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

CE Control Card

The Consumer Expenditure Survey Quarterly Interview Survey Control Card is used to establish membership in the consumer unit and to collect demographic characteristics of members. IMPORTANT: The Census Bureau does not release to the Bureau of Labor Statistics any confidential information such as names and addresses. This information is only used during the course of the interview.

Choose one of the following

  1. Enter 1 if CU has provided data for the control card from prior interview (INTERVIEWS 2-5)
  2. Enter 2 if CU is a NEW CU or has not provided data for the control card from prior interview (FIRST INTERVIEW)
I have listed . . . . READ NAMES OF ALL MEMBERS OF CU PROVIDED BEFORE....
Are all these persons still living or staying here?


  1. Yes
  2. No
* [Use up/down arrows to move to the correct row for membership change. When done, REVIEW/Update demographics. Press END key / Use left/right arrows to move to REVIEW/Update demographics. When done, Press END key]


  1. Delete person
  2. Reinstate person
  3. Error - person should not have been listed
What are the names of all persons living or staying here? Start with the name of the person, or one of the persons, who owns/rents this home.

[enter text]

  1. Enter 999 if no more persons
What is the name of the next person living or staying here?
[enter text]
  1. Enter 999 if no more persons
* Enter Last Name
[enter text]

* Ask if not apparent

What is your/name's relationship to you/name of reference person/the owner/renter?
  1. Reference person
  2. Spouse (Husband/Wife)
  3. Child or adopted child
  4. Grandchild
  5. In-Law
  6. Brother or Sister
  7. Mother or Father
  8. Other related person (Aunt, Uncle, etc.)
  9. Unrelated Person (Lodger, Lodger's spouse, foster child, etc.)
  10. Unmarried Partner

* Ask if not apparent

Are you/Is (name) male or female?
  1. Male
  2. Female

* Ask if not apparent

Are you/Is (name) living away at college?
  1. Yes
  2. No
Do you/Does (name) usually live here?

* Probe if usual place of residence is elsewhere

  1. Yes
  2. No
* Ask if necessary

With whom am I speaking?
  1. [Respondent's name]
  2. Proxy Respondent

Choose one of the following

  1. Enter 1 if CU has provided data for the control card from prior interview (INTERVIEWS 2-5)
  2. Enter 2 if CU is a NEW CU or has not provided data for the control card from prior interview (FIRST INTERVIEW)
I have listed . . . * READ NAMES
Have I missed any babies or small children?
  1. Yes
  2. No
Have I missed anyone who usually lives here but is away now - traveling, at school, or in a hospital?
  1. Yes
  2. No
Have I missed any lodgers, boarders, or persons you employ who live here?
  1. Yes
  2. No
Have I missed anyone else staying here?
  1. Yes
  2. No
Is anyone else living or staying here, including newborn babies?
  1. Yes, add new person
  2. No

* Ask if not apparent

Do all persons in this household live OR eat together?
  1. Yes
  2. No, neither live nor eat together
Do the people who do not live or eat with [Name of reference person] have direct access to a separate living arrangement, from the outside or through a common hallway?


  1. Yes
  2. No
Who does not live or eat with this household.
* Enter all that apply [enter text] _____________

* WARNING

You are about to begin asking questions about one or more additional living arrangements at this location to determine if they qualify as EXTRA UNITS!!!
  1. Enter 1 to Continue

* Check the listing sheet.

Is the address of the additional living quarters already listed?
  1. Yes
  2. No

This is not an Extra Unit.
Continue with the interview of this unit.

  1. Enter 1 to Continue
Display any extra units that were already listed this quarter.
[enter text]

* Ask if not apparent

Does any other household on the property live OR eat with this household?
  1. Yes
  2. No
* Redefine the unit to include space occupied by all persons who live and eat together.

Apply merged unit procedures if appropriate.

If merged unit, add person or persons to household roster and complete the interview.
  1. Merged Unit
  2. Not Merged Unit
  3. Proceed
* Begin financial responsibility questions for any non-relative in this household.
  1. There are no non-relatives in the household who are CU/household members.
  2. There are more than 1 non-relative who are CU/household members in the household.
  3. All others.
Earlier you said that [(name) was/you were] not related to [name of the reference person].
[Are you/Is (name)] related to anyone else in this household?
  1. Yes
  2. No
Who [are you/is (name)] related to?

PROBE: Anyone else?

* Enter line number(s) [enter text] _____________

Do/Does (NAME) pay for all your/his/her/their housing expenses with your/his/her/their own money?

