Consumer Expenditure Survey Public Use Microdata Files

These data were used widely in economic research and analysis, and in support of revisions of the Consumer Price Index. The agency produced population estimates of average expenditures for news releases, reports, bulletins, and articles in the "Monthly Labor Review." This series contains detailed income and expenditure data.

The surveys consists of a quarterly inter view panel survey in which each consumer unit in the sample is interviewed every three months over five consecutive quarters, and a diary or record keeping survey completed by the sample consumer units for two consecutive 1-week periods. These files present data on the characteristics and demographics of consumer units and consumer unit members. The summary level expenditure and income information in these files link consumer spending, by general expenditure category, to household characteristics and demographics.