Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2012

Statistics Norway have used periodical consumption surveys as a basis for establishing and updating the weighting foundation for the reality price index. Detailed accounts of the consumption in private households have also established an important basis for the level of living statistics and for research on income, level of living and for example effects of the taxing system usage of direct and indirect taxes. The material is also so detailed that it constitutes an interesting groundwork for nutrition analyses. The data can also be applied in demand studies, in economical planning models or for specification of private consumption in the national financial statement.

In 1974 SSB converted to a system with annual surveys with somewhat smaller samples. From 1974-1976 data was published for 3 years at the time, and the annual gross samples of about 1500 households, net sample of 1100-1200 households. The aim was still to build a detailed overview of the consumption in private households, that constitutes a groundwork for updating the weighting basis in the reality price index. Another aim was to map out consumption in various types of households. The households are classified in accordance with such marks as household type, income, main income earners working status and age, neighborhood, size of total consumption spending, etc. The data are organized in several sections and contains background information about the household (gathered through an introductory interview that maps out the household composition), detailed consumption measured in value and amounts (registered by journal notation, for the household and the individual members of the household), the households purchase of durable consumer goods (lasting capital objects, gathered through a comprehensive finishing interview), consumption of self-produced goods, income and taxes.