Samoana "Market baskets"

Short of sending back your Census form comes another pecker on American households called the Consumer Expenditure Survey (CE). But for the small business owner, the survey is a welcomed exchange.

So agrees Lemusu, owner of the Samoana Market in Long Beach. One of 3 Samoan food stores in the Los Angeles region.

"It'll be helpful for our management team to know spending habits of our customers" says Lemusu.

This month (April, 2010), U.S. Census Bureau field representatives will collect information about how much Americans spend for groceries, clothing, transportation, housing, health care and other items from a sample of households across the country.

The CE program consists of two parts:
The Interview Survey — During the year, about 15,000 households will be interviewed each quarter to obtain data on relatively large expenditures and also those expenditures that occur on a regular basis (such as rent and utilities). The Diary Survey — During the year, another 12,500 households will be asked to keep two consecutive one-week diaries of smaller, more frequent purchases that may be difficult for respondents to recall later (such as a fast-food purchase at a drive-through window, a soda or candy bar from a vending machine, or a carton of eggs from the supermarket).

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics then calculates and publishes integrated data from the two surveys — providing a snapshot of our nation’s economy and spending habits. Government economists use the survey results to update a “market basket” of goods and services for the Consumer Price Index, our nation’s most widely used measure of inflation.

“Findings from the Consumer Expenditure Survey permit policymakers to assess the impact of governmental policy changes on spending patterns of different socioeconomic groups,” said George Grandy Jr., director of the Census Bureau’s Atlanta Regional Office. “These data also help business owners track consumer spending trends, so they can better respond to the needs of their customers.”

Before the CE interviews begin, households will receive a letter from the Census Bureau director informing them of their selection to participate in the survey. Census Bureau field representatives will visit these households to conduct the interview. The field representative conducting the CE interviews must display an official photo identification before proceeding with the interview. Federal law ensures survey respondents’ personal information and answers are kept confidential.

Until the survey results come out, I along with my kalo and palusami finger licking good friends, will be getting our fill at the Samoana market, heck, any market for that matter...as long as it's the 'lololo' good old fashioned Samoan kind.

Now that I'm back on Atkins, I'm putting a call out to all turkey tails and pork sausages.. Yo! You COUNT in my market basket!