Livings Costs and Food Survey

4,761 households in GB co-operated fully in the survey in 2013. The response rate in GB in 2013 was 48%, a decrease from 52% in 2012. The response rate for NI was 61% in 2013, a decrease from 67% in 2012. Individuals keep diary records of daily expenditure for two weeks. Children aged 7-15 asked to keep simplified diaries. The questionnaire covers a wide range of topics but data relevant to housing includes household composition, tenure, housing benefit, amenties (eg central heating), income and employment. Main results from the survey are published by ONS in the annual report Family Spending.

The survey is used to inform the retail prices index, national estimates of household final consumption expenditure, regional accounts and the statistical office of the European Union.

Time

1957 - On-going (Annual)

From 1957 to March 2001, the Family Expenditure Survey (FES) and National Food Survey (NFS) provided information on household expenditure patterns and food consumption. From April 2001 to 2008, these survey were combined to form the Expenditure and Food Survey. Living Cost and Food Survey replaced the Expenditure and Food Survey in 2008.

Dataset Quality

Sampling variability

LCF sample for Great Britain is a multi-stage stratified random sample with clustering. It is drawn from the Small Users file of the Postcode Address File (PAF) the Post Office's list of addresses.

Dataset Access and Use

Free to download from the ONS and UK Data Service websites. When via UK Data Service: Registration required and terms and conditions apply

Supportive of academic research

Geography

Coverage: UK

Units: Regional

Resources