070000 CONSUMER PURCHASES

Category Description

2003+: This category captures nearly all purchases and rentals of consumer goods, regardless of mode or place of purchase or rental (in person, via telephone, over the internet, at home, or in a store). Subcategories are provided for gasoline, grocery, and other food purchases. Home or apartment purchases or rentals (Professional and Personal Care Services (080000)) are not included here, nor are purchases of services (Professional and Personal Care Services (080000) or Household Services (090000)).

Activity Coding Rules

Paying for things

2003+: If respondent paid for a specific item or consumer good when receiving it, code as Consumer Purchases/Shopping (store, telephone, internet)/ relevant activity (070100). If they report paying bills, code as Household Activities/Household Management/Financial management (020901).

Buying food for pets

2003+: Code as Consumer Purchases/Shopping (store, telephone, internet)/ relevant activity (070100).

Shopping over the telephone or the internet

2003+: Code as Consumer Purchases/Shopping (store, telephone, internet)/relevant activity (070100).

Purchasing/paying for meals, snacks, or drinks (not groceries)

2003+: Code as Consumer Purchases/Shopping (store, telephone, internet)/Purchasing food (not groceries) (070103).

Talking with waiters and waitresses or restaurant cashiers

2004+: Code as Consumer Purchases/Shopping (store, telephone, internet)/Purchasing food (not groceries) (070103). (Added: February 2004)

Waiting in line to buy movie tickets

2004+: Code as Consumer Purchases/Shopping (store, telephone, internet)/Waiting associated with shopping (070105). (Added: February 2004)

Security procedures

2003+: If respondent reports undergoing security procedures (such as "passing through the metal detector," "being searched at security checkpoint," "opening bags for security search") related to making consumer purchases, code as Security Procedures Related to Consumer Purchases (070300).

Multi-purpose shopping

2007+: Shopping activities should be coded according to the type of purchase, if specified by the respondent. For example, "Grocery shopping at Costco" should be classified as Consumer Purchases/Shopping (store, telephone, internet)/Grocery shopping (070101). If a respondent replies that he was "Shopping at [a multipurpose warehouse store, such as Wal-Mart, or Costco, or a mall]," and does not specify what was being purchased, code it as Consumer Purchases/Shopping (store, telephone, internet)/Shopping, except groceries, food, and gas (070104). (Added: January 2007)

  • 070100 SHOPPING (STORE, TELEPHONE, INTERNET)

    • 070101 GROCERY SHOPPING

      Category activity examples

      • Buying groceries
      • Ordering groceries
      • Ordering groceries online (2011+)
      • Ordering groceries via Alexa or similar technology
      • Paying for groceries
      • Talking to the produce manager

    • 070102 PURCHASING GAS

      Category activity examples

      • Buying gas
      • Buying other products at gas station (2003)
      • Paying for gasoline (2005+)
      • Paying for gasoline and other products (2003-2004)
      • Pumping gas
      • Talking to gas station attendant

    • 070103 PURCHASING FOOD (NOT GROCERIES)

      Category activity examples

      • Buying fast food
      • Paying check for a meal/drink/snack
      • Paying for fast food at drive-through
      • Paying for meal at restaurant
      • Paying the pizza delivery person
      • Picking up take-out food
      • Placing order at a deli/fast food place
      • Talking to fast food cashier (2004+)
      • Talking to the waiter (2004+)

    • 070104 SHOPPING, EXCEPT GROCERIES, FOOD, AND GAS

      Category activity examples

      • Browsing
      • Browsing/shopping at fundraisers
      • Buying a new or used car
      • Buying a pet
      • Buying airline tickets online (2011+)
      • Buying appliances
      • Buying books/CDs/other items
      • Buying clothes
      • Buying everyday consumer goods
      • Buying gardening supplies
      • Buying movie tickets
      • Buying postage stamps
      • Checking into hotel/motel/B and B (2012+)
      • Checking out of hotel/motel/B and B
      • Dropping off products for repairs
      • Looking at products
      • Looking at products in catalogs
      • Looking through catalogs
      • Ordering clothes
      • Ordering concert tickets
      • Ordering football tickets
      • Ordering products
      • Paying for a new or used car
      • Paying for a rental car/truck/van
      • Paying for movie tickets
      • Paying for purchases
      • Picking up prescriptions/film
      • Renting a car/truck/van
      • Renting a movie (2005+)
      • Renting a rug shampooer
      • Renting a tuxedo
      • Renting lawn equipment
      • Renting products
      • Returning consumer goods
      • Returning videotapes to store
      • Renting products
      • Returning consumer goods
      • Returning videotapes to store
      • Shopping at e-bay
      • Shopping at flea markets/auctions
      • Shopping at mall (2007+)
      • Shopping at warehouse stores (Wal-Mart, Costco, Super-K, etc.) (2007+)
      • Shopping at yard sales
      • Shopping but not yet buying
      • Shopping for a new or used car
      • Shopping for clothes online via Alexa or similar technology (2020+)
      • Talking to the salesclerk
      • Test-driving a vehicle
      • Visiting a book fair
      • Window shopping

    • 070105 WAITING ASSOCIATED WITH SHOPPING

      Category activity examples

      • Waiting in line to buy gas
      • Waiting in line to pay for goods
      • Waiting in line to purchase groceries

    • 070199 SHOPPING, N.E.C.

  • 070200 RESEARCHING PURCHASES

  • 070300 SECURITY PROCEDURES RELATED TO CONSUMER PURCHASES

  • 079900 CONSUMER PURCHASES, N.E.C.