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Consumer Expenditure Surveys
Bureau of Labor Statistics > Consumer Expenditure Survey > Methods > Survey Questionnaires and Materials

Survey Questionnaires and Materials

This page provides access to materials used in the collection of data for the Interview Survey and the Diary Survey. Some of the material provided below represents several years. For example, the Diary Survey Form 2005–12 refers to all years from 2005 to 2012. Note, this page does not list materials for all survey years. If you are interested in materials for a year that is not listed, please contact us.

Three types of survey materials are provided.

  • Questionnaires and forms for the Interview Survey and the Diary Survey ask respondents about their expenditures and income. The Interview Survey is conducted with a computer assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) instrument. Before April 2003, the Interview Survey was conducted with a paper survey form. The Diary Survey is conducted with a CAPI household characteristics questionnaire and a paper diary survey form. Before 2003, the household characteristics questionnaire was also administered with a paper survey form.
  • Information Booklets, available for the Interview Survey and the Diary Survey, provide a statement on privacy, response options to survey questions, conceptual definitions and examples, a calendar, and calculation assistance. The information booklets increase the quality of CE data by making it easier for respondents to provide accurate responses. The sections of the booklets match those of their corresponding survey.
  • Interview Survey Control Cards were used prior to the adoption of the CAPI instrument for the purpose of collecting information on household members and administrative items. With the adoption of the CAPI instrument, control card questions were administered within the CAPI interview.

For additional information about the survey material or methods, please see the Handbook of Methods.

Current Interview Forms

  • Interview Survey Questionnaire: April 2024-March 2025 (PDF)
  • Interview Information Booklet 2024 (English)

Current Diary Forms

  • Household Characteristics Questionnaire: April 2024-March 2025 (PDF)
  • Diary Information Booklet 2024 (English)
  • Diary Survey Forms: 2024 (PDF)

Historic Interview Forms

Interview Survey Questionnaire

Historic Diary Forms

Diary Survey Household Characteristics Questionnaire

Interview Survey Information Booklet

Diary Survey Information Booklet

Interview Survey Control Card

  • 1996-99 (PDF)

Diary Survey Form

  • 2022–23 (PDF)
  • 2021–22 (PDF)
  • 2019–20 (PDF)
  • 2017–18 (PDF)
  • 2013–16 (PDF)
  • 2005–12 (PDF)
  • 1998–02 (PDF)
  • 1996–97 (PDF)
  • 1973–95 (PDF)
  • 1972 (PDF)
  • 1960–61 (PDF)

 

Last Modified Date: May 6, 2024

(PDF)
(PDF)
October 2021-June 2022 
October 2021-June 2022 
Household Characteristics Questionnaire
Household Characteristics Questionnaire
Household Characteristics Questionnaire
Household Characteristics Questionnaire
Household Characteristics Questionnaire