PSU's for the CE 2010 Census Based Sample Design

U .S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics

2 Massachusetts Ave. N.E.

Washington, D.C. 20212

December 18, 2012
MEMORANDUM FOR:	RICHARD SCHWARTZ, Chief Consumer Expenditure Surveys Branch Demographic Surveys Division U.S. Bureau of the Census
FROM:	JAY RYAN, Chief Division of Consumer Expenditure Survey Office of Prices and Living Conditions U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
SUBJECT:	PSUs for the Consumer Expenditure Survey’s 2010 Census-Based Sample Design

I. Introduction

Every ten years the Consumer Expenditure (CE) survey updates its sample of primary sampling units (PSUs) based on the latest decennial census. The purpose is to make sure CE’s sample accurately reflects the latest geographic shifts in the American population. This memo provides a list of the 91 PSUs that were recently selected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for the CE survey based on the 2010 census. They are scheduled to be used over the ten-year period 2015-2024.

The list of PSUs is at the end of the memo. It shows the 91 PSUs that were selected, the counties that constitute them, and their populations. The United States has 3,143 counties (or county equivalents) which the BLS and the Bureau of the Census (BOC) partitioned into 1,470 PSUs, and from which the BLS selected 91 of them for CE’s sample.

II. Overview of CE’s Geographic Sample Design

CE’s overall geographic sample design remains unchanged from the 2000 census-based sample design. The self-representing PSUs are still the largest metropolitan areas in the country, and the non-self-representing PSUs are still a random sample of smaller geographic areas around the country – metropolitan, micropolitan, and non-CBSA.

However, three noteworthy details did change: the geographic areas used to stratify the PSUs; the number of population size classes used to stratify the PSUs; and the use of a single Core Based Statistical Area (CBSA) to define each self-representing PSUs.

First, the geographic areas used to stratify PSUs were changed from the four Census regions of the country to the nine Census divisions. This allows the Consumer Price Index (CPI) program to publish more geographically detailed information about inflation rates. Since the nine divisions partition the four regions of the country (they divide them neatly without any overlapping or missing pieces) it will be easy to aggregate CPI’s division-level inflation rate estimates up to region-level estimates to allow the CPI’s inflation rates to be published at both levels of geographic detail. These are the four Census regions and the nine Census divisions:

1. Northeast	2. Midwest	3. South	4. West
1. New England	3. East North Central	5. South Atlantic	8. Mountain
2. Middle Atlantic	4. West North Central	6. East South Central	9. Pacific
		7. West South Central

Second, the number of size classes used to stratify the PSUs was reduced from four to three. The three new size classes are CBSAs with over 2.5 million people (plus Honolulu and Anchorage), CBSAs with under 2.5 million people, and non-CBSA areas:

Old PSU Size Classes	New PSU Size Classes
1. Metropolitan CBSAs over 2.0 million people (“A” PSUs) (1),(2)	1. CBSAs over 2.5 million people (“S” PSUs) (2)
2. Metropolitan CBSAs under 2.0 million people (“X” PSUs) (1)	2. CBSAs under 2.5 million people (“N” PSUs)
3. Micropolitan CBSAs (“Y” PSUs)	3. Non-CBSA areas (“R” PSUs)
4. Non-CBSA areas (“Z” PSUs)
(1) The cutoff was changed from 2.0 million people to 2.7 million people when CE’s sample was cut in 2006. (2) Plus Honolulu and Anchorage.

The “S” PSUs are self-representing, the “N” PSUs are non-self-representing, and the “R” PSUs are small clusters of non-CBSA (“rural”) counties formed from the counties not assigned to CBSAs.

The third noteworthy change is the use of single CBSAs to define self-representing PSUs. In the 2000 census-based sample design many of the self-representing PSUs were formed by the union of multiple CBSAs in an effort to preserve PSU boundaries that were established in the 1990 census-based sample design. Those PSUs were geographically quite large. The new 2010 census-based sample design replaces those multiple-CBSA PSUs with single-CBSA PSUs, which will make the new self-representing PSUs geographically smaller.

Finally, it is important to note that the PSUs are based on preliminary CBSA definitions created jointly by the BOC and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Preliminary CBSA definitions will not be published, and some of them may change when the final definitions come out, but the changes are expected to be minor. The CE survey will use the preliminary CBSA definitions for the whole ten-year period and will not change to the final CBSA definitions even when they become available.

