Response Rates

Response Rates for the Consumer
Price Indexes, 2008

This article and the accompanying tables update articles previously published on response rates in the CPI Detailed Report
for March 1991, and in the January issues of 1993 through 2008.
In an effort to measure the outcome of data collection for the CPI, the BLS calculates response rates. Response rates
measure the proportion of completed surveys to those issued and help measure the accuracy of the CPI. Failure of a data unit
to respond at either the data collection stage or estimation stage represents a loss of statistical information which dilutes the
accuracy of the sample. The BLS publishes response rates annually to assist the data user in judging the accuracy of CPI
data.
The BLS calculates response rates for the CPI-U at the data collection and data estimation phases for pricing. The
response rate at the data collection phase is the number of responding sample units divided by the number of eligible sample
units. A sample unit is eligible if it belongs to the defined target population and if it should provide information for one or
more items. The response rate at estimation is defined as the number of sample units used in estimation divided by the
number of eligible sample units.
Response rates for 2008 are presented in tables R-1 through R-17. Table R-1 shows response rates for all data
included in the CPI-U, U.S. city average, by major group, for all of 2008. Tables R-2 through R-17 show rates for current
data collection in selected areas for which indexes are published monthly and bimonthly.
The response rates in tables R-1 through R-17 are separated into commodities and services, and the shelter portion of
housing. Commodities and services are further broken down into outlets and quotes. An "outlet" is a generic term that
designates the place where prices are collected. A "quote" is a specific item to be priced in a specific outlet. There may be
from 1 to more than 50 quotes priced in each outlet.
In table R-1, it is important to note the relatively low percentages of quotes reported, collected and used in estimation
for apparel. Low rates for these items can be partially attributed to the design of the apparel sample. Because seasonal
apparel items commonly are in stores only during certain times of the year, most of the apparel sample is doubled, with each
half of the sample designated for pricing during part of the year. Thus, at any particular time of the year, a large number of
apparel quotes, although eligible, are designated out of season and are not collected.
The response rates at the data collection phase for shelter are separated into three categories. If useable information
is obtained, the unit is designated data reported. If the assigned unit is located but is unoccupied, the unit is designated
found vacant. In instances where the unit is eligible but no data are available (for example, refusals or no one at home) the
unit is designated other.
For additional information on response rates, write to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of Consumer Prices
and Price Indexes, Room 3615, 2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE., Washington, DC 20212-0001, or call Sanjeev Katz at (202)
691-7000, or email him at [email protected].

Consumer Price Index, Bureau of Labor Statistics, March 2009

963,459
82.2

299,898
91.5

52,129
83.6

10,253
16.4

6,201
9.9

45,928
73.6

62,382
100.0

All Units

989,980
84.5

314,742
96.0

Shelter
Eligible
Number
Percent
Collected
Data reported
Number
Percent
Found vacant
Number
Percent
Other
Number
Percent
Used in estimation
Number
Percent

1,171,623

327,896

Eligible
Collected
Number
Percent
Used in estimation
Number
Percent

Total

Outlets

Commodities and
services

405,722
90.0

411,970
91.4

450,868

159,897
87.7

163,833
89.9

182,299

Food and Housing
bever- (excluding
shelter)
ages

74,789
49.4

81,159
53.6

151,419

Apparel

Quotes

125,960
88.1

129,311
90.5

142,931

Transportation

38,292
73.7

39,429
75.9

51,941

Medical
care

62,795
80.2

66,159
84.5

78,319

Recreation

Table R-1. Response rates for the CPI-U, U.S. city average, by major group and shelter, 2008

56,751
80.7

58,195
82.8

Education and
communication
70,316

39,253
90.2

39,924
91.7

43,530

Other
goods and
services

Table R-2. Response rates for the CPI-U, Chicago-GaryKenosha, IL-IN-WI, 2008
Commodities
and services
Eligible
Collected
Number
Percent
Used in estimation
Number
Percent

Total
Outlets Quotes
16,890 52,465
16,236 43,429
96.1
82.8
15,487 42,450
91.7
80.9

Shelter
Eligible
Number
Percent
Collected
Data reported
Number
Percent
Found vacant
Number
Percent
Other
Number
Percent
Used in estimation
Number
Percent

All Units
1,947
100.0

1,191
61.2
227
11.7
529
27.2
1,418
72.8

Table R-3. Response rates for the CPI-U, Los AngelesRiverside-Orange County, CA, 2008
Commodities
and services
Eligible
Collected
Number
Percent
Used in estimation
Number
Percent

