1996-2010: No original topcode, values over $494 coded as $495+ (code 500)
2011: $450 (code 450)
2012: $400 (code 400)
2013-2014: Given top code of $400, but the data have top code of $500 (code 500)
2015: $500 (code 500)
2016: Given top code of $500, but the data have top code of $530 (code 500)
2017-2019: $500 (code 500)
2020: $400 (code 400)
2021: $440 (code 440)

Description

FSULXPNSC indicates the usual weekly amount a household spends on food.

FSULXPNSC is a categorical recode of the continuous FSULXPNS. In 2015, the continuous variable was discontinued from the public release data and a categorical variable was introduced. FSULXPNSC recodes all previous years to the 2015 coding scheme. FSULXPNS will no longer be updated for new samples.

In most years, households are first asked to report their actual expenditures last week in different types of stores before estimating their usual spending on food. In 1998, respondents were asked only about their usual spending.

Information on total expenditures last week is available in FSTOTXPN.

This variable is part of the Food Security Supplement.

Comparability

Unlike respondents in other years, respondents in 1998 were not asked about actual food expenditures in the previous week. This may impact the comparability of estimates of usual spending in 1998.

In 2008, the documentation states that a "probe was added for respondents that reported zero usual spending for food", and that "This appears to have reduced the number of households reporting zero usual spending for food."

In addition, the universe changes over time. Prior to 2001 and in 2008, usual food expenditures are reported by all households. In all other years, only households that reported spending money on food last week are asked to report their usual expenditures. Beginning in 2010, food expenditure questions are restricted to non-group quarter households.

Documented top codes change over time.

Universe

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Unharmonized Variables