EFS Diary of spending Gareth.Powell@ons.gsi.gov.uk.

EFS Diary of spendingGareth.Powell@ons.gsi.gov.uk

The Survey

• Part of the CPS – similar to other ONS household surveys

• CAPI cannot collect good data on all purchases

• Need ongoing, convenient method respondents can fill out as they go

The Diary

• A record of every item purchased by diary holder over a two week period

• High level of detail collected, especially for food

Food on the Diary

• What

• When

• Where

• How much

• At what price

What it looks like

Food & drink brought home

Takeaway meals eaten at home

Meals & drinks consumed away from

home.

Clothing & footware

Misc purchases

Winnings

The children’s diary

The youth diary is kept very simple

What did you buy today?

How much did you pay?

Where did you buy it?

And for food and drink only

Where did you eat/drink it?(home / elsewhere)

Coding

• The diary is coded by a team in Titchfield

• Missing data, where possible, is found by going back to the interviewer / respondent or on the internet

• The coding frame is updated by DEFRA and ONS Prices division as needed (up to monthly)

• Shop coding frame is updated annually

Some Strengths

• Comprehensive

• Detailed

• Large sample – soon to be unclustered

Some Limitations

• Only measures expenditure – not consumption

• High respondent burden

• Requires time for coding

Questions?

Gareth.Powell@ons.gsi.gov.uk