Gemini Project Materials

The purpose of this page is to make available to researchers, stakeholders, and other interested parties project materials and the results of research that may inform or provide context for CE redesign discussions.

Gemini Overview

Project Vision Document - Revised for 2012 (PDF)
CPI Requirements for CE (PDF)
CE Data Quality Definition Report (PDF)
CE Data Requirements as of 5-24-11 (PDF)
Committee on National Statistics (CNSTAT) report: "Measuring What We Spend: Toward a New Consumer Expenditure Survey" (PDF 1.5MB)

Presentations at Gemini-Related Events

December 2012 FESAC Meeting

The December 14 meeting of the Federal Economic Statistics Advisory Committee (FESAC) featured presentations from Committee on National Statistics (CNSTAT) Expert Consensus Panel members regarding the panel’s recommendations for the CE survey redesign, responses from BLS and Census agency representatives, and discussion regarding applications and implications for the CE and other surveys.

Presentations and/or papers from the workshop can be accessed from the links below.

Measuring What We Spend: Toward a New Consumer Expenditure Survey (PDF)
Don A Dillman. Washington State University. 2012.

Measuring What We Spend: Toward a New Consumer Expenditure Survey: Recommendations (PDF)
Carol House. CNSTAT. 2012.

BLS Response to CNSTAT Recommendations: The Road Ahead (PDF)
Adam Safir. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2012.

Census Response to CNSTAT: Data Collection Issues (PDF)
Dawn Nelson and Richard Schwartz. Census Bureau. 2012.

Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CE) Redesign: Implications for National Economic Accounts (PDF)
Clinton McCully. Bureau of Economic Analysis. 2012.

Expanding Upon Issues in Measuring What We Spend: Toward a New Consumer Expenditure Survey (PDF)
Mel Stephens, Jr. University of Michigan. 2012.

October 2012 CNSTAT Report Workshop

The National Research Council (NRC), through its Committee on National Statistics (CNSTAT), convened an expert panel to contribute to the planned redesign of the Consumer Expenditure (CE) Surveys by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). In late August 2012, CNSTAT delivered a draft copy of their report regarding redesign recommendations to BLS: "Measuring What We Spend: Toward a New Consumer Expenditure Survey" (PDF 1.5MB). A public meeting, "Measuring What We Spend: Toward a New Consumer Expenditure Survey Workshop Discussion of NRC Report," was hosted by CNSTAT at their Keck Center in Washington, DC on October 16, 2012. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss panel activities, recommendations for changing the CE, CE research and plans for the future, and specific recommendation topics, such as the use of respondent incentives. This was also the fifth meeting of the CNSTAT panel. Presentations and/or papers from the workshop can be accessed from the links below.

Agenda (HTML)
CNSTAT. 2012.

Welcome, Introductions and Purpose of Workshop
Connie Citro. CNSTAT. 2012.

Panel Process and Activities (PDF)
David Betson. University of Notre Dame. 2012.

Issues with Current Consumer Expenditure Surveys (PDF)
Don Dillman. Washington State University. 2012.

Recommendations for Change: Overview and Descriptions of Prototypes (PDF)
Carol House. CNSTAT. 2012.

Recommendations for Change: Recommendations (PDF)
Andy Peytchev. RTI International. 2012.

Potential Expansion of Issues (PDF)
Mel Stephens, Jr. University of Michigan. 2012.

CE Research and Plans for the Future (PDF)
Adam Safir. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2012.

Discussion Topic: Evaluation of Three Prototype Designs
Sarah Nusser. Iowa State University. 2012. (PDF)
Robert Gillingham. Independent Consultant. 2012. (PDF)
Clyde Tucker. Independent Consultant. 2012. (PDF)

Discussion Topic: Supported Journal Design (PDF)
Michael Schoeber. The New School for Social Research. 2012.

