The Consumer Expenditure Survey (CE) program consists of two surveys: the quarterly Interview survey and the annual Diary survey. Combined, these two surveys provide information on the buying habits of American consumers, including data on their expenditures, income, and consumer unit (families and single consumers) characteristics. The survey data are collected for the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) by the U.S. Census Bureau. The CE collects all on all spending components including food, housing, apparel and services, transportation, entertainment, and out-of-pocket health care costs. The CE tables are an easy-to-use tool for obtaining arts-related spending estimates. They feature several arts-related spending categories, including the following items: Spending on Admissions Plays, theater, opera, and concerts Movies, parks, and museums Spending on Reading Newspapers and magazines Books Digital book readers Spending on Other Arts-Related Items Musical instruments Photographic equipment Audio-visual equipment Toys, games, arts and crafts The CE is important because it is the only Federal survey to provide information on the complete range of consumers' expenditures and incomes, as well as the characteristics of those consumers. It is used by economic policymakers examining the impact of policy changes on economic groups, by the Census Bureau as the source of thresholds for the Supplemental Poverty Measure, by businesses and academic researchers studying consumers' spending habits and trends, by other Federal agencies, and, perhaps most importantly, to regularly revise the Consumer Price Index market basket of goods and services and their relative importance. The most recent data tables are for 2023 and include: 1) Detailed tables with the most granular level of expenditure data available, along with variances and percent reporting for each expenditure item, for all consumer units (listed as "Other" in the Download menu); and 2) Tables with calendar year aggregate shares by demographic characteristics that provide annual aggregate expenditures and shares across demographic groups (listed as "Excel" in the Download menu). Also, see Featured CE Tables and Economic News Releases sections on the CE home page for current data tables and news release. The 1980 through 2023 CE public-use microdata, including Interview Survey data, Diary Survey data, and paradata (information about the data collection process), are available on the CE website.

The Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CE) program provides data on expenditures, income, and demographic characteristics of consumers in the United States. The CE program provides these data in tables, LABSTAT database, news releases, reports, and public use microdata files. CE data are collected by the Census Bureau for BLS in two surveys, the Interview Survey for major and/or recurring items and the Diary Survey for more minor or frequently purchased items. CE data are primarily used to revise the relative importance of goods and services in the market basket of the Consumer Price Index. The CE is the only Federal household survey to provide information on the complete range of consumers' expenditures and incomes. For more information and data, visit: https://www.bls.gov/cex/

The Consumer Expenditure Survey (CE) program provides a continuous and comprehensive flow of data on the buying habits of American consumers, including data on their expenditures, income, and consumer unit (families and single consumers) characteristics. These data are used widely in economic research and analysis, and in support of revisions of the Consumer Price Index. The CE program is comprised of two separate components (each with its own survey questionnaire and independent sample), the Diary Survey and the quarterly Interview Survey (ICPSR 36237). This data collection contains the Diary Survey component, which was designed to obtain data on frequently purchased smaller items, including food, housing, apparel and services, transportation, entertainment, and out-of-pocket health care costs. Each consumer unit (CU) recorded its expenditures in a diary for two consecutive 1-week periods. Although the diary was designed to collect information on expenditures that could not be easily recalled over time, respondents were asked to report all expenses (except overnight travel) that the CU incurred during the survey week. The 2013 Diary Survey release contains five sets of data files (FMLD, MEMD, EXPD, DTBD, DTID), and one processing file (DSTUB). The FMLD, MEMD, EXPD, DTBD, and DTID files are organized by the quarter of the calendar year in which the data were collected. There are four quarterly datasets for each of these files. The FMLD files contain CU characteristics, income, and summary level expenditures; the MEMD files contain member characteristics and income data; the EXPD files contain detailed weekly expenditures at the Universal Classification Code (UCC) level; the DTBD files contain the CU's reported annual income values or the mean of the five imputed income values in the multiple imputation method; and the DTID files contain the five imputed income values. Please note that the summary level expenditure and income information on the FMLD files permit the data user to link consumer spending, by general expenditure category, and household characteristics and demographics on one set of files. The DSTUB file provides the aggregation scheme used in the published consumer expenditure tables. The DSTUB file is further explained in Section III.F.6. "Processing Files" of the Diary Survey Users' Guide. A second documentation guide, the "Users' Guide to Income Imputation," includes information on how to appropriately use the imputed income data. Demographic and family characteristics data include age, sex, race, marital status, and CU relationships for each CU member. Income information was also collected, such as wage, salary, unemployment compensation, child support, and alimony, as well as information on the employment of each CU member age 14 and over. The unpublished integrated CE data tables produced by the BLS are available to download through NADAC (click on "Other" in the Dataset(s) section). The tables show average and percentile expenditures for detailed items, as well as the standard error and coefficient of variation (CV) for each spending estimate. The BLS unpublished integrated CE data tables are provided as an easy-to-use tool for obtaining spending estimates. However, users are cautioned to read the BLS explanatory letter accompanying the tables. The letter explains that estimates of average expenditures on detailed spending items (such as leisure and art-related categories) may be unreliable due to so few reports of expenditures for those items.

