A new round of the Household Expenditure Survey (HES) has been launched in mid-September 2024 to collect up-to-date information on the expenditure patterns of households in Hong Kong. This information is an important input for updating the expenditure weights of the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) conducts an HES once every 5 years. The survey will be conducted for a whole year in order to take into account seasonal variations in household expenditure patterns during different periods of the year.
A sample of living quarters has been selected for the survey under a scientifically designed sampling scheme. The one-year survey reference period starting from October 2024 will be divided into 26 bi-weekly cycles, and each sampled household will take part in only one cycle. The questionnaire used in the HES is designed mainly in the form of an expenditure diary. Each household member will need to record his/her daily expenditures in the diary, as well as providing information on regular payments and expenditures on infrequent purchases.
Prior to the conduct of the main survey, a pre-test was carried out during May to July 2024 to test the survey design, work flows and various aspects of survey operations.
About 3 weeks before the commencement of each survey cycle, notification letters will be sent to the sampled living quarters to invite the households therein to participate in the survey. The households can:
The 2024/25 HES is conducted under Part IIIA of the Census and Statistics Ordinance (Cap. 316). Data collected in the survey regarding individual persons and households will be kept strictly confidential and will not be released to any unauthorised parties, including Government departments. Such data will only be used for compiling aggregate statistics from which particulars of individual households cannot be identified.
The major results of the 2024/25 HES are expected to be released in mid-2026. For statistics on household expenditures, please visit https://www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/scode290.html.
For enquiries about the 2024/25 HES, please contact the Household Expenditure Survey Section of the C&SD at telephone number 2551 6500 or email address hesurvey@censtatd.gov.hk.