Response Rates 2011

Response Rates for the Consumer
Price Indexes, 2011

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 2011.
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 percent of the sample
used at estimation is defined as the number of sample
units used in estimation divided by the number of
eligible sample units.1
Response rates for 2011 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 2011. Tables R-2
through R-17 show rates for current data collection in
selected areas for which indexes are published
monthly, bimonthly, or semiannually.

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 202120001, or call Darren Rippy at (202) 691-7000, or
email him at [email protected].

1

Imputed prices, when used in estimation, are
counted in this estimate. Beginning in July 2010, the
BLS began using rent prices imputed by a noninterview adjustment technique in estimation.
Therefore, nearly all eligible sample units have
prices, collected or imputed, that are used in
estimation.

Consumer Price Index, Bureau of Labor Statistics, January 2012

Table R-1. Response rates for the CPI-U, U.S. city average, by major group and shelter, 2011
Quotes
Commodities and
services

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

Outlets
Total

Food and Housing
Transpor- Medical
bever- (excluding Apparel
tation
care
ages
shelter)

Recreation

Education
and
communication

Other
goods
and
services

330,927

1,183,424

464,023

147,974

144,681

152,896

73,118

78,666

78,527

43,539

317,110
95.8

999,863
84.5

424,256
91.4

132,683
89.7

80,697
55.8

138,531
90.6

47,790
65.4

65,007
82.6

71,489
91.0

39,410
90.5

302,512
91.4

973,782
82.3

418,475
90.2

129,349
87.4

76,051
52.6

133,827
87.5

45,633
62.4

61,717
78.5

70,022
89.2

38,708
88.9

All Units
73,337
100.0

57,199
78.0
6,318
8.6
9,820
13.4
73,314
100.0

TableR2.ResponseratesfortheCPIU,ChicagoGary
Kenosha,ILINWI,2011
Commodities
and services
Eligible

Total
Outlets
17,577

Quotes
52,123

Collected
Number

16,647

42,747

Percent

94.7

82.0

Used in estimation

Shelter

All Units

Eligible
Number

2,235

Percent

100.0

Collected
Data reported

Number

15,866

41,714

Number

1,478

Percent

90.3

80.0

Percent

66.1

Found vacant
Number

214

Percent

9.6

Other
Number

543

Percent

24.3

Used in estimation
Number

2,235

Percent

100.0

TableR3.ResponseratesfortheCPIU,LosAngeles
RiversideOrangeCounty,CA,2011
Commodities
and services
Eligible

Total
Outlets

Quotes

Shelter

All Units

24,209

75,478

Number

23,074

60,581

Percent

95.3

80.3

Number

21,999

58,955

Number

3,846

Percent

90.9

78.1

Percent

76.8

Collected

Used in estimation

Eligible
Number

5,009

Percent

100.0

Collected
Data reported

Found vacant
Number

235

Percent

4.7

Other
Number

928

Percent

18.5

Used in estimation
Number

5,008

Percent

100.0

TableR4.ResponseratesfortheCPIU,NYNorthernNJLong
Island,NYNJCTPA,2011
Commodities
and services
Eligible

Total
Outlets

Quotes

Shelter

All Units

36,606

117,223

Number

34,909

94,806

Percent

95.4

80.9

Number

33,258

92,151

Number

4,467

Percent

90.9

78.6

Percent

74.1

Collected

Used in estimation

Eligible
Number

6,032

Percent

100.0

Collected
Data reported

Found vacant
Number

371

Percent

6.2

Other
Number

1,194

Percent

19.8

Used in estimation
Number

6,031

Percent

100.0

TableR5.ResponseratesfortheCPIU,Phil.Wilmington
Trenton,PANJDEMD,2011
Commodities
and services
Eligible

Total
Outlets
6,044

Quotes
17,959

Collected
Number

5,791

15,028

Percent

95.8

83.7

Used in estimation

Shelter

All Units

Eligible
Number

1,831

Percent

100.0

Collected
Data reported

Number

5,519

14,444

Number

1,435

Percent

91.3

80.4

Percent

78.4

Found vacant
Number

176

Percent

9.6

Other
Number

220

Percent

12.0

Used in estimation
Number

1,831

Percent

100.0

TableR6.ResponseratesfortheCPIU,SanFrancisco
OaklandSanJose,CA,2011
Commodities
and services
Eligible

Total
Outlets

Quotes

Shelter

All Units

5,263

16,550

Number

4,960

13,335

Percent

94.2

80.6

Number

4,650

12,900

Number

2,895

Percent

88.4

77.9

Percent

80.2

Collected

Used in estimation

Eligible
Number

3,608

Percent

100.0

Collected
Data reported

Found vacant
Number

147

Percent

4.1

Other
Number

566

Percent

15.7

Used in estimation
Number

3,608

Percent

100.0

TableR7.ResponseratesfortheCPIU,Washington
Baltimore,DCMDVAWV,2011
Commodities
and services
Eligible

Total
Outlets

Quotes

Shelter

All Units

7,739

26,645

Number

7,386

21,791

Percent

95.4

81.8

Number

6,981

21,007

Number

1,843

Percent

90.2

78.8

Percent

82.6

Collected

Used in estimation

Eligible
Number

2,231

Percent

100.0

Collected
Data reported

Found vacant
Number

141

Percent

6.3

Other
Number

247

Percent

11.1

Used in estimation
Number

2,228

Percent

99.9

TableR8.ResponseratesfortheCPIU,BostonBrockton
Nashua,MANHMECT,2011
Commodities
and services
Eligible

