Description

SPMTHRESH records the poverty threshold, rounded to the nearest dollar, used to calculate the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM) for a family. Unlike the official poverty measure, SPM thresholds are based on consumer expenditures on food, clothing, shelter, and utilities (FCSU) and updated to reflect changes in family spending.

The base SPM threshold is calculated for a two-adult, two-child family, and distinguishes between families that rent, own their home with a mortgage, or own their home without a mortgage (SPMMORT). The threshold is then adjusted to reflect the number of adults and children in the family using an equivalence scale (SPMEQSCALE). The SPM definition of family poverty units differs from the family units used to calculate official poverty rates; SPM family units are identified in SPMFAMUNIT. SPM thresholds are further adjusted to reflect geographic differences in the cost of living (SPMGEOADJ).

It is important for users to note that the Census Bureau does not collect the same detailed income and expenditure data for the ACS as it does for the Annual Social and Economic Supplement of the Current Population Survey (CPS ASEC). Many of the data points used to calculate the SPM have been imputed or estimated using values from the CPS ASEC. For detailed information about how the Census Bureau derived these measures, please refer to the Supplemental Poverty Measure using the American Community Survey working paper.

Note that a previously-available version of this variable included decimals; we have replaced it with this rounded version in order to maintain consistency across the SPM data set.

SPMTHRESH is a 6-digit numeric variable that is used to calculate the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM) for a family. SPMTHRESH specific variable codes for missing, edited, or unidentified observations, observations not applicable (N/A), observations not in universe (NIU), top and bottom value coding, etc. are provided below if applicable by Census year (and data sample if specified).

SPMTHRESH Specific Variable Codes
999999 = N/A (Not in Universe)

Comparability

Aside from the effects of inflation, this variable is comparable across all years.

Universe

Availability

• 2023: --
• 2022: --
• 2021: --
• 2020: --
• 2019: ACS
• 2018: ACS
• 2017: ACS
• 2016: ACS
• 2015: ACS
• 2014: ACS
• 2013: ACS
• 2012: ACS
• 2011: ACS
• 2010: ACS
• 2009: ACS
• 2008: --
• 2007: --
• 2006: --
• 2005: --
• 2004: --
• 2003: --
• 2002: --
• 2001: --
• 2000: --
• 1990: --
• 1980: --
• 1970: --
• 1960: --
• 1950: --
• 1940: --
• 1930: --
• 1920: --
• 1910: --
• 1900: --
• 1880: --
• 1870: --
• 1860: --
• 1850: --

• 2023: --
• 2022: --
• 2021: --
• 2020: --
• 2019: --
• 2018: --
• 2017: --
• 2016: --
• 2015: --
• 2014: --
• 2013: --
• 2012: --
• 2011: --
• 2010: --
• 2009: --
• 2008: --
• 2007: --
• 2006: --
• 2005: --
• 2000: --
• 1990: --
• 1980: --
• 1970: --
• 1930: --
• 1920: --
• 1910: --

Flags

Editing Procedure

There is no editing procedure available for this variable.