SPMTHRESHANC12 is a 22-digit floating point variable.
999999999999999.000000 = NIU (Not in universe)

Description

SPMTHRESHANC12 records the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM) threshold for each SPM family (SPMFAMUNIT), anchored to a 2012 standard of living. This anchored poverty threshold provides a more absolute measure of poverty than its unanchored corollary SPMTHRESH, allowing for a comparison over time that holds consumer behavior and living standards to a constant reference period.

About SPM Thresholds

SPM thresholds are based on a rolling five-year average of consumption. The year-to-year changes in the SPM thresholds thus do not just reflect inflation but also changes in the social patterns of expenditures across these categories. The SPM has separate baseline thresholds depending on a family's housing tenure status (i.e., renters, owners with a mortgage, owners without a mortgage); these thresholds are adjusted for family size and composition as well as geographic location. Therefore, the SPM thresholds provide a quasi-relative standard for meeting basic consumption needs based on prevailing consumption trends in their geographic location.

The original methodology based this on the cost of food, clothing, shelter, and utilities (FCSU) as measured by the Consumer Expenditure Survey, then multiplied by 1.2 to account for other miscellaneous household expenses; changes introduced in 2020 separate telephone services from other utilities and add both internet services (FCSUti) as well as a number of additional in-kind transfers (Low Income Housing Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), National School Lunch Program (NSLP), Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC), and rental assistance were added to the previously included Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program (SNAP)).

Anchored SPM Thresholds

SPMTHRESHANC12 is calculated by first adjusting the 2012 SPM thresholds for inflation to the target year and then follows the usual SPM adjustments for family size and composition by applying the equivalence scale (SPMEQSCALE) and geographic differences in the cost of living (SPMGEOADJANC12). SPMPOVANC12 is a dichotomous measure of poverty status using the anchored threshold.

SPMTHRESHANC12 is one of three anchored variables created by the Center on Poverty and Social Policy at Columbia University as part of their Historical SPM project.

For user guidance on the Historical SPM and the calculation of SPMTHRESHANC12, please refer to the Historical SPM user note. The user note also provides an example to show the calculation of the SPM thresholds and geographic adjustment factor.

Comparability

SPMTHRESHANC12 is largely comparable across all years.

SPMTHRESHANC12 is provided by CPSP from 1968-2009 (for calendar years 1967 to 2008). For 2010 (calendar year 2009) forward, this variable is generated by IPUMS using the same methodology. IPUMS uses the Research Consumer Price Index Retroactive Series (R-CPI-U-RS) to calculate inflation for this variable. Users should be aware that the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) periodically revises the R-CPI-U-RS to account for changes to their calculation methods. IPUMS uses the most recent values provided by the BLS, so values for SPMTHRESHANC12 may change slightly over time. The current version of the R-CPI-U-RS used by IPUMS was accessed on November 4, 2025 and last modified by the BLS on April 23, 2025. Values provided by CPSP for years 1968-2009 are not affected by these modifications.

While the methods used to calculate the Historical SPM variables are the same for the entire series, some variables are entirely imputed or alternate data sources are used because of unevenness in data ability over time. Please see the user note linked from the description tab for further information on the creation of the Historical SPM variables.

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