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

Data Quality in the Consumer Expenditure Surveys

The Consumer Expenditure Surveys Program (CE) is committed to producing data that are of consistently high statistical quality, relevance, and timeliness. Data quality monitoring for the CE is conducted during data collection by the Census Bureau (which adheres to a set of quality standards), as well as post-data collection by the CE.

Fitness of use is an important component of data quality; as such, the CE is also committed to helping data users assess the fitness of use of the CE data for their purposes.

This page provides information on data quality in the Consumer Expenditure Surveys, including links to the current Data Quality Profile and publications and presentations that compare CE estimates with other data sources.


CE Data Quality Profile

A data quality profile serves as a single source of a range of information on the quality of the survey estimates that helps data users assess the data’s fitness of use for their purposes. The CE Data Quality Profile (DQP) currently consists of a number of metrics that are tracked over time and published annually. Recognizing that the quality of survey estimates is affected by errors that can occur anywhere in the survey lifecycle, it is expected that the set of metrics will evolve over time as the CE continually researches methods to monitor and improve data quality. Beginning with 2018 data, the DQP is split into two parts: the metrics and a reference guide. The metrics provide the most recent estimates of data quality and a discussion of current trends. The reference guide provides detail on how the metrics are developed along with detailed definitions. Links to the current and prior annual DQPs are provided below.


CE Data Comparisons

CE data are compared with other data sources that measure the same or similar items as one way to monitor data quality. Monitoring ratios between sources and how they change over time can help to identify potential under- or over-reporting of expenditure items. Links to CE data comparisons by CE staff and other authors are provided below.

Disclaimer: The authors of some of these studies and presentations are not affiliated with BLS. This information is provided for your convenience and does not constitute an endorsement.

 

CE expenditures to the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE)

  • Comparing expenditures from the Consumer Expenditure Survey with the Personal Consumer Expenditures: Results of the CE/PCE Concordance - note that tables may have non-matching values due to differing benchmark years.
    • Summary comparison of aggregate Consumer Expenditures (CE) and Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE), based on 2007 Benchmark and restricted to the most comparable categories on the basis of concepts involved and comprehensiveness, 2010–2017 (Preliminary) - PCE values as of 9/28/18 - Tabulated 9/28/18 (XLSX) (years compared: 2010–2017; older years included in a separate sheet)
      Taylor J. Wilson. 2018.

    • Concordance Mapping of CE UCC Codes to PCE Series from Table 2.4.5U: Expenditures by Type of Product - 9-21-18 (XLSX)

    • Summary comparison of aggregate Consumer Expenditures (CE) and Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE), based on 2002 Benchmark and restricted to the most comparable categories on the basis of concepts involved and comprehensiveness, 2003–2009 (Preliminary) - Revised 11/28/2011 (XLS) (years compared: 2003–2009)
      Bill Passero. 2011.
  • Understanding the Relationship: CE Survey and PCE (Abstract) (PDF)
    Clinton McCully. Bureau of Economic Analysis. William Passero and Thesia I. Garner. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2013.
  • Strengths and Weaknesses of the Consumer Expenditure Survey from a BLS Perspective (PDF)
    Thesia I. Garner, Robert McClelland, and William Passero. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2009.
  • The CE and the PCE: a comparison (PDF) (1992, 1997, and 2002)
    Thesia I. Garner, George Janini, William Passero, Laura Paszkiewicz, and Mark Vendemia. Monthly Labor Review. 2006.

