AHS: Delay in 2011 Data Collection

From: American Housing Survey (AHS) ListServ <ahs@huduser.gov>

HUD and the Census Bureau have decided to delay the start of data collection for the American Housing Survey for three months, from the beginning of May until the beginning of August. Our original plan had been to survey 30 metropolitan areas this year, a large expansion over recent practice. At present, that is still our intention. However, HUD does not yet have a budget for Fiscal Year 2011, and the current budget debate suggests that the amount we receive will be less than we had planned for. Thus, we decided to wait until we have our FY2011 appropriation before we decide how many metropolitan areas we can afford to include in 2011, and keep the survey in the field for the same duration as originally planned in order to maximize the sample for whatever funds we do receive. Our best guess is that Congress will pass a budget by the end of March.

The delay in data collection will, of course, delay release of the outputs of the survey, including the public use file (PUF), web tables, and printed reports. The PUF will not be available until late Summer or early Fall, 2012, with the web tables available about a month after the PUF and the printed publication about three months later.

Dav Vandenbroucke
Senior Economist
U.S. Dept. HUD
david.a.vandenbroucke@hud.gov
202-402-5890

I disclaim any disclaimers.