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Census Bureau and Americans’ Spending Habits
Information about how much money Americans spend on items such as groceries, clothing, health care and housing will be collected in October when representatives of the Census Bureau visit randomly selected households across the country for the Consumer Expenditure Survey (CES).
In the survey, about 7,500 households nationwide will be interviewed once every three months over the next year. Another 7,500 households will record all their expenditures over a two-week period. 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.
"Findings from the CES permit policy-makers to assess the impact of changes in government policies on the spending patterns of different socioeconomic groups," said Arthur G. Dukakis, director of the Census Bureau’s Boston regional office. "These data also help business owners track consumer spending trends, so they can better respond to the needs of their customers."
By law, the answers the Census Bureau receives from survey respondents are confidential. Participating households receive a letter informing them of their selection for the survey from the director of the Census Bureau. Census Bureau field representatives, who conduct the interviews, carry official identification cards.
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