  • Consumer Expenditure Survey compared with Personal Consumption Expenditures (PDF) (2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005)
    Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2004–2005, Report 1008.
  • Consumer Expenditure Survey compared with Personal Consumption Expenditures (PDF 5.1 MB) (1992, 1997, and 2002)
    Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2002–2003, Report 990.
  • Comparison with other data sources: Personal Consumption Expenditures (PDF 1.9 MB) (1996, 1997, 1998, and 1999)
    Consumer Expenditure Survey, 1998–99, Report 955.
  • Comparison with other data sources: Personal Consumption Expenditures (PDF 2.2 MB) (1994, 1995, 1996, and 1997)
    Consumer Expenditure Survey, 1996–97, Report 935.
  • Comparison with other data sources: Personal Consumption Expenditures (PDF 1.5 MB) (1992, 1993, 1994, and 1995)
    Consumer Expenditure Survey, 1994–95, Bulletin 2492.
  • Comparison with other data sources: Personal Consumption Expenditures in the National Income and Product Accounts (PDF 2.1 MB) (1990, 1991, 1992, and 1993)
    Consumer Expenditure Survey, 1992–93, Bulletin 2462.
  • Comparison with other data sources: Personal Consumption Expenditures in the National Income and Product Accounts (PDF 1.6 MB) (1988, 1989, 1990, and 1991)
    Consumer Expenditure Survey, 1990–91, Bulletin 2425.
Presentations
  • Comparison of Estimates from the Consumer Expenditure Survey with 2002 Benchmark Personal Consumption Expenditures from the National Income and Product Accounts (PDF)
    Bill Passero. Bureau of Labor Statistics. April 15, 2010.
  • Strengths and Weaknesses of the Consumer Expenditure Survey from a BLS Perspective (PDF)
    Thesia I. Garner, Robert McClelland, and William Passero. Bureau of Labor Statistics. July 13, 2009.
  • Comparison of Estimates from the CE Survey and PCE from the NIPA: The Case of Recreation Expenditures (PDF)
    William Passero. Bureau of Labor Statistics. March 16, 2006.
  • A Journey into the PCE Jungle with CE Colored Glasses (PDF)
    William Passero. Bureau of Labor Statistics. December 12, 2005.
  • The Consumer Expenditure Survey in Comparison: Focus on Personal Consumption Expenditures of the National Income and Product Accounts (PDF)
    William Passero. Bureau of Labor Statistics. April 5, 2003.
  • The Consumer Expenditure Survey in Comparison: Focus on Personal Consumption Expenditures (PDF)
    William Passero. Bureau of Labor Statistics. March 21, 2003.
  • Consumer Expenditure Survey: Overview and Recent Developments in the Consumer Expenditure Surveys (PDF)
    William Passero. Bureau of Labor Statistics. July 22–23, 2002.
  • Consumer Expenditure Survey: Construction and Research Use of the Consumer Expenditure Survey (PDF)
    Mary E. McCarthy, Thesia I. Garner, William D. Passero, David S. Johnson and Geoffrey D. Paulin. Bureau of Labor Statistics. May 19–20, 1998.

CE energy expenditures to the Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS)

  • Comparing measures of residential energy consumption from two surveys for 2001, 2005, and 2009 (PDF) (years compared: 2001, 2005 and 2009)
  • Household Energy Spending: Two Surveys Compared (PDF) (2001 and 2005)
    Focus on Prices and Spending. Third Quarter 2010.
  • Comparison with other data sources: Residential Energy Consumption Survey (PDF) (April 1984-March 1985, 1987, and 1990)
    Consumer Expenditure Survey, 1990–91, Bulletin 2425.

CE health care expenditures to the National Health Expenditure Accounts (NHEA)

