Expenditures: Cash Contributions by Composition of Consumer Unit: Married Couple Only Consumer Units

Composition of consumer unit refers to the classification of interviewed families according to: (1) relationship of other family members to the reference person; (2) age of the children of the reference person; and (3) combination of relationship to the reference person and age of the children. Stepchildren and adopted children are included with the reference person's own children. The reference person is the first member mentioned by the respondent when asked to "Start with the name of the person or one of the persons who owns or rents the home." It is with respect to this person that the relationship of the other consumer unit members is determined. For more details about the data or the survey, visit the FAQs (https://www.bls.gov/cex/csxfaqs.htm).