In the Consumer Expenditure (CE) 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 only. 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.

“The findings are invaluable to business owners and policy-makers in our communities,” said James Holmes, director of the Census Bureau’s Atlanta regional office. “They use the data to evaluate consumer needs and track changes in consumer spending.”

Before the survey, 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 housing expenditures, as an example of CE results, will be updated in July.

Household Spending on Housing: 2001-2002

	   

  
 
    
Area
    
Average 
        annual amount

        spent on housing
    
Percentage 
        of total

        expenditures
  
  
 
    
 
    
 
    
 
  
  
 
    
United States
    
$13,148
    
32.8
  
  
 
    
 
    
 
    
 
  
  
 
    
Northeast
    
$14,499
    
34.7
  
  
 
    
New York
    
18,668
    
37.4
  
  
 
    
Boston
    
14,693
    
36.5
  
  
 
    
Philadelphia
    
14,583
    
36.1
  
  
 
    
Pittsburgh
    
12,018
    
28.9
  
  
 
    
 
    
 
    
 
  
  
 
    
South
    
$11,573
    
31.5
  
  
 
    
Washington, D.C.
    
18,105
    
37.9
  
  
 
    
Dallas-Fort Worth
    
15,754
    
31.3
  
  
 
    
Miami
    
15,622
    
37.3
  
  
 
    
Houston
    
15,049
    
31.7
  
  
 
    
Atlanta
    
14,965
    
37.0
  
  
 
    
Baltimore
    
13,440
    
34.8
  
  
 
    
Tampa
    
13,112
    
34.4
  
  
 
    
 
    
 
    
 
  
  
 
    
Midwest
    
$12,549
    
31.3
  
  
 
    
Chicago
    
17,239
    
36.0
  
  
 
    
Minneapolis-St. Paul
    
16,668
    
31.7
  
  
 
    
Detroit
    
14,663
    
33.0
  
  
 
    
Milwaukee
    
13,968
    
34.6
  
  
 
    
Kansas City, Mo.-Kan.
    
13,962
    
32.3
  
  
 
    
St. Louis
    
13,220
    
30.7
  
  
 
    
Cincinnati
    
12,912
    
31.9
  
  
 
    
Cleveland
    
12,698
    
33.3
  
  
 
    
 
    
 
    
 
  
  
 
    
West
    
$15,150
    
34.4
  
  
 
    
San Francisco
    
21,127
    
38.2
  
  
 
    
Los Angeles
    
17,602
    
37.1
  
  
 
    
Anchorage
    
17,299
    
30.8
  
  
 
    
San Diego
    
17,050
    
40.0
  
  
 
    
Denver
    
16,862
    
34.4
  
  
 
    
Seattle
    
16,621
    
34.4
  
  
 
    
Portland, Ore.
    
15,095
    
34.8
  
  
 
    
Honolulu
    
14,207
    
32.7
  
  
 
    
Phoenix
    
13,897
    
33.4
  


      
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