  • Household Health Care Spending: Comparing the Consumer Expenditure Survey and the National Health Expenditure Accounts (PDF) (years compared: 2013–2016)
  • Household Health Care Spending: Comparing the Consumer Expenditure Survey and the National Health Expenditure Accounts (PDF) (years compared: 2012–2015)
  • Household Health Care Spending: Comparing the Consumer Expenditure Survey and the National Health Expenditure Accounts (PDF) (years compared: 2011–2014)
  • Household Health Care Spending: Comparing the Consumer Expenditure Survey and the National Health Expenditure Accounts (PDF) (years compared: 2009–2012)
  • Household Health Care Spending: Comparing the Consumer Expenditure Survey and the National Health Expenditure Accounts (PDF) (2007–2010)
  • Consumer Expenditure Survey Compared with National Health Expenditure Accounts (PDF) (2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007)
    Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2006–2007, Report 1021.
  • Consumer Expenditure Survey Comparisons with National Health Expenditures and the Current Population Survey (PDF) (2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005)
    Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2004–2005, Report 1008.
  • Consumer Expenditure Survey Comparisons with National Health Expenditures and the Current Population Survey (PDF 1.1 MB) (2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003)
    Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2002–2003, Report 990.
  • Comparison with other data sources: National Health Expenditures (PDF) (1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001)
    Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2000–2001, Report 969.
  • Comparison with other data sources: National Health Expenditures (PDF 1.4 MB) (1996, 1997, 1998, and 1999)
    Consumer Expenditure Survey, 1998–99, Report 955.
  • Comparison with other data sources: National Health Expenditures (PDF 1.6 MB) (1994, 1995, 1996, and 1997)
    Consumer Expenditure Survey, 1996–97, Report 935.
  • Comparison with other data sources: National Health Expenditures (PDF) (1992, 1993, 1994, and 1995)
    Consumer Expenditure Survey, 1994–95, Bulletin 2492.
  • Comparison with other data sources: National Health Accounts (PDF 1.5 MB) (1990, 1991, 1992, and 1993)
    Consumer Expenditure Survey, 1992–93, Bulletin 2462.
  • Comparison with other data sources: National Health Accounts (PDF 1.5 MB) (1988, 1989, 1990, and 1991)
    Consumer Expenditure Survey, 1990–91, Bulletin 2425.

CE health care expenditures to the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS-HC) and to the NHEA

  • Out-of-pocket health care expenditures: a comparison (PDF) (years compared: 1996–2006)
    Ann C. Foster. Monthly Labor Review. 2010.

CE income to the Current Population Survey (CPS)

  • Table 1A. Aggregate income and ratios for Current Population Survey (CPS) and three alternative measures of CE income, 2002–2017 (XLSX) (years compared: 2002–2017)
    Evan Hubener. 2019.
  • Table 1B. Aggregate income and ratios for Current Population Survey (CPS) and three alternative measures of CE income, by total and source of income, 2017 (XLSX)
    Evan Hubener. 2019.
  • Measuring the Impact of Income Imputation in the Consumer Expenditure Survey: A Multi-year Comparison of Income Data with Estimates from the Current Population Survey (PDF) (2002–2007)
    Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2006–2007, Report 1021.
  • The impact of income imputation in the Consumer Expenditure Survey (PDF) (2002–2006)
    Bill Passero. Monthly Labor Review. 2009.
  • Consumer Expenditure Survey comparisons with National Health Expenditures and the Current Population Survey (PDF) (2003, 2004, and 2005)
    Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2004–2005, Report 1008.
  • Consumer Expenditure Survey Comparisons with National Health Expenditures and the Current Population Survey (PDF 1.1 MB) (2001, 2002, and 2003)
    Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2002–2003, Report 990.
  • Comparison with other data sources: Current Population Survey (PDF) (1999, 2000, and 2001)
    Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2000–2001, Report 969.
  • Comparison with other data sources: Current Population Survey (PDF 1.6 MB) (1997, 1998, and 1999)
    Consumer Expenditure Survey, 1998–99, Report 955.
  • Comparison with other data sources: Current Population Survey (PDF 1.8 MB) (1995, 1996, and 1997)
    Consumer Expenditure Survey, 1996–97, Report 935.
  • Comparison with other data sources: Current Population Survey (PDF) (1992, 1993, 1994, and 1995)
    Consumer Expenditure Survey, 1994–95, Bulletin 2492.
  • Comparison with other data sources: Current Population Survey (PDF) (1990, 1991, 1992, and 1993)
    Consumer Expenditure Survey, 1992–93, Bulletin 2462.
  • Comparison with other data sources: Current Population Survey (PDF) (1988, 1989, 1990, and 1991)
    Consumer Expenditure Survey, 1990–91, Bulletin 2425.
Presentations
  • Assessing the Effects of Imputation on Income Estimates in the U.S. Consumer Expenditure Survey: Comparison with the Current Population Survey (PDF)
    William Passero. Bureau of Labor Statistics. August 6, 2009.
  • Comparison of Estimates from the Consumer Expenditure Survey (CE) with Other Data: CE Imputed Income with Current Population Survey (CPS) (PDF)
    William Passero. Bureau of Labor Statistics. November 21, 2008.
  • Consumer Expenditure Survey: Construction and Research Use of the Consumer Expenditure Survey (PDF)
    Mary E. McCarthy, Thesia I. Garner, William D. Passero, David S. Johnson and Geoffrey D. Paulin. Bureau of Labor Statistics. May 19–20, 1998.