III. PSUs Selected for CE’s Sample

After stratifying the complete universe of 1,470 PSUs into divisions and size classes, the BLS selected 23 “S” PSUs (which are all 21 preliminary CBSAs with over 2.5 million people, plus Honolulu and Anchorage), a stratified random sample of 52 “N” PSUs, and a stratified random sample of 16 “R” PSUs:

		PSU Size Class
Region	Division	S	N	R	Total
1. Northeast	1. New England	1	2	1	4
	2. Middle Atlantic	2	4	1	7
2. Midwest	3. East North Central	2	8	2	12
	4. West North Central	2	4	2	8
3. South	5. South Atlantic	5	12	2	19
	6. East South Central	0	6	2	8
	7. West South Central	2	8	2	12
4. West	8. Mountain	2	4	3	9
	9. Pacific	7	4	1	12
	Total	23	52	16	91

Within each division and size class, the “N” and “R” PSUs were stratified according to four variables – latitude, longitude, income, and property value – from which a stratified random sample of PSUs was drawn, one PSU from each stratum. The “N” PSUs were selected using an overlap maximization and controlled selection procedure, while the “R” PSUs were selected with probability proportional to size. This is similar to the procedure used in the 1990 and 2000 census-based sample designs. Although an overlap maximization procedure is used for the “N” PSUs, their unconditional probabilities are equal to the PSU’s population divided by the stratum’s population. For the “R” PSUs their probabilities are the PSU’s population divided by the stratum’s population to which the PSU belongs.¹

IV. Honolulu and Anchorage

The four CBSAs in Hawaii (Honolulu, Hilo, Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, Kapaa) were grouped into a state stratum, and Honolulu was selected with certainty to represent it. Likewise, the four CBSAs in Alaska (Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Ketchikan) were grouped into a state stratum, and Anchorage was selected with certainty to represent it. Honolulu and Anchorage are considered to be self-representing PSUs for publication purposes, but non-self-representing PSUs for the purpose of drawing their samples. When drawing their samples their stratum populations should be used as their measure of size.

V. SAS Dataset with PSU Information

In addition to providing the complete list of 91 selected PSUs at the end of the memo, a SAS dataset is also being provided to BOC with this memo. The file is called CECPI_PSULIST_2010DESIGN.sas7bdat. It has 3,143 records, one for every county (or county equivalent) in the United States, and it contains the following variables:

Variable name	Format	Description
PSU_Code	Character $7	PSU code (N12B.01, N12B.02, etc.)
PSU_Name	Character $46	PSU Name (Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV)
PSU_Type	Character $5	CBSA type (metropolitan, micropolitan, non-CBSA or “rural”)
Selected	Character $1	Was the PSU selected for sample? (Y/N)
Preliminary_CBSA_Code	Character $5	Preliminary CBSA code
State_FIPS	Character $2	State FIPS code (01,02,…,56)
County_FIPS	Character $3	County FIPS code (001,002,003,…)
State_Name	Character $2	State Name (DC, MD, VA, WV, etc.)
County_Name	Character $33	County name (Montgomery, Howard, Fairfax, Loudon, etc.)
County_Population	Numeric	Number of people in the county
PSU_Population	Numeric	Number of people in the PSU
Stratum_Population	Numeric	Number of people in the stratum

Most of the variables on the dataset are self-explanatory. However, the variable “PSU_Code” needs some explanation. The PSU codes have seven characters, with the first four characters identifying the stratum, followed by a decimal point, and then two more characters identifying the specific PSU within the stratum.

 1^st character: S, N, R (self-representing, non-self-representing, “rural”)

 2^nd character: Region (1,2,3,4)

 3^rd character: Division (1,2,…,9)

 4^th character: Stratum (A,B,C,…)

 5^th character: Decimal point to separate the stratum and PSU

 6^th and 7^th characters: PSU (01,02,03,…)

Also “PSU_Name” is the preliminary CBSA name given to us by BOC earlier this year; “PSU_Type” indicates whether the PSU is a metropolitan CBSA, a micropolitan CBSA, or a non-CBSA area; “Preliminary_CBSA_Code” is the preliminary CBSA code number given to us by BOC earlier this year; and “County_Population” is the county’s resident population from the 2010 census.

Here is an example for an “N” stratum in the South Atlantic division. The stratum has 9 counties that were clustered together into 3 PSUs. Raleigh, NC was randomly selected to represent the stratum as denoted by “Y” in the column labeled “Selected.” That particular PSU has three counties and its population is 1,130,490 (= 60,619 + 168,878 + 900,993). Since the total population of all 9 counties in the stratum is 2,549,176, the PSU’s unconditional probability of selection is 0.4435 (= 1,130,490 / 2,549,176).

