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Bureau of Labor Statistics > Consumer Expenditure Survey > Home

Addressing missing Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CE) data in Public Use Microdata (PUMD) due to the 2025 lapse in federal appropriations

As a result of a lapse in federal appropriations in 2025, the Census Bureau was unable to collect data for the CE in October and November 2025. Data collected in the Interview Survey and the Diary Survey were impacted. In published estimates, BLS used a weight adjustment approach to account for missing 2025 data. BLS did not apply the weight adjustments to the CE public use microdata (PUMD). For more information, see the impact of the lapse in appropriations on the CE, as well as expert panel recommendations for addressing the missing data. This document provides more information about the impact of the lapse in appropriations on the PUMD.

Population weights

Ordinarily, consumer units (CUs) from a quarter represent the total population. It is important for PUMD users to know that CUs from the fourth quarter of 2025 represent one third of the number of CUs in the country. This is because data were only collected in December, and October and November data are missing. This is true for data from both the Interview and Diary Surveys.

Replicated published estimates

Depending on the specific application, PUMD users may want to make adjustments that mimic the CE published estimates. This would require adjustments to the Interview Survey weights and months in scope, as well as to the Diary Survey weights.

For the Interview Survey, the survey weight adjustments are:

August and September expenditures by a factor of 3
July and October expenditures by a factor of 3/2

For the Diary Survey, the survey weight adjustments are:

September and December weights by a factor of 2

Section 6.3.1. in the PUMD Getting Started Guide defines MO_SCOPE for calculating the population, aggregate values, and average values for expenditures or income for a calendar year. For all four quarters within the Diary Survey, the value for MO_SCOPE remains 3. For the Interview Survey, MO_SCOPE must be updated for the impacted quarters.
For Interview only, MO_SCOPE is defined by the value of QINTRVYR and QINTRVMO.

If QINTRVYR is 2025:

and QINTRVMO is 8 then MO_SCOPE is 3.5
and QINTRVMO is 9 then MO_SCOPE is 5.5
and QINTRVMO is 12 then MO_SCOPE is 5.5

If QINTRVYR is 2026:

and QINTRVMO is 1 then MO_SCOPE is 3.5

Adjustments to sample code

In this section are the specific adjustments to the sample code needed to approximate the 2025 annual tables. The modified sample code in SAS is available, please see CEX Integrated Surveys Sample Program (SAS).

First, when loading the FMLI and FMLD files two adjustments are made.

For FMLI, MO_SCOPE adjustment based on QINTRVMO is made
- MO_SCOPE = 3.5 for QINTRVMO = 8
- MO_SCOPE = 5.5 for QINTRVMO = 9
- MO_SCOPE = 5.5 for QINTRVMO = 12
- MO_SCOPE = 3.5 for QINTRVMO = 1 and QINTRVYR = 2026
For FMLD, Diary weights and replicate weights for months 9 and 12 are doubled
- For STRTMNTH = 09 or 12 then WTREP01-WTREP44 and FINLWT21 multiplied by 2

Second, when MTBI is loaded, the following adjustments are made.

IF REF_MO = 07 then COST = COST *(3/2)
IF REF_MO = 08 then COST = COST *3
IF REF_MO = 09 then COST = COST *3
IF REF_MO = 10 then COST = COST *(3/2)

When ITBI is loaded, the following adjustments are made.

IF REFMO = 07 then VALUE = VALUE*(3/2)
IF REFMO = 08 then VALUE = VALUE*3
IF REFMO = 09 then VALUE = VALUE*3
IF REFMO = 10 then VALUE = VALUE*(3/2)

After making these adjustments, users can calculate estimates as like any year of CE data.

Users should note there will be differences between the PUMD and published tables due to topcoding and suppression, and these differences are magnified by the adjustment. Users who typically use the summary variables published in the PUMD should also note this adjustment is not possible as the summary variables are not published by month, and therefore you will need to make whichever modifications work best for your individual use.

Last modified date: October 27, 2026