Total
Outlets Quotes
25,345 77,764
24,657 65,026
97.3
83.6
23,344 63,427
92.1
81.6

Shelter
Eligible
Number
Percent
Collected
Data reported
Number
Percent
Found vacant
Number
Percent
Other
Number
Percent
Used in estimation
Number
Percent

All Units
4,119
100.0

2,983
72.4
174
4.2
962
23.4
3,157
76.6

Table R-4. Response rates for the CPI-U, NY-Northern NJ-Long
Island, NY-NJ-CT-PA, 2008
Commodities
and services
Eligible
Collected
Number
Percent
Used in estimation
Number
Percent

Total
Outlets Quotes
36,119 121,110
34,198
94.7

97,997
80.9

32,612
90.3

95,616
78.9

Shelter
Eligible
Number
Percent
Collected
Data reported
Number
Percent
Found vacant
Number
Percent
Other
Number
Percent
Used in estimation
Number
Percent

All Units
4,837
100.0

3,204
66.2
248
5.1
1,385
28.6
3,452
71.4

Table R-5. Response rates for the CPI-U, Phil.-WilmingtonTrenton, PA-NJ-KE-MD, 2008
Commodities
and services
Eligible
Collected
Number
Percent
Used in estimation
Number
Percent

Total
Outlets Quotes
8,362 25,739
8,062 22,462
96.4
87.3
7,742 21,807
92.6
84.7

Shelter
Eligible
Number
Percent
Collected
Data reported
Number
Percent
Found vacant
Number
Percent
Other
Number
Percent
Used in estimation
Number
Percent

All Units
1,434
100.0

1,036
72.2
145
10.1
253
17.6
1,181
82.4

Table R-6. Response rates for the CPI-U, San FranciscoOakland-San Jose, CA, 2008
Commodities
and services
Eligible
Collected
Number
Percent
Used in estimation
Number
Percent

Total
Outlets Quotes
6,662 23,521
6,370 19,709
95.6
83.8
6,053 19,174
90.9
81.5

Shelter
Eligible
Number
Percent
Collected
Data reported
Number
Percent
Found vacant
Number
Percent
Other
Number
Percent
Used in estimation
Number
Percent

All Units
2,799
100.0

2,140
76.5
131
4.7
528
18.9
2,271
81.1

Table R-7. Response rates for the CPI-U, WashingtonBaltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV, 2008
Commodities
and services
Eligible
Collected
Number
Percent
Used in estimation
Number
Percent

Total
Outlets Quotes
7,949 27,795
7,505 22,341
94.4
80.4
7,040 21,428
88.6
77.1

Shelter
Eligible
Number
Percent
Collected
Data reported
Number
Percent
Found vacant
Number
Percent
Other
Number
Percent
Used in estimation
Number
Percent

All Units
1,709
100.0

1,343
78.6
115
6.7
251
14.7
1,458
85.3

Table R-8. Response rates for the CPI-U, Boston-BrocktonNashua, MA-NH-ME-CT, 2008
Commodities
and services
Eligible
Collected
Number
Percent
Used in estimation
Number
Percent

Total
Outlets Quotes
5,445 18,241
5,195 14,974
95.4
82.1
4,911 14,419
90.2
79.0

Shelter
Eligible
Number
Percent
Collected
Data reported
Number
Percent
Found vacant
Number
Percent
Other
Number
Percent
Used in estimation
Number
Percent

All Units
1,448
100.0

1,057
73.0
112
7.7
279
19.3
1,169
80.7

Table R-9. Response rates for the CPI-U, ClevelandAkron, OH, 2008
Commodities
and services
Eligible
Collected
Number
Percent
Used in estimation
Number
Percent

Total
Outlets Quotes
4,091 14,559
3,960 12,276
96.8
84.3
3,755 11,881
91.8
81.6

Shelter
Eligible
Number
Percent
Collected
Data reported
Number
Percent
Found vacant
Number
Percent
Other
Number
Percent
Used in estimation
Number
Percent

All Units
1,273
100.0

865
67.9
195
15.3
213
16.7
1,060
83.3

Table R-10. Response rates for the CPI-U, Miami-Fort
Lauderdale, FL, 2008
Commodities
and services
Eligible
Collected
Number
Percent
Used in estimation
Number
Percent

