2013 Conference

This workshop describes effects of the 2007-09 recession on major expenditures (food, housing, health care, etc.), and explores how total spending exceeds income for low-income families, an outcome observed before, during, and after the recession.

Financial Services

The Consumer Expenditure Survey (CE) is the most detailed source of expenditure data collected directly from households by the Federal government. In addition, information on income, assets and liabilities, and demographics are collected from a large, nationally representative sample of consumers. The result is a unique and rich source of data of interest to researchers, educators, advocates, policymakers, and others in a variety of fields. Moreover, these data, both tabular and at the household level (i.e., microdata), are publically available for free download.  Using examples from current research, this session is designed to provide  instruction in the use of these data. The session will start with an introduction to the CE, including how the tabular and microdata are collected and published, how they can be accessed online, how they are used in practice, and journals that have published research using these data (e.g., Journal of Consumer Affairs). Presenters will then describe current research projects that use these data. In the final segments, attendees will learn about the microdata: file structure and content, sampling of variables available, and contact information for CE program experts who can answer questions about accessing and using these files. They will also have the opportunity to participate in brief exercises using the microdata. This workshop is expected to be of particular interest to students, both graduate and undergraduate, pursuing dissertations, theses, or class projects; junior faculty interested in publishing; senior faculty interested in new research projects; and other analysts with interest in consumer spending patterns for use in policy, education, and other fields.