Discussion Topic: Technology
Mark Pierzchala. Independent Consultant. 2012.(PDF)
Sarah Nusser. Iowa State University. 2012.(PDF)

Discussion Topic: Incentives
Andy Peytchev. RTI International. 2012.(PDF)
Don Dillman. Washington State University. 2012.

July 2012 CE Survey Methods Symposium

The CE Survey Methods Symposium was a one-day event to share information about recent findings and new projects in the CE’s survey methods program. The morning sessions provided an overview of current CE research projects, the status of the survey redesign, and status of the redesign recommendations from the Committee on National Statistics (CNSTAT) Consensus Expert Panel. The afternoon sessions featured presentations from the survey redesign panel on the survey redesign process undertaken by other large scale federal surveys. The symposium was held at BLS on July 17, 2012. Presentations from the workshop can be accessed from the links below.

Agenda (PDF)
Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2012.

Welcome and Logistics; Overview of CE Research (PDF)
Adam Safir. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2012.

Overview of Gemini Project (PDF)
Kathy Downey. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2012.

CNSTAT Activities to Recommend Redesign Options for the Consumer Expenditure Survey

Discussion of Process and Methodological Issues
Carol House (PDF) and Don Dillman (PDF). CNSTAT. 2012

Survey Redesign Panel

Converting the National Household Education Survey from RDD/CATI to ABS/Mail (PDF 1.0MB)
Andy Zukerberg. National Center for Education Statistics (NHES). 2012.

National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) (PDF)
James Lynch. Bureau of Justice Statistics. 2012.

NSDUH Redesign (PDF)
Joel Kennet. Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. 2012.

Evolution of a Phoenix: Re-engineering the Survey of Income and Program Participation - Event History Calendar (SIPP-EHC) (PDF 1.2MB)
Jason Fields. Census Bureau. 2012.

Consumer Expenditure Survey Redesign (PDF)
Kathy Downey. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2012.

Survey Error Discussion

Reducing Nonresponse Bias through Responsive Design and External Benchmarks (PDF)
Julia Lee. University of Michigan. 2012.

Experiments in Reducing Measurement Error Through Cross-Survey Imputation: Preliminary Findings for Diary to Interview Survey Imputations (PDF)
Geoffrey Paulin. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2012.

October 2011 Redesign Options Workshop

The National Research Council, through its Committee on National Statistics (CNSTAT), convened an expert panel to contribute to the planned redesign of the Consumer Expenditure (CE) Surveys by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). As part of this process, CNSTAT hosted a Redesign Options Workshop, which was also the third workshop of the Panel on Redesigning the BLS Consumer Expenditure Surveys. The purpose of this meeting was to provide a forum for RFP subcontractors to present their final reports and interchange about the proposed redesign and its potential impacts. One subcontractor was Westat, Inc. and the other subcontractor team was University of Wisconsin/University of Nebraska/AbtSRBI. A public meeting was hosted by CNSTAT at the 20 F Street Conference Center in Washington, DC on October 26, 2011. Papers and presentations from the workshop can be accessed from the links below.

Agenda (PDF)
CNSTAT. 2011.

Presentation of Redesign Recommendations - WESTAT
Presentation (PDF) | Report (PDF) | Report appendices (PDF)
David Cantor, Sid Schneider, Brad Edwards, and Abie Reifer. Westat. 2011.

Presentation of Redesign Recommendations--University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, University of Nebraska, and AbtSRBI
Presentation (PDF) | Report (PDF)
Nancy Mathiowetz, Kristin Olson, and Courtney Kennedy. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, University of Nebraska, and AbtSRBI. 2011.

Discussant: Methodological/Cognitive Issues and the Proposed Redesigns
Presentation (PDF) | Paper (PDF)
Richard Kulka. Consultant. 2011.

Discussant: Implementing Change in a Large Ongoing Survey and the Proposed Redesigns
Presentation (PDF) | Paper (PDF)
Chet Bowie. NORC. 2011.

