In 1990 the Central Statistical Service of South Africa sponsored a household expenditure survey in a sub-set of households in 12 major metro/urban areas in the country. The aim of the survey was to obtain data on income and expenditure patterns of South African households on which the Consumer Price Index (CPS) and various other economic indicators could be based. The survey was conducted by Markdata, the fieldwork arm of the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC). All population groups were enumerated but this dataset does not contain data files for the "white" population group.