Total
Outlets

Quotes

Shelter

All Units

5,447

16,485

Number

5,143

13,605

Percent

94.4

82.5

Number

4,855

13,164

Number

1,379

Percent

89.1

79.9

Percent

75.1

Collected

Used in estimation

Eligible
Number

1,836

Percent

100.0

Collected
Data reported

Found vacant
Number

115

Percent

6.3

Other
Number

342

Percent

18.6

Used in estimation
Number

1,836

Percent

100.0

TableR9.ResponseratesfortheCPIU,Cleveland
Akron,OH,2011
Commodities
and services
Eligible

Total
Outlets

Quotes

Shelter

All Units

4,125

14,464

Number

3,966

12,286

Percent

96.1

84.9

Number

3,766

11,962

Number

851

Percent

91.3

82.7

Percent

72.9

Collected

Used in estimation

Eligible
Number

1,167

Percent

100.0

Collected
Data reported

Found vacant
Number

167

Percent

14.3

Other
Number

149

Percent

12.8

Used in estimation
Number

1,167

Percent

100.0

TableR10.ResponseratesfortheCPIU,MiamiFort
Lauderdale,FL,2011
Commodities
and services
Eligible

Total
Outlets
1,504

Quotes
6,703

Collected
Number

1,478

6,277

Percent

98.3

93.6

Used in estimation

Shelter

All Units

Eligible
Number

1,013

Percent

100.0

Collected
Data reported

Number

1,464

6,191

Number

802

Percent

97.3

92.4

Percent

79.2

Found vacant
Number

72

Percent

7.1

Other
Number

139

Percent

13.7

Used in estimation
Number

1,013

Percent

100.0

TableR11.ResponseratesfortheCPIU,St.Louis,
MOIL,2011
Commodities
and services
Eligible

Total
Outlets

Quotes

Shelter

All Units

1,316

6,084

Number

1,287

5,652

Percent

97.8

92.9

Number

1,266

5,595

Number

504

Percent

96.2

92.0

Percent

73.4

Collected

Used in estimation

Eligible
Number

687

Percent

100.0

Collected
Data reported

Found vacant
Number

71

Percent

10.3

Other
Number

112

Percent

16.3

Used in estimation
Number

680

Percent

99.0

TableR12.ResponseratesfortheCPIU,DallasFort
Worth,TX,2011
Commodities
and services
Eligible

Total
Outlets

Quotes

Shelter

All Units

1,783

6,854

Number

1,766

6,295

Percent

99.0

91.8

Number

1,736

6,200

Number

1,054

Percent

97.4

90.5

Percent

78.7

Collected

Used in estimation

Eligible
Number

1,339

Percent

100.0

Collected
Data reported

Found vacant
Number

95

Percent

7.1

Other
Number

190

Percent

14.2

Used in estimation
Number

1,338

Percent

99.9

TableR13.ResponseratesfortheCPIU,DetroitAnn
ArborFlint,MI,2011
Commodities
and services
Eligible

Total
Outlets

Quotes

Shelter

All Units

5,013

16,513

Number

4,660

12,812

Percent

93.0

77.6

Number

4,375

12,351

Number

1,107

Percent

87.3

74.8

Percent

74.0

Collected

Used in estimation

Eligible
Number

1,496

Percent

100.0

Collected
Data reported

Found vacant
Number

170

Percent

11.4

Other
Number

219

Percent

14.6

Used in estimation
Number

1,496

Percent

100.0

TableR14.ResponseratesfortheCPIU,Houston
GalvestonBrazoria,TX,2011
Commodities
and services
Eligible

Total
Outlets

Quotes

Shelter

All Units

4,061

13,807

Number

3,877

11,535

Percent

95.5

83.5

Number

3,673

11,192

Number

826

Percent

90.4

81.1

Percent

72.8

Collected

Used in estimation

Eligible
Number

1,135

Percent

100.0

Collected
Data reported

Found vacant
Number

141

Percent

12.4

Other
Number

168

Percent

14.8

Used in estimation
Number

1,135

Percent

100.0

TableR15.ResponseratesfortheCPIU,
Pittsburgh,PA,2011
Commodities
and services
Eligible

Total
Outlets

Quotes

Shelter

All Units

3,272

11,883

Number

3,161

9,970

Percent

96.6

83.9

Number

3,018

9,719

Number

477

Percent

92.2

81.8

Percent

70.3

Collected

Used in estimation

Eligible
Number

679

Percent

100.0

Collected
Data reported

Found vacant
Number

78

Percent

11.5

Other
Number

124

Percent

18.3

Used in estimation
Number

679

Percent

100.0

TableR16.ResponseratesfortheCPIU,
PhoenixMesa,AZ.,2011
Commodities
and services
Eligible

Total
Outlets

Quotes

Shelter

All Units

3,415

12,139

Number

3,317

10,513

Percent

97.1

86.6

Number

3,145

10,206

Number

757

Percent

92.1

84.1

Percent

80.8

Collected

Used in estimation

Eligible
Number

937

Percent

100.0

Collected
Data reported

Found vacant
Number

104

Percent

11.1

Other
Number

76

Percent

8.1

Used in estimation
Number

937

Percent

100.0

TableR17.ResponseratesfortheCPIU,
Atlanta,GA.,2011
Commodities
and services
Eligible

Total
Outlets

Quotes

Shelter

All Units

4,694

14,413

Number

4,481

11,665

Percent

95.5

80.9

Number

4,231

11,347

Number

894

Percent

90.1

78.7

Percent

71.0

Collected

Used in estimation

Eligible
Number

1,260

Percent

100.0

Collected
Data reported

Found vacant
Number

157

Percent

12.5

Other
Number

209

Percent

16.6

Used in estimation
Number

1,260

Percent

100.0