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Bureau of Labor Statistics > Office of Survey Methods Research > Topics > Response Rates

Household and establishment survey response rate calculations

Introduction

The formulas on this page are used to calculate response rates by survey. For surveys with more than one formula, the formula used to calculate the rate shown in each chart is indicated.

American Time Use Survey (ATUS)

Response rate = (# responding) / ((# eligible) + (# with eligibility undetermined))

Annual Refiling Survey (ARS)

Response rate = ((received response) + (response from a non-refile source)) / ((nonresponses) + (unusable responses) + (pending response) + (refusal) + (received responses) + (response from a non-refile source))

Consumer Expenditure Survey (CE)

Response rate = (# responding) / ((# responding) + (# eligible but not responding))

Consumer Price Index—Commodities & Services (CPI C&S)

Response rate = (# responding) / ((# eligible) + (# with eligibility undetermined))
The CPI initiation rate is an unweighted average over the most recent eight semi-annual initiation (collection) periods, whereas the other surveys' rates are calculated based on the most recent initiation (collection) period.

Consumer Price Index—Housing (CPI—Housing)

Response rate = (# responding) / (# eligible and successfully initiated)

Current Employment Statistics Survey (CES)

Response rate: number of Unemployment Insurance (UI) numbers that responded, divided by the total number of UIs selected for the sample (excluding UIs determined to be out of business). [Chart 2]
- Response rate = (# units responding)/(# units eligible)
Enrollment rate: rate at which new panels are being successfully enrolled into the sample. Data are not used in estimates for up to 3 months after initiation. [Chart 3]
Collection rate: number of reporting locations that responded, divided by the total number of locations selected for the sample, and minus those that are out of business, prior refusals, or tacit refusals of more than 6 months. This can be viewed as equivalent to a "repricing" response rate. [Chart 4] and [Chart 5]

Current Population Survey (CPS)

Response rate = (# housing units which completed interviews) / (# net housing units eligible for interviews)

Employment Cost Index (ECI)

Survey response rate
- Response rate = (# units responding) / (# units eligible) [Chart 2]
- Numerator = total number of establishments available for estimation that are coded usable, vacant, or strike
- Denominator = total number of establishments available for estimation that are coded usable, vacant, strike, refusals for which initiation schedule was usable, refusals for which initiation schedule was not usable, or temporary nonresponse
Usable rate at initiation or update [Chart 3]
- Numerator = total number of establishments coded usable, vacant, or strike
- Denominator = total number of establishments coded usable, vacant, strike, refusal, or temporary nonresponse
- Response rate = (# units responding) / (# units eligible)

Note: Initiations correspond to index and benefit initiations scheduled for collection during the quarter. Updates correspond to index updates for all establishments being updated, whether or not they are currently used in estimation

International Price Program (IPP)—Exports and Imports

Establishment initiation response rate = (# cooperative establishments) / ((# cooperative establishments) + (# refusal establishments)) [Chart 3]
Establishment quote initiation response rate = (# cooperative establishment quotes) / ((# cooperative establishment quotes) + (# refusal establishment quotes))
Repricing (return) response rate = (# items with repricing data collected) / (# items eligible for repricing) [Chart 4] and [Chart 5]
Estimation (usable) response rate = (# items used in estimation) / (# items eligible for repricing)
Overall response rate = (average establishment quote initiation response rate across all samples with repricing data) * (estimation response rate) [Chart 2]

Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS)

Response rate = (# responding) / (# eligible)
Establishments that are determined later to be out of scope of the survey, and establishments that are no longer in business are not eligible.

Occupational Employment Statistics Survey (OES)

Response rate = (# responding) / (# eligible)
Establishments that are no longer in business are not eligible.

Occupational Requirements Survey (ORS)

Response rate = (# units responding) / (# units eligible)
Numerator = total establishments available for estimation coded usable; Denominator = total establishments available for estimation coded usable or refusal.

Producer Price Index (PPI), Initiation and Repricing

Inititation response rate: An unweighted rate that is calculated by dividing the number of productive units (establishments) collected in a given grouping of industries by the total number of eligible units and units with eligibility undetermined in the same grouping. [Chart 3]
Repricing rate = (eligible items with usable data for estimation) / ((eligible items with usable data for estimation) + (eligible items with unusable data for estimation)) [Chart 4] and [Chart 5]

Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII)

Response rate = (# responding) / ((# eligible) + (# with eligibility undetermined))

Telephone Point of Purchase Survey (TPOPS)

Response rate = (# responding) / ((# eligible) + (# with eligibility undetermined))

Last Modified Date: July 13, 2018