Consumer Expenditure Survey, 1980-1981: Diary Survey

This data collection contains selected expenditure and income data from the diary components of the 1980 and 1981 Consumer Expenditure Surveys. The principal objectives of the survey were to collect current consumer expenditure data to provide a continuous flow of data on the buying habits of American consumers for use in a wide variety of social and economic research and analysis, and to provide data for future revisions to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The 1980 diary survey data were derived from the reports of over 5,500 sample consumer units. Consumer units were asked to list all of their expenses during the period they were in the survey. The diary data were collected with a household characteristics questionnaire and a separate questionnaire to record daily expenses. The diary survey was intended to obtain reliable expenditure data on small, frequently- purchased items that are normally difficult to recall. These items include expenditures for food and beverages, gas and electricity, gasoline, housekeeping supplies, nonprescription drugs and medical supplies, and personal care products and services.