Household budget survey underway

CAS cooperates with World Bank to survey household income and spending

The Central Administration of Statistics (CAS) launched on Tuesday (September 20) the field work for the ‘National Household Budget Survey for 2011’ conducted in cooperation with the World Bank.

The survey will measure households’ income and expenditure which helps in calculating poverty indicators.
The Director General of CAS, Maral Tutelian, cited the social and economic significance of the survey. She said that the survey has chosen a methodical sample of 4,000 families covering all regions.

Tutelian said that the study will provide a statistical database on the characteristics of demographic and social development of families and individuals. She said that the survey will also highlight the characteristics of the economic activity of individuals.

World Bank representative, Hanine Sayyed, said that the survey would be used to update the poverty line. The current poverty line has been based on the most recent such survey conducted in 2004. Sayyed said that the government would be able to use the new figures in order to update its strategy for combating poverty.

The World Bank has been supporting the government in the implementation of its National Poverty Targeting Program. The program entails the delivery of social transfers and services to improve living standards of the population, mainly the vulnerable and underprivileged segments of the society.