Diary Informational Flyer

Consumer Expenditure Diary Survey
What is this all about?
Every month on the radio, on TV, and in newspapers you hear about the inflation rate and the Consumer Price
Index (CPI). Did you ever wonder how these important economic statistics are created? Information from you
and others around the country provides data for the CPI. The Consumer Expenditure Diary Survey is used to
regularly update the CPI, also called the inflation rate.
Sounds great, but why is this important to me?
Cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) are calculated for inflation every year by using the CPI. Millions of
American workers and retirees rely on those adjustments for their day-to-day expenses. Social Security
payments are typically adjusted each year based on the responses that you provide to us. The interest rates
on many mortgages and consumer loans are adjusted based on the inflation rate and CPI.
The information we gather is widely used by policymakers and researchers to study the impact of price
increases and policy changes. For example, what percentage of your paycheck or retirement check is spent
on housing, food, medicine, or gasoline? Has this amount changed over the years?
OK, I agree the survey is important, but I am worried about giving out my personal information.
We take data confidentiality very seriously. Wrongfully disclosing U.S. Census Bureau information collected
under Title 13 of the U.S. Code is a felony. The penalty for wrongful disclosure by a Census Bureau employee
is up to 5 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $250,000. The answers you provide are added to answers
from households all around the country and used for statistical purposes only. What the people at your
address buy is the most important information collected. If you wish, we do not have to collect your name
or age. Also, if you are uncomfortable answering any specific question, just let us know and we will skip the
question!
Still, I think it would be better if my neighbors participated; they buy more things than we do.
Your address was scientifically selected from among all addresses in the United States. We did not select
you by name. The information we collect needs to represent all types of households with all types of buying
habits. If people who made just one or two purchases a week did not answer the questions, important
decisions would be based on incorrect data that assumes all Americans make many purchases every week.
Even so, I am really busy and do not have the time to complete an expenditure diary.
If you do not think you have time to complete the two weekly expense diaries, our field representative can
work with you to accommodate your schedule. It might be easier for you to keep your receipts and record
them at the end of each day and jot down any other purchases that you made for which you didn’t get a
receipt. People who are very busy, have two jobs, or have unique responsibilities often spend money on
items that other households do not buy. The expenditures of busy people need to be included in this survey.
If you have questions about your participation in the Consumer Expenditure Diary Survey, visit
to find contact information for the Census Bureau Regional Office that serves
your area.

USCENSUSBUREAU
Helping You Make Informed Decisions
FLD/10-10283 (8/2010)

U.S. Department of Commerce
Economics and Statistics Administration
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU