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Consumer Price Index

Handbook of Methods Appendix 4: Non-CE Sample Rotation Categories

Appendix 4. Non-Consumer Expenditure sample rotation categories

Group

Category

Category title

Commodity type

ELI

ELI title

Source of the universe data

Sampling unit for outlets

Measure of size

Desired final pricing unit

4

E04

Tuition or fixed fees for a college or university

Services

EB011

College tuition and fixed fees

IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education System) Data.

All public and private colleges and universities.

The estimated proportion of revenue generated by each school from students living in the given PSU.

College tuition and fixed fees- Specific type of student (such as resident/non-resident, full-time/part-time, undergraduate/graduate, etc.) and whether or not tuition is adjusted by financial aid.

4

E05

Tuition or fixed fees for elementary or high schools

Services

EB021

Elementary and high school tuition and fixed fees

IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education System) Data.

All private schools in the United States.

Student enrollment numbers.

Elementary and high school tuition- Specific type of student.

4

E06

Day care providers including nursery schools

Services

EB031

Day care and preschool

Longitudinal Database via the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW: https://www.bls.gov/cew/)

Outlets which list the 2022 North American Industry Classification Code of 624410 (Child Care Services) as their primary industry in the QCEW which are also located in a Consumer Price Index Primary Sampling Unit (https://www.bls.gov/cpi/additional-resources/geographic-revision-map.pdf).

Percent of total employment count for the entire industry's employment count (in CPI PSUs). These employment numbers are derived from the Longitudinal Database. These are used to get the approximate 'weight' of any particular business in the industry which sells Day care providers including nursery schools services.

Day Care Providers- Specific type of child/care.

4

E07

Tuition or fixed fees for technical or vocational schools

Services

EB041

Technical and vocational school tuition and fixed fees

IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education System) Data

All vocational schools.

The estimated proportion of revenue generated by each school from students living in the given PSU.

Technical and business school tuition- Specific type of student.

15

E08

Sending packages, not including use of the United States Postal Service

Services

EC021

Delivery services

Longitudinal Database via the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW: https://www.bls.gov/cew/)

Outlets which list the 2022 North American Industry Classification Code of 492110 (Couriers and Express Delivery Services) as their primary industry in the QCEW which are also located in a Consumer Price Index Primary Sampling Unit (https://www.bls.gov/cpi/additional-resources/geographic-revision-map.pdf)

Percent of total employment count for the entire industry's employment count (in CPI PSUs). These employment numbers are derived from the Longitudinal Database. These are used to get the approximate 'weight' of any particular business in the industry which sells Delivery Services.

Specific delivery services sales.

N/A

E90

Postage

Services

EC011

Postage

The distribution of household mail by type of postal service and postal zone, as provided by the postal service.

U.S. Postal Service

Estimated Postal revenue for each type of postal service and postal zone.

Specific postal service by weight and zones traveled.

2

G10

Funeral Services

Services

GD021

Funeral and burial services

Longitudinal Database via the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW: https://www.bls.gov/cew/)

Outlets which list the 2022 North American Industry Classification Code of 812210 (Funeral Homes and Funeral Services) or 812220 (Cemeteries and Crematories) as their primary industry in the QCEW which are also located in a Consumer Price Index Primary Sampling Unit (https://www.bls.gov/cpi/additional-resources/geographic-revision-map.pdf)

Percent of total employment count for the entire industry's employment count (in CPI PSUs). These employment numbers are derived from the Longitudinal Database. These are used to get the approximate 'weight' of any particular business in the industry which sells Funeral Services.

Specific funeral services sales and specific sales of associated merchandise purchased from funeral homes.

14

H03

Fuel oil for household heating

Housing

HE011

Fuel oil

Longitudinal Database via the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW: https://www.bls.gov/cew/)

Outlets which list the 2022 North American Industry Classification Code of 457210 (Fuel Dealers) as their primary industry in the QCEW which are also located in a Consumer Price Index Primary Sampling Unit (https://www.bls.gov/cpi/additional-resources/geographic-revision-map.pdf).

Percent of total employment count for the entire industry's employment count (in CPI PSUs). These employment numbers are derived from the Longitudinal Database. These are used to get the approximate 'weight' of any particular business in the industry which sells Fuel oil for household heating.

Fuel Oil - Specific fuel oil quantity per gallon

1

H38

Major appliance repair

Housing

HP041

Appliance repair

Longitudinal Database via the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW: https://www.bls.gov/cew/)

Outlets which list the 2022 North American Industry Classification Code of 811412 (Appliance Repair and Maintenance) as their primary industry in the QCEW which are also located in a Consumer Price Index Primary Sampling Unit (https://www.bls.gov/cpi/additional-resources/geographic-revision-map.pdf).

