U.S. Postal Service Household Diary Study

Welcome to the FY 2008 Household Diary Study web site. We hope you find the information presented here helpful. If you still have questions about the study after you've gone through this site, please call our toll-free hotline at 1-888-441-USPS (8777) or you can e-mail us at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

What is the Household Diary Study?

The Household Diary Study (HDS) examines the volume and types of mail that U.S. residents send and receive. The US Postal Service collects data on mail classes, mail contents by class, mail flow between mailing sectors and by industry, as well as other types of data. These data provide a basis from which the Postal Service can make informed decisions about a variety of issues such as: postage rates, staffing needs, performance improvements as well as investments in new equipment, facilities, programs and technologies.

The study, conducted every year since 1987, examines not only volume and types of mail sent to and from U.S. households, but also the adoption and use of electronic communications technologies such as e-mail, online shopping, and online bill payment. Given that many American households have adopted and used these electronic technologies, the study focuses on how and to what extent the adoption and use of technologies affect traditional mail volume (also called electronic diversion). In addition, this study examines residents' attitudes toward the mail and electronic communications technologies.

About 5,300 randomly selected households participate in the annual study by completing the recruitment interview first and then tracking their mail in diaries (Answer Booklets) for each day of the assigned week. The diaries are easy to fill out and we provide respondents with detailed instructions, as well as technical support staff on our toll free hotline.

In appreciation of your effort, after you return completed diaries, we will give you a choice of one gift from two options: $30 or a roll of 100 Forever stamps. The gift you select is sent after your completed diary is returned and processed. Because each diary is processed individually, this takes a minimum of 10 weeks from the time we receive your diary packet. You should expect to receive your gift in about 10-12 weeks.

REMEMBER: All the information you provide will be kept strictly confidential, in accordance with the Code of Standards and Ethics for Survey Research Organizations established by the Council of American Survey Research Organizations. It will not be provided to anyone not affiliated with the project. Your individual household information will be grouped with all other 5,300 households, so that no single household will be analyzed by itself.

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Selection of Households

Since it is not cost-effective to survey every single household in the United States, the Household Diary Study is administered to a representative and random sample of households each year. Each year, we generate a stratified random sample of households. The actual household listings come from the Master Address List maintained by Postal Service staff in Memphis, Tennessee. These listings are then organized according to 4 regions and 3 county "types" resulting in 12 geographic categories. The regions correspond to census regions (Northeast, Midwest, South, and West) and the county "types" are based on each household's county. Counties in the 30 largest metropolitan areas are one type, counties in other metropolitan areas are another type, and the third type is rural counties.

Households are then selected at random within each of these twelve categories; the actual number of households selected from each category is based on ensuring that our sample proportions of households match the proportion of households within each category as they existed at the time of the last decennial census (2000). Addresses of selected households are then matched with listed telephone numbers and are contacted. Those households for which no phone number can be found are mailed a letter informing them of their selection into the study along with three options: in-bound contact with our data collection facility, returning a postcard with their telephone number, or completing the recruitment interview via the Internet.

In all cases, the confidentiality of the respondent is imperative. All identifying information is removed from each sample record and any data collected is presented as summary information.

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Most Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is the purpose of the diary (Answer Booklet)?

A1: Your household will or did receive one diary for each day of the week – Monday through Sunday. You use the diary (Answer Booklet) to record ALL household mail that enters or leaves your household on a particular day. So you should use the Answer Booklet for Monday to record all mail sent and received by any member of your household on Monday. Then record all mail sent to and from any member of your household on Tuesday in the Tuesday Answer Booklet, and so on. The information from your diaries will help the Postal Service track mail volumes and the mail types to and from households.

Q2: How long does it take to fill out the Answer Booklet each day?

A2: The amount of mail you receive determines how long it takes to complete. The first time you do them, it may take up to 30 minutes because you need time to become familiar with instructions, questions, diary design, and mail markings. However, on the second and remaining days, it should take less time – again, depending on the amount of mail you received and sent on each day.

Q3: What are mail markings?

A3:Mail markings are the elements on each mail piece that indicate the postage paid and type of mail, e.g., First-Class, Nonprofit, Presorted Standard. Mail markings are typically located in a) the top right-hand corner of the mail piece, b) above or below the address or c) inside the window of an envelope. Please refer to the Instruction Booklet for examples of mail markings for each mail type.

Q4: Do we include mail markings with our completed Answer Booklets? (In other words, do we send you our mail?)

A4: If the mail piece is something you are willing to send us and you will no longer need, then yes, please send us the entire mail piece in the daily envelopes with the completed diaries. Be sure to label each mail piece with the mail piece number and mail type you assigned it in the Answer Booklet. PLEASE DO NOT CUT OUT THE INDIVIDUAL MAIL MARKINGS.

