Consumer Price Index (CPI) Survey

CPI Web Users Survey

Thank you for helping the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) collect critical feedback regarding the Consumer Price Index (CPI)
program. The CPI program produces monthly data on changes in the prices paid by urban consumers for a representative basket of
goods and services. Your responses to this survey will be used to get feedback on the CPI program and to make improvements in the
future.
Any feedback you can provide about the CPI program would be appreciated. Your participation in this survey is voluntary. We estimate
that it will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. We are collecting this information under OMB Number 1225-0059. Without this
currently approved number, BLS could not conduct this survey (Expiration date: 1/31/2016).
The survey questions are based on broad user experience and responses will be aggregated for analysis.
If you have any questions about this survey, please e-mail Steve Reed at Reed.Steve@bls.gov, or call (202) 691-5378.
This survey is being administered by SurveyMonkey.com and resides on a server outside of the BLS domain. BLS cannot guarantee
the protection of survey responses and advises against the inclusion of sensitive personal information in any response.
Select Next below to begin the survey.

CPI Web Users Survey

1. Which category best describes the organization at which you work or study?
Industry or trade association
Federal government
State government
Local government
School/University
Research organization
Financial institution
News media
Nongovernmental organization
Consulting institution
Blog
Private citizen
Other (please specify)

CPI Web Users Survey

2. For what purposes do you access CPI products?
Research
Escalate or increase a payment (for example, rent, salary, or contractual amount)
Compute projections or forecasts
Find out about price change for specific items or categories
Deflate or adjust other economic time series
Complete school assignment
Other (please specify):

CPI Web Users Survey

3. Please indicate what best expresses your opinions on the following statements about the CPI:
Strongly
agree
I can find the Consumer Price Index (CPI) data that I need.
The CPI website is easy to navigate.
I understand what the CPI measures.
CPI data are timely enough to meet my needs.
I know how to get help if I have questions about CPI data.
I understand the difference between seasonally adjusted data
and unadjusted data.
I believe that the CPI methodology measures price change as
accurately as possible.
Please explain your responses above (optional)

Agree

Neither
agree nor
disagree

Disagree

Strongly
disagree

CPI Web Users Survey

4. What best describes how frequently you use the following CPI data series?
More than
monthly
Consumer Price Index for All Urban
Consumers (CPI-U)
Consumer Price Index for All Urban
Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
(CPI-W)
Chained Consumer Price Index for All
Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U)
Average Price data

Monthly

Several
times per
year

Once per
year

Less than
once per
year

Never

Not familiar
with this

CPI Web Users Survey

5. Which of the following CPI products or materials have you used? (Select all that apply)
CPI Factsheets or Frequently Asked Questions
CPI Technical Information (for example, the Chapter 17 Handbook of Methods)
Seasonal Factors
Relative Importance Tables
Variances
Response Rates
Other (please specify)

CPI Web Users Survey

6. Which type of CPI data do you use more frequently: the CPI seasonally adjusted data or not seasonally
adjusted data? (Select one)
Seasonally adjusted
Not seasonally adjusted
Use both equally
Neither/not sure

CPI Web Users Survey

7. Which of the following CPI data do you use most frequently? (Select one)
National CPI data (for example, U.S. City average)
Regional or local data (for example, South Urban or Chicago-Gary-Kenosha)
Use both equally
Neither/not sure

CPI Web Users Survey

8. What regional or local CPI data do you use?

CPI Web Users Survey

9. Which of the following CPI data do you use most frequently? (Select one)
All items CPI
CPI for specific goods or services (for example, housing or new vehicles)
Use both equally
Neither/not sure

CPI Web Users Survey

10. What CPI for specific goods or services do you use?

CPI Web Users Survey

11. When you use CPI data, which of the following do you primarily use?
Index values
12 month percent changes
1 month percent changes
None of these/Not sure

CPI Web Users Survey

12. If you use average price data, what specific series (such as milk or gasoline) do you use? If you don't
use this, select "I don't use average price data."
I don't use average price data
Please specify what specific series you use:

CPI Web Users Survey

13. Which of the following do you use most frequently to access CPI data? (Select one)
CPI News Release (30 page monthly summary with a small number of tables)
CPI Detailed Report (About 100 page monthly listing with many detailed tables)
CPI Databases
I don't use any of these

