In the Consumer Expenditure Survey, about 7,500 households will be interviewed once every three months over a one-year period. Another 7,500 households will record their expenditures for two weeks. 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.

    “Findings from the Consumer Expenditure Survey permit policy-makers to assess the impact of changes in governmental policies on the spending patterns of different socioeconomic groups,” said James Holmes, director of the Census Bureau’s Atlanta regional office. “These data also help business owners track consumer spending trends, so they can better respond to the needs of their customers.”

    By law, respondents’ answers are confidential. Selected households receive a letter from Census Bureau Director Louis Kincannon. Census Bureau field representatives, who conduct the interviews, carry official identification cards.

    The following data on spending on food at home will be updated in January by the Consumer Expenditure Survey: