The data collected for the Survey of Household Spending, or SHS, is largely comparable to its predecessor, the Family Expenditure Survey. The differences from 1998 on are that data collection was increased from every 4 years to every year, the SHS sample was expanded by 50%, the number of detailed expenditure categories was reduced, and the housing information previously collected under the Household Facilities and Equipment Survey became part of the SHS. In addition, coverage of the Territories increased under the SHS to include areas outside the cities of Whitehorse and Yellowknife.

Data was collected in the beginning of 1998 for the reference period of 1997 and the sample was 23,842 households. Institutional populations, residents of Indian reservations, and official representatives of foreign countries were excluded from the survey.

Statistics Canada provides a public use microdata file.