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Monthly CPS data are not currently being released amidst the U.S. federal government shut down. Once the September 2025 monthly data are available, we will process and release them as quickly as possible via IPUMS.

Codes and Frequencies



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Description

PHONE indicates whether household members had access to a telephone. The interviewer first ascertained whether a telephone was inside the housing unit (code 3), and, if not, whether people in the household could be contacted via a telephone located elsewhere (code 2).

Comparability

This variable is comparable over time.

Comparability with IPUMS-USA

PHONE is a dichotomous variable in IPUMS-USA. In the 1960 and 1970 censuses, a "yes" response on the PHONE variable meant respondents had access to a telephone either inside or outside their housing unit; thereafter, "yes" meant that the telephone was inside the housing unit. The 2000 census and the ACS specifically asked about the availability of telephone service, not simply the presence of a phone. Researchers should combine IPUMS-CPS categories 2 and 3 to achieve comparability between IPUMS-CPS and the 1960 and 1970 censuses in IPUMS-USA. For later census years and the ACS, category 3 in IPUMS-CPS is comparable to a "yes" response in IPUMS-USA.

Universe

  • Interviewed households and group quarters.

Availability

Years Jan Feb ASEC Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
1983 – 2025 - - X - - - - - - - - -

Flags

QPHONE 

Unharmonized Variables