TPOPS Definition of Items

Items that will be asked about in the survey	Purchases within the past:
Newspaper or Magazine Subscriptions	1 Year
Club Membership Dues for Shopping Clubs, Fraternal, or Other Organizations, or Fees for Participant Sports	1 Year
Sewing Machines, Fabric or Sewing Supplies	1 Year
Books, Audio Books or E-Books	3 Months
Single Copy Newspapers or Magazines	1 Month
Sugar or Artificial Sweeteners	2 Weeks
Candy or Chewing Gum	2 Weeks
Jellies, Syrups, Honey, Molasses, Marshmallows, Icings, or Fudge Mixes	2 Weeks

 

Newspaper or Magazine Subscriptions

Includes:

• Comic books
• Tabloids
• Online editions

Includes subscriptions to any newspapers sold in the United States, including non-English language papers. All magazines published and/or distributed in the United States, including newspaper formatted magazines such as the National Enquirer, The Star, and comic books.

Excludes:

• Single copy purchases

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Club Membership Dues for Shopping Clubs, Fraternal, or Other Organizations, or Fees for Participant Sports

Includes:

• Membership Dues
• Country clubs
• Gyms/Health clubs
• Alumni associations
• Travel clubs
• Educational organizations
• Fees for Participant Sports, such as Bowling, Golf, Hunting, Skating
• Shopping club memberships, such as warehouse clubs, discount memberships

Includes membership dues and fees paid to clubs such as health clubs, YMCA/YWCA, alumni clubs, country clubs, tennis/racquet clubs, swim clubs, travel/entertainment/hobby clubs, fraternal and civic/educational organizations,; shopping clubs including warehouse clubs (such as Sam's Club) and discount memberships (such as Amazon Prime); fees for recreational activities such as bicycling, bowling (duck and ten pin), boating, fishing, golf (9 and 18 holes, driving range, miniature golf), hunting, roller skating, ice skating, team sports or table games (chess or bridge clubs).

Excludes:

• Credit card annual fees
• Automobile clubs

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Sewing Machines, Fabric or Sewing Supplies

Includes:

• Needles and pins
• Yarn
• Thread
• Patterns
• Buttons and zippers
• Scissors

Includes items for home sewing such as sewing machines, fabric for making slipcovers, curtains, upholstery, drapery, clothing, and clothing accessories, yarn for knitting/crocheting, and embroidery, precut and uncut rug. All types of notions such as needles and pins, thread, buttons, fasteners, bindings, scissors, tape, trim, zippers, and patterns.

Excludes rentals and repairs.

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Books, Audio Books or E-Books

Includes:

• Hardcover books
• Paperback books
• Audio books
• E-Books

Includes all new books, audio books, and downloadable e-books purchased individually.

Excludes:

• Textbooks
• Reference book sets
• E-book subscription services
• Books purchased through book clubs

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Single Copy Newspapers or Magazines

Includes:

• Comic books
• Tabloids
• Online editions

Includes all newspapers, magazines and other single issue periodicals, this includes newspaper formatted magazines, such as the "National Enquirer" and "The Star", and comic book series. Also included are online periodicals that may be downloaded as digital files.

Excludes:

• Subscriptions

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Sugar or Artificial Sweeteners

Includes:

• White Sugar
• Brown Sugar
• Artificial Sweeteners

Includes all types of white and brown sugar including granulated, powdered or confectioners which is loose, in cubes, or in packets. Artificial sweeteners in the form of liquid, tablets, granulated.

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Candy or Chewing Gum

Includes:

• Chocolates
• Taffy
• Stick candy
• Candy jellies
• Hard Candy or Chewing Gum
• Candy
• Breath mints
• Ribbon candy
• Candy fruit slices
• Lollipops
• Powdered Candy
• Rock candy
• Caramels
• Brittles
• Nougats
• Toffees
• Chewing and bubble gum
• Licorice

Excludes:

• Cough drops
• Antacids
• Medicated gum

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Jellies, Syrups, Honey, Molasses, Marshmallows, Icings, or Fudge Mixes

Includes:

• Jellies
• Jams
• Preserves
• Marmalade
• Fruit butter
• Pancake/waffle syrup
• Corn syrup
• Fruit syrups
• Syrups used as ice cream topping
• Molasses
• Ready-to-spread icing
• Honey
• Cake decorations
• Fudge mixes
• Marshmallows
• Icing mixes

Excludes "other sweets" not specifically mentioned.

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Last Modified Date: December 31, 2018