The Consumer Expenditure Survey (CE) consists of two parts: the Quarterly Interview Survey and the Diary Survey. Both surveys provide information on the purchasing habits of American consumers, including data on their expenditures, income, and consumer unit characteristics (e.g., age, education, occupation). The Quarterly Interview Survey (CEQ) includes information on monthly out-of-pocket expenses like housing, apparel, transportation, healthcare, insurance, and entertainment. The Diary Survey (CED) includes information on frequently purchased items like food, beverages, tobacco, personal care products, and nonprescription drugs. Approximately 20,000 independent interview surveys and 11,000 independent diary surveys are completed annually. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) publishes 12-month estimates of consumer expenditures annually, summarized by various income levels and demographic characteristics. Geographic data is available at the national level; for regions, divisions, selected states, and selected metropolitan statistical areas; and by population size of area.

Graph and download economic data for Expenditures: Apparel and Services: All Consumer Units (CXUAPPARELLB0101M) from 1984 to 2023 about consumer unit, apparel, expenditures, services, and USA.

Abstract

The Consumer Expenditure Survey (CE) program provides a continuous and comprehensive flow of data on the buying habits of American consumers. These data are used widely in economic research and analysis, and in support of revisions of the Consumer Price Index. To meet the needs of users, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) produces population estimates for consumer units (CUs) of average expenditures in news releases, reports, issues, and articles in the Monthly Labor Review. Tabulated CE data are also available on the Internet and by facsimile transmission (See Section XVI. APPENDIX 5). These microdata files present detailed expenditure and income data from the Interview component of the CE for 2005 and the first quarter of 2006. The Interview survey collects data on up to 95 percent of total household expenditures. In addition to the FMLI, MEMI, MTBI, and ITII files, the microdata include files created directly from the expenditure sections of the Interview survey (EXPN files). The EXPN files contain expenditure data and ancillary descriptive information, often not available on the FMLI or MTBI files, in a format similar to the Interview questionnaire. In addition to the extra information available on the EXPN files, users can identify distinct spending categories easily and reduce processing time due to the organization of the files by type of expenditure. Estimates of average expenditures in 2005 from the Interview Survey, integrated with data from the Diary Survey, will be published in the report Consumer Expenditures in 2005 (due out in 2007). A list of recent publications containing data from the CE appears at the end of this documentation. The microdata files are in the public domain and, with appropriate credit, may be reproduced without permission. A suggested citation is: "U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, Interview Survey, 2005."

Analysis unit

Consumer Units

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

There was a sample redesign in 2005. The sampling frame is now generated from the 2000 Population Census 100-percent-detail file. As a result, users will not be able to link all consumer units whose participation spanned 2004 and 2005 sample designs. It is suggested that users use the 2003 and 2004 data or the 2005 and 2006 data for any micro-level longitudinal analysis. 2005 data users should be aware that the 2005 first quarter (q051) data on the 2004 data are from the old sample design, while the q051 data on the 2005 data are from the new sample design. Consequently, the data are not the same. Due to the sample design change, there are no January interview data on the q051 files of the 2005 data. Please be aware that collection period estimates (see section V.A.1.b.) will be affected because of this. Aggregate collection period estimates will require inflation by factors of 3/2 (for q051 estimates) to 12/11 (for 2005 annual collection period estimates). This adjustment will roughly compensate for the missing January interviews. For calculations of averages, January interview data are missing from both the numerator and the denominator and these estimates are not as severely affected. Calendar period estimates are not affected because all expenditures from January interviews fall into the q044 time period.

Mode of data collection

Computer Assisted Personal Interview [capi]

Graph and download economic data for Expenditures: Mortgage Interest and Charges by Composition of Consumer Unit: Single Person and Other Consumer Units (CXUOWNMORTGLB0610M) from 1984 to 2023 about consumer unit, mortgage, expenditures, personal, interest, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Expenditures: Cellular Phone Service: All Consumer Units (CXU270102LB0101M) from 2010 to 2023 about phone, telecom, consumer unit, expenditures, services, and USA.

CES: 25 to 34Yrs: AAE: Housing: HF: Miscellaneous Household Eqpt data was reported at 656.000 USD in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 791.000 USD for 2015. CES: 25 to 34Yrs: AAE: Housing: HF: Miscellaneous Household Eqpt data is updated yearly, averaging 621.000 USD from Dec 1984 (Median) to 2016, with 33 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,013.000 USD in 2007 and a record low of 265.000 USD in 1984. CES: 25 to 34Yrs: AAE: Housing: HF: Miscellaneous Household Eqpt data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.H040: Consumer Expenditure Survey: By Age Group.

