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2004 National Survey of Family Income and Expenditure Overview
1. Survey Objectives
The National Survey of Family Income and Expenditure is designed to provide a clear picture of aspects of Japanese citizens? lifestyles such as national and regional household consumption, income and asset levels, composition and distribution through a comprehensive survey of items such as household income and expenditures, savings and liabilities, consumer durables, residences and residential property. The survey has been implemented every five years since the first survey in 1959. This is the 10th survey.
2. Survey Period
Over three months, from September to November 2004. However, one-person households were surveyed over the two months of October and November.
3. Survey Subjects
The survey covers households with two or more members, as well as one-person households, chosen from among all households nationwide in accordance with selection methods specified by the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications.
4. Municipalities Surveyed
All 680 cities existing as of January 1, 2004, were surveyed and 458 of the 2,497 towns and villages existing as of January 1, 2004, were chosen.
5. Households Surveyed
54,372 households with two or more members and 5,002 one-person households were surveyed.
6. Survey Items and Dates
| Questionnaire types | Survey items | Survey periods | |
| Households of two or more people | One-person households | ||
| Household accounts A | Income (workers? and unemployed households) Expenditures |
Households of two or more people | One-month period: October |
| Household accounts B | Income (workers? and unemployed households) Expenditures Purchase points |
One-month period: November | |
| Household questionnaire | Items related to household, number of household members, housing, and residential area | As of September 1 | As of October 1 |
| Consumer durables questionnaire | Items related to major durable goods (40 categories) | As of end of October | |
| Annual income, savings questionnaire | Items related to annual income, current savings balance, and current debt balance | As of end of November | |
