Esri Business Information Solutions (Esri BIS) has released the update of its Consumer Expenditure database and the first edition of its proprietary Retail MarketPlace database. Both databases will assist companies to more precisely define patterns of consumer spending for specific market areas.

CEX Database

This comprehensive database is based on a combination of the latest Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CEX) from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This database allows you to see estimates of current consumer spending patterns for products and services by household. Data is reported by product or service and includes total expenditures, average spending per household, and a Spending Potential Index (SPI). SPI compares the average expenditure for a product locally to the average amount spent nationally. An index of 100 is the average. An SPI of 120 shows that average spending by local consumers is 20 percent above the national average.

Consumer Expenditure Reports

Esri BIS created a suite of industry specific consumer expenditure reports based on its CEX database. These reports provide information about total expenditures, average spending per household, and an SPI. The suite of Esri BIS consumer expenditure reports includes the following:

• Retail Goods and Services Expenditures—Comprehensive summary of 77 retail categories
• House and Home Expenditures—Detailed information about owned and rented homes, household operations, utilities, furniture, appliances, and other household items and supplies
• Automotive Aftermarket Expenditures—Spending for automotive products and services in a particular market area
• Financial Expenditures—Market value and annual asset changes as well as interest and principal spent for home mortgages and vehicle loans
• Household Budget Expenditures—Total expenditures for major components such as apparel, food, housing, transportation, entertainment, health care, and more
• Medical Expenditures—Health care such as physician services, prescription drugs, and health insurance
• Recreation Expenditures—Entertainment fees and admissions, exercise equipment, toys, photographic equipment, and reading materials

Retail MarketPlace Database

This database includes retail sales by industry to households and retail potential or spending by households. Each business is identified by a four-digit North American Industry Classification System code. The Retail MarketPlace database features a leakage/surplus estimate that compares consumer spending by households to retail sales by businesses. This measure allows businesses to quickly analyze the profitability of potential sites. In addition, Esri BIS estimates retail sales by household and household spending (retail potential) by industry to enable the direct comparison of supply and demand. This unique database innovation enables businesses to determine if they are attracting customers from the immediate or surrounding areas.

Database Applications

Businesses can use the Retail MarketPlace database to do the following:

• Analyze sales estimates for retail trade and food service establishments.
• Find detailed sales data for 31 major industry groups including the following:
• Motor vehicle and parts dealers
• Furniture and home furnishings stores
• Electronics and appliance stores
• Food and beverage stores
• Clothing and clothing accessories stores
• Capture sales data for any census geography and any sized ring or polygon.
• Determine if attracted customers are from the immediate or surrounding areas.
• Evaluate the potential of future sites.

For more information, contact Esri BIS (tel. East: 1-800-292-2224 or tel. West: 1-800-394-3690, Web: www.esribis.com).