CPI Web Users Survey

14. Please indicate how satisfied or dissatisfied you are with the following aspects of the CPI News
Release.

Very satisfied
The organization of the news release
Finding the information I need from the news
release
The charts, graphs, and visuals in the news release
Please explain your responses (optional)

15. I believe that the news release...
Should be more extensive, including more data
Contains amount the right amount of data
Should be more concise, including less data

16. I believe that the news release...
Should include more charts, graphs, and visuals
Contains the right amount of charts, graphs, and visuals
Should contain fewer charts, graphs, and visuals

Somewhat
satisfied

Neither
satisfied not
dissatisfied

Somewhat
dissatisfied

Very
dissatisfied

CPI Web Users Survey

17. Please indicate how satisfied or dissatisfied you are with the following aspects of the CPI Detailed
Report Tables.
Neither
satisfied
Very
Somewhat
not
Somewhat
Very
satisfied satisfied dissatisfied dissatisfied dissatisfied
The organization of the Detailed Report
Finding the information I need from the Detailed Report
Please explain your responses (optional)

CPI Web Users Survey

18. Please indicate how satisfied or dissatisfied you are with the following aspects of the CPI Databases.
Neither
satisfied
Very
Somewhat
not
Somewhat
Very
satisfied satisfied dissatisfied dissatisfied dissatisfied
The organization of the CPI databases
Finding the information I need from the CPI databases
The format tools in the CPI databases
Please explain your responses (optional)

19. What best describes your experience with the "one screen data search" in the databases section?
I have used it without any problems
I have used it, but encountered difficulties
I have tried to use it, but was unsuccessful
I haven't attempted to use it
Please explain your response (optional)

CPI Web Users Survey

20. Please indicate how satisfied or dissatisfied you are with your overall ability to find the CPI data you
need.
Very satisfied
Somewhat satisfied
Neither satisfied not dissatisfied
Somewhat dissatisfied
Very dissatisfied

CPI Web Users Survey

21. Have you used any CPI Factsheets or other publications on the CPI website?
Yes
No

CPI Web Users Survey

22. What factsheet or other publications have you used?

23. Please indicate how satisfied or dissatisfied you are with CPI Factsheets or other Publications you
have used.
Very satisfied
Somewhat satisfied
Neither satisfied not dissatisfied
Somewhat dissatisfied
Very dissatisfied

CPI Web Users Survey

24. Please share anything else you would like to express about your experience with the CPI website.

CPI Web Users Survey

25. Have you ever accessed the CPI recorded information quickline at (202) 691-6994?
Yes
No

CPI Web Users Survey

26. Please indicate how satisfied or dissatisfied you were with the CPI Quickline.
Very satisfied
Somewhat satisfied
Neither satisfied not dissatisfied
Somewhat dissatisfied
Very dissatisfied

CPI Web Users Survey

27. Have you ever communicated with CPI staff through telephone either directly or through the CPI
information line at (202) 691-7000?
Yes
No

CPI Web Users Survey

28. Please indicate how satisfied or dissatisfied you were with your phone interaction with CPI staff.
Very satisfied
Somewhat satisfied
Neither satisfied not dissatisfied
Somewhat dissatisfied
Very dissatisfied

CPI Web Users Survey

29. Have you ever communicated with CPI staff through email either directly or at cpi_info@bls.gov?
Yes
No

CPI Web Users Survey

30. Please indicate how satisfied or dissatisfied you are with your email interaction with CPI staff.
Very satisfied
Somewhat satisfied
Neither satisfied not dissatisfied
Somewhat dissatisfied
Very dissatisfied

CPI Web Users Survey

31. Please share any comments you have, positive or negative, about your interactions with CPI staff.

CPI Web Users Survey

32. How helpful would the following potential changes in the CPI be to you?
Somewhat
Very helpful
helpful
Earlier release of data (for example, July data might be released in early
August rather than mid-August)
Release of preliminary data before release of final data
CPI for specific demographic groups
More detailed CPI categories
Please explain your responses (optional)

Not at all
helpful

Don't
know/no
opinion

CPI Web Users Survey

33. We are interested in any other comments, positive or negative, that you would like to share about the
CPI. If you don't have any additional comments, select "No additional comments."
No additional comments
Please write your comments here: