Survey of Household Spending            2003  (shs)

Understanding consumer spending is important for a wide variety of
users, including social policy analysts, advocacy and community groups,
businesses and all levels of government. The Survey of Household
Spending: Public-use Microdata File offers users the ability to conduct
their own analysis of spending on a wide variety of goods and services
as well as dwelling characteristics and possession of household
equipment and services. Results from the 2003 Survey of Household
Spending were originally released on December 13, 2003. All records have
been thoroughly screened to ensure the anonymity of respondents.

The Survey of Household Spending: Public-use Microdata File contains
information about expenditures at the household level on a wide variety
of goods and services: food, shelter, clothing, transportation, health
care, child care, education, reading materials, communications,
recreation, furniture, tobacco and alcohol, gambling, taxes, insurance
premiums, pension contributions, money gifts, and charitable
contributions.

It also collects information about dwelling characteristics such as type
of dwelling, whether repairs are needed, tenure (owned or rented), year
of move, period of construction, number of rooms and bathrooms, and the
age and type of heating equipment and fuel used. Household equipment
presented includes a variety of household appliances, communications and
entertainment equipment and services, and the number of vehicles owned.