Food Security in the United States

Overview

USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) plays a leading role in the development of data and technical resources that support research on U.S. food security. Households experiencing food insecurity had difficulty at some time during the year providing enough food for all their members because of a lack of resources. ERS sponsors the annual Food Security Supplement to the Current Population Survey and assumes the responsibility for analyzing and reporting the data collected from that survey while the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census (Census Bureau) releases the household survey data. This page contains user notes and questionnaires for that annual survey. This page also contains links to resources for researchers interested in either implementing surveys to collect food security data or using existing food security data collected by ERS and other Federal agencies. More information about the Federal surveys and directions for accessing data files are available on the Documentation page.

Data Access to the Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement 

Researchers can access public-use household-level Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement (CPS-FSS) data files for each year since 1995. These data files are used by ERS researchers to publish annual reports about household food security in the United States in the report series Household Food Security in the United States. New data and reports are usually released each September. In addition to annual monitoring, these survey data can be used to conduct research on determinants and correlates of food insecurity, the relationship between food insecurity and food and nutrition assistance program participation, and other topics. Technical documentation for each of these data files can be found on our Documentation page.

CPS-FSS survey data files must be analyzed with statistical software programs and can be accessed in the following ways:

• Household food security survey data from 2010 to the present are available on the Census Bureau’s Food Security website. Supporting technical documentation, including Source and Accuracy Statements, and replicate weights are also available for download.
• Household food security survey data from years before 2010 are available from the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) or from the Institute for Social Research and Data Innovation IPUMS website.
• Selected household food security survey data files from 1995, 1998, 1999, and 2000 are available for download in the folders below.

CPS-FSS survey data files include demographic and income information for households, as well as food security status, food spending, spending required to meet food needs, and participation in Federal and community food and nutrition assistance programs. 

Summary statistics from the CPS-FSS survey data can be accessed at ERS’ Interactive Charts and Highlights page. It includes:

• Interactive charts displaying statistics featured in ERS’ annual Household Food Security in the United States report and other statistics from the CPS-FSS data
• Downloadable Excel and machine readable files that contain the data used to create the interactive charts

User notes and Questionnaires for the Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement

Technical information and questionnaires are provided in the listing below to facilitate the appropriate use of available CPS-FSS data. A Spanish translation of the full CPS-FSS questionnaire is also available.

Nonresponse bias analyses conducted by the Census Bureau are available upon request for years in which analyses were conducted.

Resources for Researchers Collecting Primary Food Security Data

The Food Security in the U.S. Measurement page includes:    

• the official, conceptual definitions of the ranges of food insecurity
• information about how food security and food insecurity are measured

The Food Security in the U.S. Survey Tools page includes:

• the core food security survey module used in the Current Population Survey to estimate national food security
• file links and descriptions for other standardized food security survey modules for the collection of food security data in surveys (these survey modules are also provided below )
• the official Guide to Measuring Household Food Security (Revised 2000) that provides guidance on how to use the survey modules and score the results
• technical reports and food security measurement research

Other Food Security Data and Technical Documentation 

Food security data from other Federal datasets are also available on this page, along with documentation. These data are the Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey, Kindergarten Class of 1998-99 (ECLS-K), Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP; 1996 and 2001), Survey of Program Dynamics (SPD; 1998-2002).