Analysis of the Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement Split-Panel Test

by Alisha Coleman-Jensen and Matthew P. Rabbitt

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has monitored the extent and severity of food insecurity in U.S. households for more than 25 years. Data on food security is collected annually as part of the Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement (CPS-FSS). USDA, Economic Research Service undertook a process to update the survey instrument used for the CPS-FSS data collection. An updated survey instrument was created through a process of expert content review and cognitive testing. The revised survey instrument was implemented by the U.S. Census Bureau in a split-panel data collection test in September 2020. The split panel formed two samples that were weighted to represent the U.S. population. Estimates for food spending, food security, and participation in Federal and community nutrition assistance were compared across the two samples. The analysis confirmed that the minor changes to the food security section are unlikely to affect the measurement of food insecurity, or affect comparability of estimates from year-to-year.

How to Cite:

Coleman-Jensen, A., & Rabbitt, M.P. (2023). Analysis of the Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement split panel test (Report No. TB-1963). U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. https://doi.org/10.32747/2023.8134354.ers

Keywords: food security, food insecurity, food spending, food pantry, soup kitchen, emergency kitchen, free groceries, free meals, material well-being, material hardship, food security measurement, food security data, split-panel survey, Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement, CPS-FSS

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