Percent of total employment count for the entire industry's employment count (in CPI PSUs). These employment numbers are derived from the Longitudinal Database. These are used to get the approximate 'weight' of any particular business in the industry which sells Major appliance repair.

Appliance repair - Specific appliance repair service provided

N/A

H91

Tenants and household insurance

Housing

HD011

Tenants' and household insurance

National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).

Insurance companies serving the states in which CPI sample areas are located.

Revenue of state level direct premiums written for noncommercial policies, prorated by its within PSU State population proportions.

Specific policy serving within each CPI sample area.

13

H92

Electricity

Services

HF011

Electricity

RateAcuity zip code file and CPI PSU zip code population concordance. EIA (Energy Information Agency Survey)

Electric outlets listed in the RateAcuity zip code file.

Estimated residential population within the utility company’s PSU service territory                                           

Specific type of service for a specific number of kilowatt hours for a specific zip code identified.

13

H93

Utility (piped) natural gas

Services

HF021

Utility (piped) gas service

Platts zip code file and CPI PSU zip code population concordance.

Gas local distribution companies (LDC) listed in the Platts zip code file

Aggregated utility company zip code residential territory populations at the PSU/unique company level.

Specific type of service for a specific number of therms for a specific zip code identified.

8

M08

Hospital Services

Services

MD011

Hospital services

American Hospital Association (AHA) Annual Survey.

Hospital or Ambulatory Surgical Center in each CPI sample area.

Number of admissions plus the number of outpatient visits.

Specific medical services provided.

16

M90

Nursing and convalescent home care

Services

MD021

Nursing and convalescent home care

Center of Medicare and Medicaid Services Home Healthcare Care System.

Facilities providing nursing home care in each CPI sample area.

Number of certified beds.

Specific accommodations and services provided.

16

M91

Care of invalids, elderly, and convalescents in home

Services

MD031

Home health care

Center of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Home Healthcare Care System.

Facilities providing adult home care in each CPI sample area.

Each facility is weighted by its zip code population.

Specific services provided.

9

R11

Veterinarian Services

Services

RB022

Veterinarian Services

Longitudinal Database via the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW: https://www.bls.gov/cew/)

Outlets which list the 2022 North American Industry Classification Code of 541940 (Veterinary Services) as their primary industry in the QCEW which are also located in a Consumer Price Index Primary Sampling Unit (https://www.bls.gov/cpi/additional-resources/geographic-revision-map.pdf)

Percent of total employment count for the entire industry's employment count (in CPI PSUs). These employment numbers are derived from the Longitudinal Database. These are used to get the approximate 'weight' of any particular business in the industry which sells Veterinarian Services.

Specific veterinarian services.

N/A

T90

Used Cars and Trucks

Transportation

TA021

Used cars and trucks

J.D. Power data.

Specific type of vehicle by model year, model, and trim level.

Number of vehicle purchases by vehicle model year, model, and trim level using JD Powers data.

Specific used vehicles with specific options; prices collected from the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) e-Valuator.

N/A

T91

Motor vehicle insurance

Services

TE011

Motor vehicle insurance

National Association of Insurance Commissioners - State data on premium written by carrier by type of insurance

Insurance companies serving the states in which CPI sample areas are located.

Revenue of state level direct premiums written for noncommercial policies, prorated by its within PSU State population proportions.

Specific motor vehicle policy serving within each CPI sample area.

10

T92

State vehicle registration

Services

TF011

State vehicle registration and driver's license

Each state's Department of Motor Vehicles.

State motor vehicle department in each CPI sample area.

There is no sampling for this ELI. Measures of sizes are not applicable. All state DMVs are priced for each state spanning the PSU.

Specific class/vehicle registration, type of license, or vehicle property tax.

8

T93

Airline fares

Services

TG011

Airline fares

Department of Transportation data file consisting of a 10-percent sample of all passenger itineraries originating in the United States.

All non regional and non charter airlines providing service from any CPI sample area as found in the latest available DOT Databank 1B file.

Total number of nonbusiness passengers per airline, per trip itinerary, per fare class.

Specific trip itinerary and fare class for the selected airline.

2

T94

Intercity buses

Services

TG021

Intercity bus fares

Scheduled intercity bus trips from each CPI sample area.

Bus companies serving each CPI sample area.

Estimates of "market share" using city populations and other web based information.

Specific trip itinerary and fare class.

2

T95

Intercity trains

Services

TG022

Intercity train fares

Data file of intercity train trips provided by Amtrak and web based information for the Alaska Railroad.

Amtrak and the Alaska Railroad.

Amtrak - Number of passengers per specific trip itinerary. Alaska Railroad - Number of seasonal days of operation for a given train within a given calendar year.

Specific trip itinerary and fare class.

Note: ELI = Entry-level item. PSU = primary sampling units.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Download an XLSX version of this appendix here:

Last Modified Date: August 27, 2026