Spending Habits Surveyed

WASHINGTON, D.C. - A sample of households across the country to provide information on how much Americans spend for health care, groceries, clothing, transportation, housing and other items is being collected by U.S. Census Bureau field representatives.The Consumer Expenditure Survey program is comprised of two separate surveys, the first of which will interview 12,000 households once every three months throughout the year about large expenses such as rent, medical costs, etc. In a second Diary Survey, another 12,500 households will keep two consecutive one-week diaries of all purchases including incidentals. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics will then publish integrated data from the two surveys to create a snapshot of the nation's economy and spending habits. Government economists use the survey results to update a "market basket" of goods and services for the Consumer Price Index in order to measure inflation. All personal information and answers are confidential. (c) 2007 The Credit Union Journal and SourceMedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved. http://www.cujournal.com http://www.sourcemedia.com