U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Consumer Expenditure Survey

Public Use Microdata Order Form

A Brief Description of the Public Use Microdata

The Bureau of Labor Statistics sells CD-ROMs containing annual Consumer Expenditure (CE) Survey public use microdata. The CD-ROMs contain either separate or various combinations of Interview survey data, Diary survey data, EXPN files, and tabulated data (see the contents section in the table for a particular year’s exact contents).

The Interview survey collects data on monthly expenditures for housing, apparel and services, transportation, health care, entertainment, personal care, reading, education, food, tobacco, cash contributions, and personal insurance and pensions, as well as income and characteristics data. The Interview survey data are organized into four major data files for each quarter: 1) FMLY-a family characteristics and income file, 2) MEMB-a member characteristics and income file, 3) MTAB-a detailed monthly expenditure file, 4) ITAB-a monthly income file, and 5) ITAB_Impute-a monthly imputed income file.

The Diary survey collects data on weekly expenditures of frequently purchased items such as food at home, food away from home, alcoholic beverages, smoking supplies, personal care products and services, and nonprescription drugs, as well as income and characteristics data. The Diary survey data are organized into four major data files for each quarter: 1) FMLY-a family characteristics and income file, 2) MEMB-a member characteristics and income file, 3) EXPN-detailed weekly expenditures, 4) DTAB-annual income, and 5) DTAB_Impute-a monthly imputed income file.

The EXPN files contain expenditure and non-expenditure information collected directly from all of the major sections of the quarterly Interview survey. These files are more detailed than the other Interview survey files alone.

For years prior to 1996 the microdata are available only in ASCII text format. Beginning in 1996 the microdata are available in either ASCII text format or PC SAS data sets. Using programs like SAS or SPSS users can extract and manipulate the data.

For further technical information, contact the Division of Consumer Expenditure Surveys.

To purchase CD-ROMs by check or charge, print and complete this order form and return it with payment to:

Bureau of Labor Statistics Division of Financial Planning and Management, Room 4135, 2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20212-0001 Phone (202) 691-7794, Fax (202) 691-6640

NOTE: If you have trouble printing this order form try the portable document format (PDF). You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader, which can be obtained from the Adobe Acrobat Web site free of charge.

To charge:
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* Make check or money order payable to Bureau of Labor Statistics

Last Modified Date: February 21, 2008