Note to Reviewer - New Screening Letter

May 27, 2021

MEMORANDUM FOR : Reviewer of 1220-0163

FROM : Robert Cage, Assistant Commissioner

Division of Consumer Prices and Price Indexes (DCPPI)

SUBJECT : Nonsubstantive change request for the

CPI Housing Survey (1220-0163)

The CPI Housing Survey seeks OMB approval for July 2021 to use a new pre-screening letter.

The new pre-screening letter is based on the currently-approved letter, would be sent in its place, and only to a limited number of sampled addresses for likely renter-occupied properties where we do not have contact information. This letter will be used to help obtain contact information in the limited cases where our other research efforts have not been productive. The new pre-screening letter is attached. There is no expected increase in respondent burden for this request.

As has been our past practice, but especially now, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the top priority of the CPI program is the health, safety, and well-being of all staff.  In an effort to ensure the safety of data collection staff, personal visit data collection for the CPI Housing survey has been suspended and personal visit collection burden has been reduced to zero. Data collection activities are being conducted via telephone and email. We will partner with our respondents to determine how we transition back to personal visit collection which we expect will occur on a state-specific basis.

If you have any questions about this request, please contact Robert Cage at 202-691-6959 or e-mail at Cage.Rob@bls.gov or Tod Sirois at 202-691-6757 or e-mail at Sirois.Tod@bls.gov.

Attachment – Housing Pre Screen Letter Rental

The only change from the original pre-screening letter is the addition of the Name, Telephone Number, and Email fields.