In October 2004, information about how much Americans spend for health care, groceries, clothing, transportation, housing and other items will be collected by U.S. Census Bureau field representatives from a sample of randomly selected households across the country.

     During the Consumer Expenditure (CE) Survey, about 7,500 households will be interviewed once every three months to obtain data on relatively large expenditures; over the year, another 7,500 households will keep two consecutive one-week diaries of all purchases. The interview survey is designed to capture expenditure data that respondents can reasonably recall for a period of three months or longer, whereas the diary survey captures one-week expenditures on small, frequently purchased items that are normally difficult for respondents to recall later. The results are published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Government economists use the results to update a “market basket” of goods and services for the Consumer Price Index, the single most widely used measure of inflation in the country.

     “Data from the CE enable policy-makers to evaluate consumer needs, measure the impact of governmental policies on families and track changes in consumer spending trends,” said James Holmes, director of the Census Bureau’s Atlanta Regional Office.

     Before the survey begins, households receive a letter from Census Bureau Director Louis Kincannon informing them of their selection. Census Bureau field representatives, who conduct the interviews, carry official photo identification badges. The law ensures survey respondents’ personal information and answers are kept confidential.

     The following data on health care expenditures, an example of CE results, will be updated in October.

Household Spending on Health Care: 2001-2002

      

  
 
          
Area
    
Average 
              annual amount

              spent on health care
    
Percentage 
              of total

              expenditures
  
  
 
    
 
    
 
    
 
  
  
 
    
United States
    
$2,267
    
5.7
  
  
 
    
 
    
 
    
 
  
  
 
    
Northeast
    
$2,146
    
5.1
  
  
 
    
Pittsburgh
    
 2,339
    
5.6
  
  
 
    
New York
    
2,277
    
4.6
  
  
 
    
Philadelphia
    
2,068
    
5.1
  
  
 
    
Boston
    
2,056
    
5.1
  
  
 
    
 
    
 
    
 
  
  
 
    
South
    
$2,314
    
6.3
  
  
 
    
Houston
    
2,449
    
5.2
  
  
 
    
Dallas-Fort Worth
    
2,432
    
4.8
  
  
 
    
Tampa
    
2,282
    
6.0
  
  
 
    
Washington, D.C.
    
2,201
    
4.6
  
  
 
    
Atlanta
    
2,010
    
5.0
  
  
 
    
Miami
    
1,969
    
4.7
  
  
 
    
Baltimore
    
1,840
    
4.8
  
  
 
    
 
    
 
    
 
  
  
 
    
Midwest
    
$2,338
    
5.8
  
  
 
    
Kansas City, Mo.-Kan.
    
2,528
    
5.9
  
  
 
    
Minneapolis-St. Paul
    
2,297
    
4.4
  
  
 
    
Chicago
    
2,255
    
4.7
  
  
 
    
St. Louis
    
2,184
    
5.1
  
  
 
    
Milwaukee
    
2,175
    
5.4
  
  
 
    
Detroit
    
2,155
    
4.8
  
  
 
    
Cincinnati
    
2,034
    
5.0
  
  
 
    
Cleveland
    
1,929
    
5.1
  
  
 
    
 
    
 
    
 
  
  
 
    
West
    
$2,221
    
5.0
  
  
 
    
Anchorage
    
2,484
    
4.4
  
  
 
    
Denver
    
2,393
    
4.9
  
  
 
    
Honolulu
    
2,365
    
5.4
  
  
 
    
Portland, Ore.
    
2,353
    
5.4
  
  
 
    
San Francisco
    
2,349
    
4.2
  
  
 
    
Seattle
    
2,326
    
4.8
  
  
 
    
Phoenix
    
2,241
    
5.4
  
  
 
    
Los Angeles
    
2,031
    
4.3
  
  
 
    
San Diego
    
1,884
    
4.4
  

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