Acknowledgments US Department of Transportation - BTS

Beginning with 1997 data, BLS introduced a new calibration method to compute weights in the ConsumerExpenditure Survey. The weights are calculated using a model-assisted, design-based regression estimator.AccuracyThe Consumer Expenditures Survey is a sample survey and hence is subject to two types of errors, nonsampling andsampling. Nonsampling errors can be attributed to many sources, such as differences in the interpretation ofquestions, inability or unwillingness of the respondent to provide correct information, mistakes in recording or codingthe data obtained, and other errors of collection, response, processing, coverage, and estimation for missing data.The full extent of nonsampling error is unknown. Sampling errors occur because the survey data are collected from asample and not from the entire population. Tables with coefficients of variation and other reliability statistics areavailable on request from the national office. However, because the statistics are shown at the detailed item level, thetables are extensive.TABLE 3-17. Average Cost of Owning and Operating an AutomobileYour Driving Costs produced by the American Automobile Association (AAA) provided the data for this table. Prior to1985, the cost figures are for a mid-sized, current model, American car equipped with a variety of standard andoptional accessories. After 1985, the cost figures are for a composite of three current model American cars:1. A 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier LS,2. A 1999 Ford Taurus SEL Deluxe, and3. A 1999 Mercury Grand Marquis LS.Thus, the estimates are not reliable estimates for all cars.Fuel costs were based on an average price of $1.195 per gallon of regular unleaded gasoline, weighted 20 percentfull-serve and 80 percent self-serve. Insurance figures were based on personal use of vehicles driven less than 10miles to or from work, with no young drivers. Normal depreciation costs were based on the vehicle's trade-in value atthe end of four years or at 60,000 miles. American Automobile Association (AAA) analysis covers vehicles equippedwith standard and optional accessories, including automatic transmission, air conditioning, power steering, power discbrakes, AM/FM stereo, driver-and passenger side air bag, anti-lock brakes, cruise control, tilt steering wheel, tintedglass, emission equipment and rear window defogger.TABLE 3-18 & 3-29. Average Passenger Fare (Current and chained 2000 dollars)TABLE 3-22. Total Operating RevenuesAirThe U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), Office of Airline Information,reports passenger fares and operating revenues in its publication Air Carrier Financial Statistics. These numbers arebased on 100 percent reporting by large certificated air carriers. Minor errors from nonreporting may occur butamount to less than one percent of all passenger or freight activity. The figures do not include data for all airlines;such as most scheduled commuter airlines and all nonscheduled commuter airlines.Class I BusClass I passenger motor carriers are required to report financial and operating information to BTS using form MP-1.(Prior to 1996, Class I carriers were required to report to the Interstate Commerce Commission.) Class I passengermotor carriers are defined as those having annual gross operating revenues, as adjusted for inflation, of $5,000,000or more. This table does not include Class I carriers whose data had not been received at the time of publication.Thus, these data do not represent total Class I passenger motor carrier activity.Transit