PSU Code	PSU_Name	PSU Type	Selected	State FIPS	County FIPS	State Name	County Name	County Population	PSU Population	Stratum Population
N35I.01	Jacksonville, FL	metro	N	12	003	FL	Baker	27,115	1,345,596	2,549,176
N35I.01	Jacksonville, FL	metro	N	12	019	FL	Clay	190,865	1,345,596	2,549,176
N35I.01	Jacksonville, FL	metro	N	12	031	FL	Duval	864,263	1,345,596	2,549,176
N35I.01	Jacksonville, FL	metro	N	12	089	FL	Nassau	73,314	1,345,596	2,549,176
N35I.01	Jacksonville, FL	metro	N	12	109	FL	St. Johns	190,039	1,345,596	2,549,176
N35I.02	Key West, FL	micro	N	12	087	FL	Monroe	73,090	73,090	2,549,176
N35I.03	Raleigh, NC	metro	Y	37	069	NC	Franklin	60,619	1,130,490	2,549,176
N35I.03	Raleigh, NC	metro	Y	37	101	NC	Johnston	168,878	1,130,490	2,549,176
N35I.03	Raleigh, NC	metro	Y	37	183	NC	Wake	900,993	1,130,490	2,549,176

Note: The county, PSU, and stratum populations over the whole United States sum to 308,745,538, which is the Census Bureau’s official estimate of the U.S. resident population on April 1, 2010 (the 2010 decennial census).

VI. Other Aspects of CE’s Sample Design

The purpose `of this memo is only to provide PSU definitions for CE’s 2010 census-based sample design. Other aspects of the redesign, such as the sample size and whether there will still be a bounding interview, will be covered in separate memos.

OPLC/SMD/Swanson/12182012/A1204.4

cc:	BLS	Census
	Steven Paben (SMD)	Stephen Ash (DSMD)
	Bill Johnson (SMD)	Danielle Castelo (DSMD)
	Susan King (SMD)	James Farber (DSMD)
	John Schilp (SMD)	Howard McGowan (DSD)
	David Swanson (SMD)	Carolyn Pickering (DSD)
	Rob Cage (DCPPI)
	Robert Eddy (OPLC)
	John Layng (CPI)

U.S. Consumer Expenditure Survey:

