The Household Income and Expenditure Survey is a survey collecting data on income, consumption and expenditure patterns of households, in accordance with methodological principles of statistical enquiries, which are linked to demographic and socio-economic characteristics of households. A Household Income and Expenditure Survey is the sole source of information on expenditure, consumption and income patterns of households, which is used to calculate poverty and income distribution indicators. It also serves as a statistical infrastructure for the compilation of the national basket of goods used to measure changes in price levels. Furthermore, it is used for updating of the national accounts.