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Bureau of Labor Statistics > Consumer Expenditure Survey > Methods > Improvements and Protocol Changes

Improvements and protocol changes

The CE program continuously assesses and updates its data collection, processing, and dissemination procedures in order to improve data quality and cost efficiencies. The information below presents a chronological list of selected survey improvements and protocol changes by year, starting with the transition to a continuous survey in late 1979. The list includes major improvements and changes in data collection methods, processing changes, and new data products. In some cases, notable but otherwise minor improvements and changes are listed. In many years, survey questionnaire content is updated; see the relevant section(s) of the Survey Questionnaires and Materials page for more details.

2022

Implemented official online Diary Survey form
Redefined the definition of rural areas in the CE Type of Area tables
Introduced 2010-2022 standard errors for CE estimates in the LABSTAT database (ongoing)

2021

Redesigned the Interview Survey clothing section, replacing detailed questions with global questions
Began releasing Public Use Microdata (PUMD) on a semiannual basis (ongoing)

2020

Published PUMD previously unavailable on the CE website for 1980-1996 data
Developed and posted the research product state-level tables by income
Increased sample sizes for the Diary Survey by 53 percent and the Interview Survey by 11 percent in support of the CPI Commodities and Services Survey outlet frame
Due to COVID-19 interviewing restrictions, implemented contingencies with telephone data collection for both the Interview and Diary surveys and a temporary online diary for the Diary Survey
Administered Economic Impact Payment (stimulus) questions in the Interview Survey

2019

Published the LABSTAT Getting Started Guide
In the Diary Survey form, added point-of-purchase questions in the following sections: Food and Drinks at Home; Meals, Snacks, and Drinks away from Home; and All Other Products, Services, and Expenses
Introduced Census Division tables with the 2019 annual release, for 2017-2018 data
Added extended recall point-of-purchase questions as a supplement to the shorter recall period questions

2018

Added a U.S. military veteran status question to the Interview and Diary surveys
Added point-of-purchase questions to the Interview Survey to serve as the main source for CPI's Commodities and Services survey sampling frame

2017

Introduced generational tables to the production release, for 2016 data
First release of the research product state-level weights, for use with 2016 data
Changed the Diary Survey protocol to include placement of the two weekly diaries in one visit, as a cost efficiency step after research confirming nonimpact on expenditures
Expanded the Diary Survey placement periods from assigned 7-day windows to anytime during the collection month
Remodeled the Interview health insurance section after the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) health insurance section
Expanded the amount of the last payment and the payment period question wording to non-health insurance and condo/HOA

2016

Published PUMD from 1996 and afterwards to the CE website

2015

Eliminated the bounding interview as a cost efficiency step after research confirming limited utility in addressing telescoping error

2014

Added income as a weighting variable to the non-interview adjustment calculations

2013

First release of midyear tables
Introduced federal and state income tax estimation using the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) tax simulator (TAXSIM) in survey data processing
Replaced Interview Survey health insurance 3-month recall amount question with improved questions asking about the amount of the last payment and the payment period
Introduced a streamlined income section to the questionnaire
Introduced the combined Assets and Liabilities section to the questionnaire

2012

Began providing supplemental poverty thresholds based on CE data to the Census Bureau for use in the production of the Census Bureau's Supplemental Poverty Measure

2011

Transitioned to a continuous updating process for the survey sample design

2010

Published the final Biennial Report
Hosted the first data users' forum for the Gemini Redesign Project

2009

For the first time, released publication tables and PUMD on the same date, with the release of 2008 data

2008

Administered 2008 stimulus payment questions in the Interview Survey

2006

Added CHI to the Diary Survey
Added questions to the Interview Survey on the new Medicare Prescription Drug benefit
Hosted the first annual Public Use Microdata Users' Workshop at BLS

2005

Increased from 20 replicate weights to 44 replicate weights
Introduced a redesigned, more user-friendly Diary form
Added the Contact History Instrument (CHI) module to the Interview Survey
Introduced imputed income data in the 2004 annual data release

2004

Implemented model-based income imputations in survey data processing

2003

Transitioned from Pen and Paper Personal Interviewing to Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI)
Published the first CE Anthology
Added a Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino status question to the surveys
Updated the questionnaire to replace the marital status category "other" with "unmarried partner"
Updated the questionnaire to replace the marital status categories "husband" and "wife" with "married partner"

2001

Updated the Interview Survey questionnaire to collect income data using income brackets
Administered 2001 tax rebate questions in the Interview Survey

2000

Posted all historic CE tables for expenditure means dating back to 1984 on the CE website
Provided standard error tables on the CE website for the first time

1999

Introduced cognitive testing to the questionnaire design process, improving question wording and minimizing measurement error
Increased CE sample size by 50 percent, allowing for more frequent CPI weight updates

1996

Introduced Universal classification code (UCC) mapping and new MTAB data table to PUMD

1995

Provided CE data tables to the public on the CE website for the first time

1992

Published bulletins were changed to reports to be free of charge to the public

1988

Changed the recall period for Food at Home questions from monthly to weekly

1984

Began annual publication of data tables
Integrated Diary and Interview survey data for publication in CE reports and bulletins

1983

Restored the rural sample

1981

Discontinued the rural sample due to budgetary constraints

1979

Began annual data collection in urban and rural areas

Last Modified Date: September 8, 2023