ERS Series—Food Expenditures Based on Actual Sales
ERS' analysis of food expenditures provides valuable information
on how consumers spend their food dollar and how their consumption
patterns change. ERS gets its aggregate food expenditure series
by estimating current sales or receipts by each type of store that
sells food. Measurement of purchases of food for at-home use, meal
and snack purchases for food-away-from-home consumption, and alcoholic
beverages purchased by families, individuals, and institutions provides
the most direct measurement of food expenditures. For more information
see Measuring
the ERS Food Expenditures Series and ERS tables
on food expenditures.
PCE Series—Food Expenditures Based on Commerce Surveys
The ERS food expenditure series differs from the U.S. Department of
Commerce aggregate estimates of Personal Consumption Expenditures
(PCE) series. The trends in food expenditures in the two series
are similar. The ERS series shows a lower level of spending for
food than does the PCE series, particularly for food purchased at
grocery stores and other retail outlets for consumption at home.
The ERS estimates of at-home expenditures are lower partly because
they exclude pet food, ice, and prepared feeds, which are included
in PCE estimates. ERS estimates also deduct more from grocery store
sales for nonfoods, such as drugs and branded supplies, in estimating
food purchases for at-home consumption.
CE Series—Food Expenditures Based on BLS Survey
ERS also uses data from the Consumer Expenditure Survey (CE), which
provides data on household food expenditures. Data from this annual
survey, which is conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau
of Labor Statistics (BLS), provide information on the buying habits
of American consumers by socioeconomic characteristics. ERS uses
these data in conjunction with ERS's food consumption data to study
food expenditures and food demand by American households. The CE
is the only Federal survey that allows users to associate the complete
range of consumer expenditures with the income and characteristics
of those consumers. The survey consists of two parts, the quarterly
Interview survey and the Diary survey, each with its own questionnaire
and sample. Interview data provide information on relatively large
or recurring expenditures, and diary data offer detailed expenditure
information on small, frequently purchased items. For ERS research
that uses the BLS expenditure data, see information in the Food
Consumption Briefing Room.
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