Discussant Panel: Data Users of the Consumer Expenditure Survey
Presentation (PDF)
Clinton McCully. Bureau of Economic Analysis. 2011.
Presentation (PDF)
Mark Lino. Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, USDA. 2011.
Presentation (PDF)
Melvin Stephens. University of Michigan. 2011.

June 2011 Household Survey Producers Workshop

The National Research Council, through its Committee on National Statistics (CNSTAT), convened an expert panel to contribute to the planned redesign of the Consumer Expenditure (CE) Surveys by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). As part of this process, CNSTAT hosted a Household Survey Producers Workshop. The purpose of the workshop was to bring together survey practitioners who face some of the same issues as faced by the Consumer Expenditure Surveys, and facilitate an exchange of ideas that will help inform the redesign effort. A public meeting was hosted by CNSTAT at the 20 F Street Conference Center in Washington, DC on June 1-2, 2011. Papers and presentations from the workshop can be accessed from the links below.

Agenda (PDF)
Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2011.

Welcome and Purpose of Workshop (PDF)
Michael W. Horrigan. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2011.

Session 1: Alternative Ways of Measuring Consumer Expenditures With Special Focus on International Examples

Redesign of the Canadian Survey of Household Spending (PDF)
Guylaine Dubreuil, Johanne Tremblay, Jenny Lynch and Martin Lemire. Statistics Canada. 2011.

Living Costs and Food Survey (PDF)
Giles Horsfield. Office for National Statistics UK. 2011.

The EU harmonisation of the Household Budget Surveys: State of play and future developments (PDF)
Peter Paul Borg. Eurostat. 2011.

Session 2: Designs that Add Flexibility in Data Collection Mode

Does giving people their preferred survey mode actually increase survey participation rates? An Experimental Comparison (PDF)
Kristen Olson, Jolene Smyth and Heather Wood. University of Nebraska-Lincoln. 2011.

BRDIS Reporting Tools: Facilitating the reporting process (PDF)
Richard S. Hough. U.S. Census Bureau. 2011.

National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (PDF 1.4MB)
Jennifer S. Wine and John A. Riccobono. RTI International. 2011.

Session 3: Designs that Effectively Mix Data from Multiple Surveys and/or External/Administrative Data to Produce Estimates

Energy Records in lieu of Bills and Self Reports: Optimizing data utility, quality and burden in the Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS) (PDF)
Eileen O’Brien. U.S. Energy Information Administration. 2011.

Combining Information from Multiple Surveys: Examples with NCHS Surveys (PDF)
Nathaniel Schenker and Van Parsons. National Center for Health Statistics Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2011.

Using Multiple Data Sources and Methods to Improve Estimates in Surveys (PDF)
Clyde Tucker. Independent consultant. 2011.

Session 4: Designs that Effectively Mix Global and Detail Information to Reduce Burden and Measurement Error

Agricultural Resource Management Survey: Integrating Varied Data Needs Into a Single Data Collection (PDF)
David Aune. USDA. 2011.

SIPP Core and Topical Modules Organization and Issues (PDF)
Jason Fields. U.S. Census Bureau. 2011.

Collection of hierarchical information in the family section of the National Health Interview Survey (PDF)
Jane F. Gentleman. National Center for Health Statistics. 2011.

Session 5: Designs that Use “Event History” Methodology to Improve Recall and Reduce Measurement Error in Recall Surveys

Applying Event History Methods in a National Panel: The Design and Use of Event History Calendars in the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PDF)
April Beaule and Frank Stafford. University of Michigan. 2011.

Re-engineering the SIPP: Creating the SIPP-EHC (PDF 1.8MB)
Jason Fields. U.S. Census Bureau. 2011.

Session 6: Diary Surveys that Effectively Utilize Technology to Facilitate Record-keeping or Recall

Design of the National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey (FoodAPS) (PDF 1.9MB)
Nancy Cole. Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. 2011.

Personal Diary and Survey Methodologies for Health and Environmental Data Collection (PDF)
Paul N. Kizakevich. RTI International. 2011.

