Are historical data from the Consumer Expenditure Survey available?
Yes. Prior to 1980, the Consumer Expenditure Survey was conducted about every 10 years. Since that time, it has been an ongoing survey. Data are available from both the pre-1980 and later surveys. For information about the availability of any Consumer Expenditure Survey data, including historical data, contact the Division of Consumer Expenditure Surveys. Caution should be used in comparing data from the current survey with those gathered during pre-1980 surveys, or even during the first few years of the current survey, due to changes in concepts and definitions. For example, integrated data from the Diary and Interview Surveys have been published from 1984 onward; prior to 1984, data from each survey were published separately. Also prior to 1984, published data covered only the urban portion of the population. Beginning in 1984, the published data are for the total population, urban and rural.
