. Your response is a service to your community
and the country.
Your participation in this survey is essential; however, you may choose to decline to answer
any particular question. Federal law authorizes the collection of this information (Titles 13 and
29 of the United States Code), and Sections 9 and 214 of Title 13 require us to keep all
information about you and your household strictly confidential, and to use that information for
statistical purposes only.
Soon a field representative will contact you for an interview and show you an official
identification card. Please welcome him or her.
On the back of this letter are answers to questions you may have about this survey. If you
would like more information, please contact the following:
Regional Director
U.S. Census Bureau
15350 Sherman Way, Suite 400
Van Nuys, CA 91406
Telephone: 1 (800) 992–3530
Thank you for your cooperation in this important survey. We appreciate your help.
Sincerely,

Robert M. Groves

USCENSUSBUREAU
Helping You Make Informed Decisions

Blue Ink PMS 281

Black Ink

www.census.gov

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the Census Bureau doing? I thought they only operated every ten years.
In addition to the decennial census, we collect data on a monthly basis. We collect these data to
provide up-to-date information on topics such as unemployment, spending, family income,
housing, manufacturing and business activities to track the country’s economy.
What is this survey about?
The Consumer Expenditure Survey measures how people in the United States spend their money
on items such as housing, food, education, transportation, and healthcare.
Why is this survey important?
The information you provide will affect wages, pensions, and the cost of goods and services. In
addition, people in your community and throughout the country use the survey results for planning
public services and addressing consumer needs. Your voluntary response is essential for
ensuring that this survey’s results are complete and accurate.
What kinds of questions will I be asked?
We will ask you to record in a diary information about all the purchases you make. We will also
ask the people who live in your household to record their purchases.
Why me? Why not interview someone else?
Your address was selected, not you personally, as part of a scientifically determined sample.
Your household represents hundreds of other households in your region. We need to talk with
you because only you can accurately report how you spent your money.
What if I am retired, ill, unemployed, or just don’t spend much money?
We are interested in how all Americans spend their money. We can only have a complete picture
if we talk to people with different situations.
It is very important to know the purchasing habits of people of all ages and of all levels of
spending. This is especially true for medical spending and spending on entertainment.
How long will the interview take?
We expect that it will take about 15 minutes to record your expenditures daily; in addition, it will
take about 25 minutes for each of our visits over this two-week period.
Where can I find out more about the survey?
You can learn more about the survey by writing to the Division of Consumer Expenditure
Surveys, Room 3985, 2 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E., Washington, DC 20212. The Consumer
Expenditure Survey Web site also has information about the survey.
The address is .
The U.S. Office of Management and Budget has approved this survey and assigned it Control
Number 1220-0050.

CE-803(L)