FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2009
- ATLANTA REGIONAL OFFICE
- U.S. CENSUS BUREAU
- Mr. George Grandy Jr., Director
- 101 Marietta St., NW, Ste 3200
- Atlanta, GA 30303-2700
- Telephone: 404-730-3832
- CB09-R.01
Census Bureau to Survey Nation’s Spending Habits
ATLANTA — In January 2009, U.S. Census Bureau field representatives will collect information about how much Americans spend for groceries, clothing, transportation, housing, health care and other items from a sample of households across the country.
The Consumer Expenditure (CE) Survey program consists of two parts:
- The Interview Survey - Throughout the year, about 43,000 households will be interviewed once every three months over five calendar quarters to obtain data on relatively large expenditures and also for those expenditures that occur on a regular basis (such as rent and utilities).
- The Diary Survey - During the year, another 9,200 households will keep two consecutive one-week diaries of smaller, more frequent purchases that may be difficult for respondents to recall later (such as a fast-food purchase at a drive-through window, a soda or candy bar from a vending machine, or a carton of eggs from the supermarket).
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics then calculates
and publishes integrated data from the two surveys — providing a snapshot
of our nation’s economy and spending habits. Government economists use
the survey results to update a “market basket” of goods and services
for the Consumer Price Index, our nation’s most widely used measure
of inflation.
“Findings from the Consumer Expenditure Survey permit policymakers to
assess the impact of governmental policy changes on spending patterns of different
socioeconomic groups,” said George Grandy Jr., 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.”
Before the CE interviews begin, households will receive a letter from the Census Bureau director informing them of their selection to participate in the survey. Census Bureau field representatives will visit these households to conduct the interview. The field representative must display an official photo identification before proceeding with the interview. Federal law ensures survey respondents’ personal information and answers are kept confidential.
The following data on the amount spent on housing are an example of CE results. Housing spending includes shelter; utilities, fuels and public services; household operations; housekeeping supplies; and household furnishings and equipment.
Area | Average annual amount spend for
housing |
Percentage of total expenditures |
United States | $16,684 |
33.9 |
Northeast | $18,408 |
36.3 |
New York | 22,295 |
39.3 |
Boston | 20,174 |
36.6 |
Philadelphia | 18,411 |
37.8 |
South | $14,719 |
32.5 |
Washington, D.C. | 25,525 |
38.7 |
Baltimore | 19,123 |
35.9 |
Miami | 18,708 |
40.5 |
Dallas-Fort Worth | 18,169 |
33.4 |
Houston | 17,752 |
32.1 |
Atlanta |
17,716 |
37.9 |
Midwest | $15,067 |
32.2 |
Minneapolis-St. Paul | 20,819 |
34.7 |
Chicago | 20,238 |
35.3 |
Cleveland | 16,602 |
34.7 |
Detroit |
15,995 |
33.1 |
West | $20,024 |
35.1 |
San Francisco | 27,310 |
39.3 |
San Diego | 22,670 |
41.5 |
Los Angeles | 22,336 |
36.7 |
Seattle | 20,671 |
34.8 |
Phoenix | 18,591 |
32.2 |