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

The Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CE) program provides data on expenditures, income, and demographic characteristics of consumers in the United States. The CE program provides these data in tables, LABSTAT database, news releases, reports, and public use microdata files.

CE data are collected by the Census Bureau for BLS in two surveys: the Interview Survey for major and/or recurring items and the Diary Survey for more minor or frequently purchased items. CE data are primarily used to revise the relative importance of goods and services in the market basket of the Consumer Price Index. The CE is the only Federal household survey to provide information on the complete range of consumers' expenditures and incomes. Here is an overview of the CE program and its methods.

To be notified when new datasets become available, sign up for CE updates. The menu will prompt you to select Consumer Expenditures. If you have comments or questions about this page and its contents, contact us.

Notices

  • Beyond the Numbers: Changing how BLS defines geographic areas in the Consumer Expenditure Surveys (2/28/2023) Read More »
  • The Economics Daily: Consumer spending on public and other transportation in metro areas before and during COVID-19 (3/2/2023) Read More »
  • The Economics Daily: Consumer expenditures for athletic gear, game tables, and exercise equipment doubled in 2021 (1/13/2023) Read More »