Nielsen Life360 Approach (PDF 1.7MB)
Justin Bailey. Nielsen. 2011.

February 2011 Panel on Redesigning the BLS Consumer Expenditure Surveys: First Panel Meeting

The National Research Council, through its Committee on National Statistics (CNSTAT), convened an Expert Panel to contribute to the planned redesign of the Consumer Expenditure (CE) Surveys by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The goal of this meeting was to provide the Expert Panel with the necessary background of the CE Surveys. A public meeting was hosted by CNSTAT at the Keck Center in Washington, DC on February 8, 2011. Papers and presentations from the workshop can be accessed from the links below.

Agenda (PDF)
Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2011.

Official Charge to Committee (PDF)
Michael W. Horrigan. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2011.

Measurement Objectives of the CE (PDF)
Jay T. Ryan. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2011.

Consumer Price Index (CPI) Uses of the CE Data (PDF)
Rob Cage. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2011.

Survey Design and Data Collection (PDF)
Adam Safir. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2011.

Sampling and Estimation (PDF)
Dave Swanson. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2011.

Dissemination and Data Users (PDF)
Steve Henderson. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2011.

Measurement Error (PDF)
Adam Safir. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2011.

Measurement Error Continued (CE vs. Personal Consumption Expenditures Comparisons) (PDF)
Thesia Garner (speaker) and William Passero. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2011.

Ideas for Change: New Designs and Data Collection Technologies (PDF)
Adam Safir. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2011.

Alternative Sources of Expenditure Data (PDF)
Carol House. CNSTAT Discussion Leader. 2011.

Understanding Consumers: the Nielsen Perspective (PDF)
Michael Link. Nielsen. 2011.

Potential Topics for Study in Evaluating Uses of External Administrative Data for the Consumer Expenditure Surveys (PDF)
John L. Eltinge. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2011.

Testimony to CNSTAT Panel on CE Redesign (PDF)
Christopher D. Carroll. Johns Hopkins University. 2011.

December 2010 Methods Workshop

The objectives of the CE Methods Workshop were to identify (a) existing knowledge and experience that can inform redesign decisions on key topics and (b) specific research projects, both small and large, to address outstanding issues. The key methodological topics covered in the workshop included global questions, interview structure, proxy reporting, recall period, and split questionnaire methods. The workshop featured practical, solution-based discussions that will allow us to move forward with the redesign process in an informed manner. Papers and presentations from the workshop can be accessed from the links below.

Advance materials provided by BLS

Introduction to the CE Methods Workshop Issue Papers (PDF)
Global Questions (PDF)
Interview Structure (PDF)
Proxy Reporting (PDF)
Recall Period (PDF)
Split Questionnaire (PDF)

Workshop materials

Considerations Regarding the Use of Global Survey Questions
Paper (PDF) | Presentation (PDF)
Paul Beatty. National Center for Health Statistics. 2010.

Global versus Specific Questions for the Consumer Expenditure Survey
Paper (PDF) | Presentation (PDF)
Andy Peytchev. RTI International. 2010.

Considering the Structure of the Consumer Expenditure: Designing Computer Assisted Interviewing
Paper (PDF) | Presentation (PDF)
Frank P. Stafford. University of Michigan. 2010.

Response to Issue Paper on CE Interview Structure
Paper (PDF) | Presentation (PDF)
Frederick Conrad. University of Michigan. 2010.

Self vs. Proxy Reporting in the Consumer Expenditure Survey
Paper (PDF) | Presentation (PDF)
Nancy A. Mathiowetz. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. 2010.

Issues in Proxy Reporting in the Consumer Expenditure Survey
Paper (PDF) | Presentation (PDF)
Nora Cate Schaeffer. University of Wisconsin-Madison. 2010.

Recall Period in Consumer Expenditure Surveys Program
Paper (PDF) | Presentation (PDF)
Norman M. Bradburn. NORC at the University of Chicago. 2010.