Q5: What if there are mail markings inside a window envelope? Do I send it in?

A5: If the mail marking is on a mail piece that you don't need to keep, please send it in. If you need to keep it, please provide a description of the markings inside the window on the portion that you do send. Again, PLEASE DO NOT CUT OUT THE INDIVIDUAL MAIL MARKINGS.

Q6: Is the postage paid to mail back the Answer Booklets and mail markings?

A6: Yes, we have included a pre-paid Priority Mail envelope in your package. Please return all completed diaries and mail pieces. You do not need to return any of the instruction materials; please recycle according to your local rules.

Q7: Do we keep track of mail we send out?

A7: Yes, in addition to the Summary Page for each day, there are three places in the Answer Booklet where you record mail that you (or anyone in your household) send out:

1. First-Class Mail Sent (Purple sheets)
2. Ground Packages Sent (Green sheets)
3. Expedited Mail Sent (Gold sheet).

Q8: How do I get started?

A8: One of the most important steps you can take is to read the Instruction Booklet. It may look thick – but it is really only 7 pages of information; the pages behind the colored tabs are simply examples of postage. We suggest you also look at the Photo Quick Start as it provides a visual overview of how to complete your diaries.

Next, sort and number each day’s mail according to the type of postage (see page 1 of the Instruction Booklet for how to sort and number your mail pieces). Then, record the number of pieces of each mail type on the Summary Page in the Answer Booklet for that day.

Third, open the Question Booklet and read the questions one by one. Write your answers in the Answer Booklet for that day. Essentially, you move back and forth between the Question and Answer booklets. For example, if you have First-Class Mail on Monday, use Monday’s Answer Booklet under First-Class to record information about each piece of mail in that class.

If you have any questions, please refer to the Instruction Booklet. If you need assistance, you can also call our toll-free hotline at 1-888-441-USPS (8777) from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Central Time Monday through Friday, and from noon to 5 p.m. Central Time on Saturday and Sunday.

Q9: Do I record mail received from outside the United States, or mail I send to other countries?

A9: Yes. You should record all mail, domestic and international, received by any member of your household, in the Answer Booklets.

Q10: No one person in our household opens all the mail. How can I answer questions about other people's mail without opening it?

A10: Record as much information as you can without opening mail addressed to others. Ask other members of your household the questions you can't answer and record their answers. Leave anything you can't answer blank.

Q11: How do I know the mail classification (Mail Type) of my mail?

A11: Go to the Instruction Booklet. Look at the examples of types of mail under the different tab sections of the booklet (First-Class, Standard or Bulk, etc.). As it would be difficult to include every possible example of postage, please find the mail marking that is the closest match to your mail piece.

Q12: Are CATALOGS classified under Magazines, Newspapers, or Other Periodicals in the Answer Booklets?

A12: Most catalogs are sent either Presorted Standard or First-Class, but the type of postage determines the mail type, so check the mail markings to determine the correct mail type.

Q13: The return address is sometimes hard to find, particularly on magazines, newspapers, and some other types of mail. Where should I look?

A13: Return addresses on magazines are often located inside the front cover, on the title page with publishing information, or on the paper wrapper the magazine is shipped in. Return address information on newspapers is sometimes at the top of the front page, above the headline, or inside the paper, near the publishing information or masthead on the editorial page.

Q14: I received notice that the postal carrier tried to deliver a package while I wasn't home, and that I should pick the package up at the post office. Do I record the notice as mail received, and if so, where should I record it?

A14: Please, do NOT count the notice as mail received or record it on the lines for items of mail received. Record the package as a package received on the day that you actually pick it up at the post office.

Q15: I have some personal mail sent to me at my office. Should I include that in the count of mail I receive?

A15: No, include only personal mail sent to your home address.

Q16: Some of my mail goes to a post office box, and other mail is sent to my home address. Should I count both?

A16: No. Please include ONLY the mail sent to your home address.

 

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If you need additional information about . . .

The project so you will feel more comfortable participating, please call the NuStats project manager, Kimberly Hilsenbeck at 1-800-447-8287 x 2232 or email her at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .

• How to complete the diary, you can call the toll-free Hotline at
  1-888-441-USPS (8777).
• The thank you gift, you can call the Hotline at 1-888-441-USPS (8777). Please allow a minimum of 10-12 weeks after mailing in your completed diaries.
• John Mazzone of the Postal Service at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it or call 202-268-4169.
• To obtain a copy of the latest Household Diary Study report, please send an email to This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it or go to www.usps.com/householddiary.