(List the names of persons in this subfamily)

  1. Yes
  2. No
Do/Does (NAME) pay for all your/his/her/their food expenses with your/his/her/their own money?

(List the names of persons in this subfamily)

  1. Yes
  2. No
Do/Does (NAME) pay for all your/his/her/their other living expenses such as clothing, transportation, etc., with your/his/her/their own money?

(List the names of persons in this subfamily)

  1. Yes
  2. No
Does all or part of the money to pay for (READ NAMES) for the above expenses come from someone in this household?

(List the names of persons in this subfamily)

  1. Yes
  2. No
Who is that person(s)?

* Enter line number(s) [enter text]

* HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS BROKEN INTO APPROPRIATE CU's

(List CU# Line number and name)

  1. Enter 1 to Continue
During this interview, I will use the words consumer unit or CU. A consumer unit is the person/group of persons in this household who is/are independent of all other persons in this household for payment of their major expenses.

The person(s) I'm including in your CU is(are) (READ NAME(S))

  1. Enter 1 to Continue
[* UPDATE Marital, Education, College and Armed Forces - Press END when done ]
What is your/(name)'s date of birth?

* Enter Birth Month

  1. January
  2. February
  3. March
  4. April
  5. May
  6. June
  7. July
  8. August
  9. September
  10. October
  11. November
  12. December
* Enter Birth Day [enter text]
* Enter Birth Year [enter value]
As of today, that would make you/(name) "age" year/years old.
Is that correct?

  1. Yes
  2. No
Even though you don't know your/(name)'s exact birthdate, what is your best guess as to how old you/he/she were/was on your/his/her last birthday?
  1. [enter value]
  2. 99 years or older

* Ask if necessary

Are/Is you/he/she under 16?
  1. Yes
  2. No

Are/Is you/(name) Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish?

  1. Yes
  2. No

Are/Is you/(name) -

  1. Mexican?
  2. Mexican-American?
  3. Chicano?
  4. Puerto Rican?
  5. Cuban?
  6. Cuban-American?
  7. Central or South American?
  8. Other? (Specify)

* Specify: [enter text] _____________

Please chose one or more races that (name)/you considers/consider himself/herself/yourself to be./you consider (child's name) to be.

* Probe if necessary

* Enter all that apply



  1. White
  2. Black or African American
  3. American Indian or Alaska Native
  4. Asian
  5. Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
  6. Other Specify
  7. Don't Know

Please select one of the following to describe your/(name)'s origin.

Are/Is you/(name) -



  1. Chinese?
  2. Filipino?
  3. Japanese?
  4. Korean?
  5. Vietnamese?
  6. Asian Indian?
  7. Other? (Specify)

* Specify: [enter text] _____________

* Specify other race: [enter text] _____________

* Ask if not apparent

Are/Is you/(name) now -



  1. Married?
  2. Widowed?
  3. Divorced?
  4. Separated?
  5. Never married?

What is the highest level of school (name) has/you have completed or the highest degree (name) has/you have received?

  1. Never attended, preschool, kindergarten
  2. 1st grade
  3. 2nd grade
  4. 3rd grade
  5. 4th grade
  6. 5th grade
  7. 6th grade
  8. 7th grade
  9. 8th grade
  10. 9th grade
  11. 10th grade
  12. 11th grade
  13. 12th grade NO DIPLOMA
  14. HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE - high school DIPLOMA, or the equivalent
  15. Some college but no degree
  16. Associate degree in college - Occupational program
  17. Associate degree in college - Academic program
  18. Bachelor's degree (Example: BA, AB, BS)
  19. Master's degree (Example: MA, MS, MEng, MSW, MBA)
  20. Professional School Degree (Example: MD, DDS, DVM, LLB, JD)
  21. Doctorate degree (Example: PhD, EdD)

Are you/Is (name) currently enrolled in a college or university either -

  1. Full-time?
  2. Part-time?
  3. Not at all?

Are you/Is (name) now in the Armed Forces?

ARMED FORCES -- A person is considered to be in the armed forces if they serve in any branch of the U.S. military. This includes the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard, their Reserve components and the Air and Army National Guard.

  1. Yes
  2. No

End of Control Card

Go to Section 1 - General Survey Information »

Go to Section 1 Part A - General Survey Information - Reference Period Explanation »

Go to CE CAPI Survey Instrument Home Page »

 

Last Modified Date: September 19, 2008