Discussion of Plans for Designing the Recall Period for the Consumer Expenditure Interview Survey
Paper (PDF) | Presentation (PDF)
David Cantor. Westat and Joint Program for Survey Methodology. 2010.

Split Questionnaire Methods for the Consumer Expenditure Surveys Program (PDF)
John L. Eltinge. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2010.

Split Questionnaire Designs for Consumer Expenditure Survey (PDF)
Trivellore Raghunathan. University of Michigan. 2010.

June 2010 Data Users' Needs Forum

Understanding the data needs of CE data users is a key input to the CE survey redesign. To gain this understanding, the CE Program hosted a Data Users Forum at the Bureau of Labor Statistics in Washington DC, on June 21-22, 2010. The objective of the Data Users Forum is to collect input from a broad range of data users about how they use CE data and the extent to which their data needs are being met. Information collected during the Forum will assist the CE Program in evaluating alternative redesign options.

Agenda (PDF)
Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2010.

Consumer Expenditure Survey Data Users' Need Forum (PDF)
Michael W. Horrigan. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2010.

The CE Program: Dedicated to Improvement (PDF)
Jay T. Ryan. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2010.

CE Data in the CPI: Production Requirements and Redesign Interests
Paper (PDF) | Presentation (PDF)
William Casey. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2010.

Use of CE Data in the National Health Expenditure Accounts (PDF)
Cathy A. Cowan. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. 2010.

BEA’s Use of Housing Related Data from the Consumer Expenditure Survey (PDF)
Arnold J. Katz. Bureau of Economic Analysis. 2010.

BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey Data Usage: IRS Experience (PDF)
Wu-Lang Lee. Internal Revenue Service. 2010.

Expenditures on Children by Families (PDF)
Mark Lino. Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, USDA. 2010.

CE in the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM) (PDF)
Kathleen S. Short. U.S. Census Bureau. 2010.

Assessing Household Wellbeing: Comparing Consumption- and Income-based Measures for Farm and All U.S. Households using USDA ARMS and BLS CE Surveys (PDF)
Carol Adaire Jones. Economic Research Service, USDA. 2010.

Estimating the Distribution of Consumption-based Taxes with the Consumer Expenditure Survey (PDF)
Ed Harris and Kevin Perese. Congressional Budget Office. 2010.

Minnesota’s Consumer Expenditure Survey Uses (PDF)
Phillip Anthony and Paul Wilson. Minnesota Department of Revenue. 2010.

How ERS-FED uses the CE Diary (PDF)
Kenneth Hanson. Economic Research Service, USDA. 2010.

Improving the Consumer Expenditure Survey: A View from the Research Community (PDF)
Chris Carroll, Johns Hopkins University and NBER. John Sabelhaus, University of Maryland. 2010.

Some Uses of CE (PDF)
Mark Bils. University of Rochester. 2010.

Three Questions About Consumer Spending and the Middle Class (PDF)
Jared Bernstein. Office of the Vice President. 2010.

CE Data from the Perspectives of Researchers and Survey Managers (PDF)
Geng Li, Federal Reserve Board. Robert F. Schoeni, University of Michigan. 2010.

Data to Examine Consumption Poverty and Inequality in the U.S.: 1960-2008 (PDF)
Bruce D. Meyer. University of Chicago and NBER. 2010.

Exploring the Effects of Socioeconomic and Demographic Variables on Household Expenditures (PDF)
Janet Wagner. University of Maryland. 2010.

Patterns of Household Overspending (PDF)
Sherman D. Hanna and Hua Zan. The Ohio State University. 2010.

May 2010 AAPOR Panel Presentations: Utilizing Respondent Records

The Use of Utility Bills as an Information Retrieval Aid in the American Housing Survey (PDF)
George R. Carter. Bureau of the Census. 2010.

Respondent Record Use in the U.S. Consumer Expenditure Survey (PDF)
Jennifer Edgar. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2010.