2010 Census-Based Sample Design (91 PSUs)

Division 1 (New England), Northeast Region
PSU	PSU Name	PSU Definition (State and County)	PSU Population	Stratum Population
S11A	Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	MA: Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk NH: Rockingham, Strafford	4,552,402	4,552,402
N11B	Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	CT: Hartford, Middlesex, Tolland	1,212,381	5,005,793
N11C	Springfield, MA	MA: Hampden, Hampshire	621,570	4,233,926
R11D	Addison, VT	VT: Addison	36,821	652,744
Division 2 (Middle Atlantic), Northeast Region
PSU	PSU Name	PSU Definition (State and County)	PSU Population	Stratum Population
S12A	New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA	NJ: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union NY: Bronx, Dutchess, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Westchester PA: Pike	19,567,410	19,567,410
S12B	Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	DE: New Castle MD: Cecil NJ: Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Salem PA: Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia	5,965,343	5,965,343
N12C	Pittsburgh, PA	PA: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington, Westmoreland	2,356,285	4,065,877
N12D	Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY	NY: Erie, Niagara	1,135,509	3,483,174
N12E	Rochester, NY	NY: Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Wayne, Yates	1,079,671	3,925,318
N12F	Reading, PA	PA: Berks	411,442	3,562,332
R12G	Northeast Pennsylvania	PA: Susquehanna, Wayne	96,178	825,870
Division 3 (East North Central), Midwest Region
PSU	PSU Name	PSU Definition (State and County)	PSU Population	Stratum Population
S23A	Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI	IL: Cook, De Kalb, Du Page, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, Will IN: Jasper, Lake, Newton, Porter WI: Kenosha	9,461,105	9,461,105
S23B	Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	MI: Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, St. Clair, Wayne	4,296,250	4,296,250
N23C	Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	IN: Dearborn, Ohio, Union KY: Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Gallatin, Grant, Kenton, Pendleton OH: Brown, Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, Warren	2,114,580	3,395,853
N23D	Cleveland-Elyria, OH	OH: Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina	2,077,240	3,257,953
N23E	Columbus, OH	OH: Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Hocking, Licking, Madison, Morrow, Perry, Pickaway, Union	1,901,974	3,758,510
N23F	Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI	WI: Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington, Waukesha	1,555,908	3,256,494
N23G	Dayton, OH	OH: Greene, Miami, Montgomery	799,232	3,924,320
N23H	Flint, MI	MI: Genesee	425,790	3,911,189
N23I	Janesville-Beloit, WI	WI: Rock	160,331	3,745,126
N23J	Frankfort, IN	IN: Clinton	33,224	3,427,365
R23K	Northern Michigan	MI: Cheboygan, Montmorency, Presque Isle	49,293	1,605,685
R23L	Holmes, OH	OH: Holmes	42,366	1,351,458
Division 4 (West North Central), Midwest Region
PSU	PSU Name	PSU Definition (State and County)	PSU Population	Stratum Population
S24A	Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	MN: Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Le Sueur, Mille Lacs, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Washington, Wright WI: Pierce, St. Croix	3,348,859	3,348,859
S24B	St. Louis, MO-IL	IL: Bond, Calhoun, Clinton, Jersey, Macoupin, Madison, Monroe, St. Clair MO: Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, St. Charles, St. Louis, St. Louis City, Warren	2,787,701	2,787,701
N24C	Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA	IA: Harrison, Mills, Pottawattamie NE: Cass, Douglas, Sarpy, Saunders, Washington	865,350	2,974,017
N24D	Wichita, KS	KS: Butler, Harvey, Kingman, Sedgwick, Sumner	630,919	2,842,770
N24E	Lincoln, NE	NE: Lancaster, Seward	302,157	3,288,318
N24F	Wahpeton, ND-MN	MN: Wilkin ND: Richland	22,897	2,947,903
R24G	Northern Missouri	MO: Daviess, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Mercer, Worth	40,345	1,838,073
R24H	Northeast Nebraska	NE: Cedar, Knox	17,553	1,547,801
Division 5 (South Atlantic), South Region
PSU	PSU Name	PSU Definition (State and County)	PSU Population	Stratum Population
S35A	Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	DC: District of Columbia MD: Calvert, Charles, Frederick, Montgomery, Prince George’s VA: Alexandria City, Arlington, Clarke, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fairfax City, Falls Church City, Fauquier, Fredericksburg City, Loudoun, Manassas City, Manassas Park City, Prince William, Rappahannock, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Warren WV: Jefferson	5,636,232	5,636,232
S35B	Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	FL: Broward, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach	5,564,635	5,564,635
S35C	Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	GA: Barrow, Bartow, Butts, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, Dawson, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Haralson, Heard, Henry, Jasper, Lamar, Meriwether, Morgan, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Pike, Rockdale, Spalding, Walton	5,286,728	5,286,728
S35D	Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	FL: Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas	2,783,243	2,783,243
S35E	Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	MD: Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Baltimore City, Carroll, Harford, Howard, Queen Anne’s	2,710,489	2,710,489
N35F	Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	NC: Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Union SC: Chester, Lancaster, York	2,217,012	3,035,149
N35G	Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	FL: Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole	2,134,411	2,642,941