CES: 25 to 34Yrs: AAE: Housing: HF: Floor Coverings data was reported at 17.000 USD in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 15.000 USD for 2016. CES: 25 to 34Yrs: AAE: Housing: HF: Floor Coverings data is updated yearly, averaging 39.000 USD from Dec 1984 (Median) to 2017, with 34 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 126.000 USD in 1991 and a record low of 11.000 USD in 2011. CES: 25 to 34Yrs: AAE: Housing: HF: Floor Coverings data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.H043: Consumer Expenditure Survey: By Age Group.

CES: 25 to 34Yrs: AAE: Housing: Shelter: OD: Maint, Repair, Ins &Oth data was reported at 666.000 USD in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 656.000 USD for 2015. CES: 25 to 34Yrs: AAE: Housing: Shelter: OD: Maint, Repair, Ins &Oth data is updated yearly, averaging 499.000 USD from Dec 1984 (Median) to 2016, with 33 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 680.000 USD in 2001 and a record low of 267.000 USD in 1984. CES: 25 to 34Yrs: AAE: Housing: Shelter: OD: Maint, Repair, Ins &Oth data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.H040: Consumer Expenditure Survey: By Age Group.

Graph and download economic data for Expenditures: Total Average Annual Expenditures by Age: from Age 65 to 74 (CXUTOTALEXPLB0408M) from 1984 to 2023 about 65-years +, age, average, expenditures, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Expenditures: Utilities, Fuels, and Public Services: All Consumer Units (CXUUTILSLB0101M) from 1984 to 2023 about consumer unit, public, utilities, fuels, expenditures, services, and USA.

CES: 25 to 34Yrs: AAE: Reading data was reported at 69.000 USD in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 86.000 USD for 2015. CES: 25 to 34Yrs: AAE: Reading data is updated yearly, averaging 116.000 USD from Dec 1984 (Median) to 2016, with 33 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 142.000 USD in 1992 and a record low of 60.000 USD in 2013. CES: 25 to 34Yrs: AAE: Reading data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.H040: Consumer Expenditure Survey: By Age Group.

Graph and download economic data for Expenditures: Household Furnishings and Equipment by Composition of Consumer Unit: Single Person and Other Consumer Units (CXUHHFURNSHLB0610M) from 1984 to 2023 about consumer unit, furniture, equipment, expenditures, personal, households, and USA.

CES: 25 to 34Yrs: AAE: Healthcare: Health Insurance data was reported at 1,989.000 USD in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1,999.000 USD for 2015. CES: 25 to 34Yrs: AAE: Healthcare: Health Insurance data is updated yearly, averaging 640.000 USD from Dec 1984 (Median) to 2016, with 33 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,999.000 USD in 2015 and a record low of 230.000 USD in 1986. CES: 25 to 34Yrs: AAE: Healthcare: Health Insurance data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.H040: Consumer Expenditure Survey: By Age Group.

CES: 25 to 34Yrs: AAE: Food: AH: Dairy Products data was reported at 401.000 USD in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 378.000 USD for 2015. CES: 25 to 34Yrs: AAE: Food: AH: Dairy Products data is updated yearly, averaging 317.000 USD from Dec 1984 (Median) to 2016, with 33 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 401.000 USD in 2016 and a record low of 241.000 USD in 1984. CES: 25 to 34Yrs: AAE: Food: AH: Dairy Products data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.H040: Consumer Expenditure Survey: By Age Group.

Graph and download economic data for Expenditures: Entertainment: Fees and Admissions: All Consumer Units (CXUFEESADMLB0101M) from 1984 to 2023 about admissions, fees, entertainment, consumer unit, expenditures, and USA.

United States CES: $5 to 9.999 Th: AAE: Tranpo: Vehicle Purchases: Used data was reported at 598.000 USD in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 897.000 USD for 2014. United States CES: $5 to 9.999 Th: AAE: Tranpo: Vehicle Purchases: Used data is updated yearly, averaging 506.000 USD from Dec 1984 (Median) to 2015, with 32 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 937.000 USD in 2001 and a record low of 272.000 USD in 1987. United States CES: $5 to 9.999 Th: AAE: Tranpo: Vehicle Purchases: Used data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.H041: Consumer Expenditure Survey: By Income Level.

United States CES: $70 to 99.999 Th: AAE: Education data was reported at 1,106.000 USD in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 729.000 USD for 2022. United States CES: $70 to 99.999 Th: AAE: Education data is updated yearly, averaging 1,010.000 USD from Dec 2015 (Median) to 2023, with 9 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,115.000 USD in 2017 and a record low of 729.000 USD in 2022. United States CES: $70 to 99.999 Th: AAE: Education data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.H074: Consumer Expenditure Survey: by Income Level.