CE expenditures to the American Community Survey (ACS)

  • Summary comparison of comparable category means in the Consumer Expenditures (CE) and American Community Survey (ACS) (XLSX) (years compared: 2007–2017)
    Taylor J. Wilson. 2018.
  • Consumer Expenditure Survey Compared with the American Community Survey (PDF)
  • (years compared: 2006 and 2007)
    Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2006–2007, Report 1021.

CE expenditures to the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID)

  • A Comparison of Consumer Expenditure Survey and Panel Study of Income Dynamics Expenditure Data: 1999–2011 (PDF) (years compared: 1999–2011)
    Brett J. Creech. Bureau of Labor Statistics. July, 2015.
  • New expenditure data in the PSID: comparisons with the CE (PDF)
  • (1999, 2001 and 2003)
    Geng Li, Robert F. Schoeni, Sheldon Danziger, and Kerwin Kofi Charles. Monthly Labor Review. 2010.

CE liability data to the Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF)

  • Household liability data in the Consumer Expenditure Survey (PDF)
  • (years compared: 1992, 1995, 1998, 2001, 2004, and 2007)
    Kathleen W. Johnson and Geng Li. Monthly Labor Review. 2009.

CE expenditures to the American Housing Survey (AHS)

Presentations
  • Consumer Expenditure Survey: Construction and Research Use of the Consumer Expenditure Survey (PDF)
    Mary E. McCarthy, Thesia I. Garner, William D. Passero, David S. Johnson and Geoffrey D. Paulin. Bureau of Labor Statistics. May 19–20, 1998.

CE Diary to Interview

  • Comparing global questions and answers to results from detailed specific questions: Data on food expenditures from the Consumer Expenditure Survey (HTML) (PDF) (years compared: 1998–2018)
    Steven Henderson. Bureau of Labor Statistics. September, 2019.

CE food expenditures to Supermarket Business and Progressive Grocer

  • Comparison with other data sources: Detailed Food Comparisons (PDF 1.9 MB) (years compared: 1998 and 1999)
    Consumer Expenditure Survey, 1998–99, Report 955.
  • Comparison with other data sources: Detailed Food Comparisons (PDF 2.2 MB) (1996 and 1997)
    Consumer Expenditure Survey, 1996–97, Report 935.
  • Comparison with other data sources: Detailed Food Comparisons (PDF 1.5 MB) (1994 and 1995)
    Consumer Expenditure Survey, 1994–95, Bulletin 2492.
  • Comparison with other data sources: Detailed Food Comparisons (PDF 1.5 MB) (1992 and 1993)
    Consumer Expenditure Survey, 1992–93, Bulletin 2462.
  • Comparison with other data sources: Detailed Food Comparisons (PDF) (1991)
    Consumer Expenditure Survey, 1990–91, Bulletin 2425.
Presentations
  • Consumer Expenditure Survey: Construction and Research Use of the Consumer Expenditure Survey (PDF)
    Mary E. McCarthy, Thesia I. Garner, William D. Passero, David S. Johnson and Geoffrey D. Paulin. Bureau of Labor Statistics. May 19–20, 1998.

 

Last Modified Date: October 4, 2019