N35H	Richmond, VA	VA: Amelia, Caroline, Charles City, Chesterfield, Colonial Heights City, Dinwiddie, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, Hopewell City, King William, New Kent, Petersburg City, Powhatan, Prince George, Richmond City, Sussex	1,208,101	3,027,856
N35I	Raleigh, NC	NC: Franklin, Johnston, Wake	1,130,490	2,549,176
N35J	Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC	SC: Anderson, Greenville, Laurens, Pickens	824,112	3,094,518
N35K	Winston-Salem, NC	NC: Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Stokes, Yadkin	640,595	2,637,083
N35L	Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL	FL: Lee	618,754	3,091,153
N35M	Ocala, FL	FL: Marion	331,298	2,568,744
N35N	Gainesville, FL	FL: Alachua, Gilchrist	264,275	2,913,140
N35O	Wilmington, NC	NC: New Hanover, Pender	254,884	2,736,321
N35P	Jacksonville, NC	NC: Onslow	177,772	3,100,604
N35Q	Big Stone Gap, VA	VA: Dickenson, Norton City, Wise	61,313	2,563,098
R35R	Southern Virginia	VA: Charlotte, Cumberland, Halifax, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Prince Edward	127,888	1,543,021
R35S	Southwest West Virginia	WV: McDowell, Mingo, Wyoming	72,748	1,853,703
Division 6 (East South Central), South Region
PSU	PSU Name	PSU Definition (State and County)	PSU Population	Stratum Population
N36A	Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	IN: Clark, Floyd, Harrison, Scott, Washington KY: Bullitt, Henry, Jefferson, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer, Trimble	1,235,708	2,529,624
N36B	Birmingham-Hoover, AL	AL: Bibb, Blount, Chilton, Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair, Walker	1,128,047	2,483,606
N36C	Chattanooga, TN-GA	GA: Catoosa, Dade, Walker TN: Hamilton, Marion, Sequatchie	528,143	2,620,595
N36D	Huntsville, AL	AL: Limestone, Madison	417,593	2,801,399
N36E	Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL	AL: Colbert, Lauderdale	147,137	2,550,408
N36F	Meridian, MS	MS: Clarke, Kemper, Lauderdale	107,449	2,397,313
R36G	Eastern Kentucky	KY: Floyd, Johnson, Knott, Lawrence, Magoffin, Martin, Pike	186,299	1,567,733
R36H	Western Tennessee	TN: Carroll, Gibson, Henderson	105,974	1,406,973
Division 7 (West South Central), South Region
PSU	PSU Name	PSU Definition (State and County)	PSU Population	Stratum Population
S37A	Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	TX: Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Hood, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, Somervell, Tarrant, Wise	6,426,214	6,426,214
S37B	Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX	TX: Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, Waller	5,920,416	5,920,416
N37C	San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	TX: Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe, Kendall, Medina, Wilson	2,142,508	2,436,095
N37D	Oklahoma City, OK	OK: Canadian, Cleveland, Grady, Lincoln, Logan, McClain, Oklahoma	1,252,987	2,812,948
N37E	Baton Rouge, LA	LA: Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, West Baton Rouge, West Feliciana	802,484	2,543,610
N37F	Lafayette, LA	LA: Acadia, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Martin, Vermilion	466,750	2,444,837
N37G	Brownsville-Harlingen, TX	TX: Cameron	406,220	2,581,037
N37H	Amarillo, TX	TX: Armstrong, Carson, Oldham, Potter, Randall	251,933	2,756,117
N37I	Russellville, AR	AR: Pope, Yell	83,939	2,620,998
N37J	Paris, TX	TX: Lamar	49,793	2,851,943
R37K	Northeast Texas	TX: Camp, Rains, Van Zandt, Wood	117,858	1,315,398
R37L	Northern Arkansas	AR: Cleburne, Conway, Stone, Van Buren	76,932	1,587,948
Division 8 (Mountain), West Region
PSU	PSU Name	PSU Definition (State and County)	PSU Population	Stratum Population
S48A	Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ	AZ: Maricopa, Pinal	4,192,887	4,192,887
S48B	Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO	CO: Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, Gilpin, Jefferson, Park	2,543,482	2,543,482
N48C	Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV	NV: Clark	1,951,269	3,227,960
N48D	Provo-Orem, UT	UT: Juab, Utah	526,810	3,724,271
N48E	Yuma, AZ	AZ: Yuma	195,751	3,840,701
N48F	St. George, UT	UT: Washington	138,115	3,206,759
R48G	Ravalli, MT	MT: Ravalli	40,212	481,660
R48H	Lincoln, NM	NM: Lincoln	20,497	399,341
R48I	Gooding, ID	ID: Gooding	15,464	447,390
Division 9 (Pacific), West Region
PSU	PSU Name	PSU Definition (State and County)	PSU Population	Stratum Population
S49A	Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	CA: Los Angeles, Orange	12,828,837	12,828,837
S49B	San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA	CA: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo	4,335,391	4,335,391
S49C	Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	CA: Riverside, San Bernardino	4,224,851	4,224,851
S49D	Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	WA: King, Pierce, Snohomish	3,439,809	3,439,809
S49E	San Diego-Carlsbad, CA	CA: San Diego	3,095,313	3,095,313
S49F	Honolulu, HI	HI: Honolulu	953,207	1,360,301
S49G	Anchorage, AK	AK: Anchorage, Matanuska-Susitna	380,821	523,154
N49H	Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	OR: Clackamas, Columbia, Multnomah, Washington, Yamhill WA: Clark, Skamania	2,226,009	5,208,366
N49I	Santa Rosa, CA	CA: Sonoma	483,878	5,163,670
N49J	Chico, CA	CA: Butte	220,000	4,623,339
N49K	Moses Lake, WA	WA: Grant	89,120	4,363,676
R49L	Tillamook, OR	OR: Tillamook	25,250	714,395

1 The overlap maximization procedure that was used was based on Larry Ernst’s 1986 method: Lawrence R. Ernst, “Maximizing the Overlap Between Surveys when Information is Incomplete,” European Journal of Operations Research, volume 27 (1986), pp. 192-200. For details on how it was applied to CE’s 2010 census-based sample, see: William Johnson, Steve Paben, John Schilp, “The Use of Sample Overlap Methods in the Consumer Price Index Area Redesign,” 2012 Proceedings of the International Conference on Establishment Surveys.

6