Total
Outlets
Quotes
1,558
7,014
1,515
97.2

6,437
91.8

1,482
95.1

6,336
90.3

Shelter
Eligible
Number
Percent
Collected
Data reported
Number
Percent
Found vacant
Number
Percent
Other
Number
Percent
Used in estimation
Number
Percent

All Units
854
100.0

696
81.5
63
7.4
95
11.1
759
88.9

Table R-11. Response rates for the CPI-U, St. Louis,
MO-IL, 2008
Commodities
and services
Eligible
Collected
Number
Percent
Used in estimation
Number
Percent

Total
Outlets
Quotes
1,337
6,050
1,309
97.9

5,452
90.1

1,287
96.3

5,378
88.9

Shelter
Eligible
Number
Percent
Collected
Data reported
Number
Percent
Found vacant
Number
Percent
Other
Number
Percent
Used in estimation
Number
Percent

All Units
631
100.0

458
72.6
116
18.4
57
9.0
574
91.0

Table R-12. Response rates for the CPI-U, Dallas-Fort
Worth, TX, 2008
Commodities
and services
Eligible
Collected
Number
Percent
Used in estimation
Number
Percent

Total
Outlets
Quotes
1,895
6,611
1,862
98.3

6,098
92.2

1,830
96.6

6,006
90.8

Shelter
Eligible
Number
Percent
Collected
Data reported
Number
Percent
Found vacant
Number
Percent
Other
Number
Percent
Used in estimation
Number
Percent

All Units
1,236
100.0

972
78.6
140
11.3
124
10.0
1,112
90.0

Table R-13. Response rates for the CPI-U, Detroit-Ann
Arbor-Flint, MI, 2008
Commodities
and services
Eligible
Collected
Number
Percent
Used in estimation
Number
Percent

Total
Outlets
Quotes
5,016 17,048
4,720
94.1

13,838
81.2

4,473
89.2

13,320
78.1

Shelter
Eligible
Number
Percent
Collected
Data reported
Number
Percent
Found vacant
Number
Percent
Other
Number
Percent
Used in estimation
Number
Percent

All Units
1,157
100.0

775
67.0
160
13.8
222
19.2
935
80.8

Table R-14. Response rates for the CPI-U, HoustonGalveston-Brazoria, TX, 2008
Commodities
and services
Eligible
Collected
Number
Percent
Used in estimation
Number
Percent

Total
Outlets
Quotes
3,864 13,348
3,730
96.5

11,390
85.3

3,521
91.1

10,956
82.1

Shelter
Eligible
Number
Percent
Collected
Data reported
Number
Percent
Found vacant
Number
Percent
Other
Number
Percent
Used in estimation
Number
Percent

All Units
1,163
100.0

875
75.2
142
12.2
146
12.6
1,017
87.4

Table R-15. Response rates for the CPI-U,
Pittsburgh, PA, 2008
Commodities
and services
Eligible
Collected
Number
Percent
Used in estimation
Number
Percent

Total
Outlets
Quotes
3,664 13,031
3,482
95.0

10,599
81.3

3,324
90.7

10,271
78.8

Shelter
Eligible
Number
Percent
Collected
Data reported
Number
Percent
Found vacant
Number
Percent
Other
Number
Percent
Used in estimation
Number
Percent

All Units
711
100.0

450
63.3
105
14.8
156
21.9
555
78.1

Table R-16. Response rates for the CPI-U,
Phoenix-Mesa, AZ., 2008
Commodities
and services
Eligible
Collected
Number
Percent
Used in estimation
Number
Percent

Outlets
3,524

Total
Quotes
12,968

3,406
96.7

11,055
85.2

3,269
92.8

10,709
82.6

Shelter
Eligible
Number
Percent
Collected
Data reported
Number
Percent
Found vacant
Number
Percent
Other
Number
Percent
Used in estimation
Number
Percent

All Units
617
100.0

492
79.7
73
11.8
52
8.4
565
91.6

Table R-17. Response rates for the CPI-U,
Atlanta, GA., 2008
Commodities
and services
Eligible
Collected
Number
Percent
Used in estimation
Number
Percent

Total
Outlets
Quotes
4,670
14,697
4,502
96.4

12,238
83.3

4,280
91.6

11,868
80.8

Shelter
Eligible
Number
Percent
Collected
Data reported
Number
Percent
Found vacant
Number
Percent
Other
Number
Percent
Used in estimation
Number
Percent

All Units
1,320
100.0

803
60.8
159
12.0
358
27.1
962
72.9