The Burden of Proof: Panel Attrition and Record Usage on the MCBS (PDF)
Ryan Hubbard and Brad Edwards. Westat. 2010.

Is it Worth the Effort? Respondent Record Use on the British Household Panel Study (PDF)
Heather Laurie and Nick Moon. University of Essex and GfK NOP Social Research, UK. 2010.

For Clueless Consumers, Can Records Improve Data Quality? (PDF)
Eileen O'Brien. US Energy Information Administration. 2010.

March 2010 Data Capture Technology Forum

Integrating Multi-modes (PDF)
Wendy Hicks, Mary Laidlaw, Jane Shepherd, and Mark Friedman. Westat. 2010.

Results of a Pilot Test: Smartphone-Enabled, Full-Probability Panel (PDF)
Craig A. Hill. RTI International. 2010.

mCASI: Survey for Mobile Devices (PDF)
Obinna Kalu. NORC at the University of Chicago. 2010.

Nielsen Homescan and Life360 Technologies (PDF)
Michael Link. Nielsen. 2010.

A Mobile Technologies System for Collecting and Managing Study Data (PDF)
Donna Medeiros. RTI International. 2010.

January 2010 WSS/DC-AAPOR Survey Redesign Panel

Redesign of the CE Surveys (PDF)
Jennifer Edgar. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2010.

Re-engineered SIPP: Progress Update (PDF)
J. Fields. Bureau of the Census. 2010.

Redesign Considerations for the NSDUH (PDF)
Michael Jones. US Department of Health and Human Services. 2010.

Program Update: BJS Overview of the NCVS Redesign Process (PDF 1.2 MB)
Michael Sinclair and Michael Rand. Bureau of Justice Statistics. 2010.

Redesigning the NHES (PDF)
Andrew Zuckerberg. National Center for Education Statistics. 2010.

July 2009 CRIW-NBER Conference On Improving Consumption Measurement

Comments on Improving Consumption Measurement (PDF)
Chris Carroll. Johns Hopkins University. 2009.

Strengths and Weaknesses of the CE from a BLS Perspective (PDF)
Thesia I. Garner, Robert McClelland, and William Passero. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2009.

Evolution and Change in the Consumer Expenditure Surveys (PDF)
Jay Ryan and Karen Goldenberg. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2009.

CE Survey Methods Research

For selected examples of CE Survey Methods Research visit the Statistical and Survey Methods Research Papers section of the CE Methodology home page.

Other Redesign Related Events and Studies

2011 Data Capture Technologies and Financial Software for Collecting Consumer Expenditure Data

Report (PDF)
Westat. March 2011.

1993 Intrahousehold Communications Study

Estimating the Accuracy of Proxy Responses at the Dyadic Level (PDF)
Brian A. Kojetin and Leslie A. Miller. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 1993.

A Typology of Family Cohesion (PDF)
Leslie A. Miller and Clyde Tucker. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 1993.

Family Cohesion and the Level of Knowledge about Expenses (PDF)
Clyde Tucker and Leslie A. Miller. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 1993.

January 1987 BLS Questionnaire Design Advisory Conference

Agenda (PDF)
Cathryn S. Dippo. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 1986.

Report (PDF)
Charles Cannell. University of Michigan. 1987.

Report (PDF 1.0 MB)
Colm O'Muircheartaigh. London School of Economics and Political Science. 1987.

Report (PDF)
David Mingay. National Center for Health Statistics. 1987.

Report (PDF)
Nora Cate Schaeffer. University of Wisconsin--Madison. 1987.

Report (PDF)
Nancy A. Mathiowetz. National Center for Health Services Research. 1987.

Report (PDF)
Judith Tanur. State University of New York at Stony Brook. 1987.

CE Methods and Survey Forms

BLS Handbook of Methods, Chapter 16, Consumer Expenditures and Income (HTML) (PDF)

Survey Forms and Materials

If you have questions, please contact us via email.

Last Modified Date: May 10, 2013

Consumer Expenditure Survey