PolicyMap and Quantitative Innovations (QI) developed Consumer Spending Habits data by combining information on household spending behavior from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey (2022-2023) with demographic and economic data from the U.S. Census American Community Survey (2019-2023). Consumer Spending Habits data provides small-area estimates of household expenditures for several major categories of household expenses. “Households” are defined here as “consumer units,” individuals living together who share major expenses. This differs from the Census Bureau’s definition of household, which may contain multiple consumer units if household members do not share all major expenses.
Estimates were generated by PolicyMap and QI and include:
The Consumer Expenditure Survey (CES), conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), collects detailed information on household spending patterns, including expenditures on food, housing, and other major categories. Survey participants report spending for all members of their consumer unit over specific time periods. The BLS releases CES microdata and summary tables on a regular basis—typically annually or semiannually.
The American Community Survey (ACS), conducted annually by the U.S. Census Bureau, collects data throughout the year from a randomly selected sample of households in the United States and Puerto Rico. It provides detailed information on population, housing, demographic, social, and economic characteristics.
Quantitative Innovations is a data strategy and applied analytics advisory firm that helps clients turn their data into strategic insights and actions.