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Consumer Expenditure Surveys
Bureau of Labor Statistics > Consumer Expenditure Survey > Methods

Section 20, Part A - Expense Patterns for Food, Beverages, and Other Selected Items - Food and Beverages

Section 20, Part A asks for expenditure estimates for groceries, alcoholic beverages, and meals away from home.

IMPORTANT: The Census Bureau does not release to the Bureau of Labor Statistics any confidential information such as names and addresses. This information is only used during the course of the interview.

Now I am going to ask you about expenses for food, beverages and other items you and/or your household have/has purchased since the first of the reference month.

What has been your or your household usual WEEKLY expense for grocery shopping?

* Include grocery home delivery service fees and drinking water delivery fees. [enter value] _____________

About how much of this amount was for nonfood items, such as paper products, detergents, home cleaning supplies, pet foods, and alcoholic beverages? [enter value] _____________

Other than your regular grocery shopping already reported, have you or any members of your household purchased any food or nonalcoholic beverages from places such as grocery stores, convenience stores, specialty stores, home delivery, or farmer's markets?

  1. Yes
  2. No

What was your usual WEEKLY expense at these places? [enter value] _____________

What has been your or your household's usual WEEKLY expense for meals or snacks from restaurants, fast food places, cafeterias, carryouts or other such places?

(Do not include meals purchased at school.) [enter value] _____________

Since the first of the reference month have you or any members of your household purchased alcohol, including beer and wine?

  1. Yes
  2. No

What has been your or your household's usual MONTHLY expense for alcohol, including beer and wine to be served at home? [enter value] _____________

What has been your or your household's usual MONTHLY expense for alcohol, including beer and wine at restaurants, bars and recreational events? [enter value] _____________

Have you or any members of your household received any free food, beverages, or meals through public or private welfare agencies, including religious organizations?
Do not include free meals in school or preschool programs.

  1. Yes
  2. No

Have you or any members of your household received any free meals at work as part of your pay?

  1. Yes
  2. No

About what was the WEEKLY dollar value of these meals? [enter value] _____________

Since the first of the reference month, for how many weeks did members of your household receive these meals? [enter value] _____________

Since the first of the reference month, not including the current month, have you or any members of your household purchased any meals at school for preschool through high school age children?

  1. Yes
  2. No

What are the names of all household members who purchased meals at school?

* Enter line numbers for all that apply. [enter value] _____________

Since the first of the reference month, not including the current month, what has been the usual WEEKLY expense for the meals for the household members who purchased meals at school? [enter value] _____________

How many weeks did the household member(s) purchase meals? [enter value] _____________

End of Section 20A

Go to Section 20 Part B - Expense Patterns for Food, Beverages, and Other Selected Items - Selected Services and Goods »

Go to CE CAPI Survey Instrument Home Page »

 

Last Modified Date: April 5, 2010