The Household Expenditure Survey (HES) 2023/24 conducted by the Government of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, through the Department of Economic Planning and Statistics (JPES), Ministry of Finance and Economy began yesterday and continues until July 31, 2024.
HES 2023/24 is the seventh survey carried out in the Sultanate. Since 2005, HES has been conducted every five years in line with international guidelines and standards, according to the JPES.
The main objective of the survey is to collect latest information on the expenditure pattern and income levels of households.
The information is essential to the nation’s socioeconomic planning, research, policy-making and management.
JPES Acting Director General Hairol Nizam bin Haji Abdul Hamid said HES 2023/24 covers 3,000 randomly selected families nationwide through statistical sampling, approximately or 260 families each month.
The survey is carried out for 12 months to account for seasonal expenditure variations such as expenditures during Ramadhan, festive seasons, the beginning of the school year, and school holidays.
A training session for 110 survey officers appointed by the department was conducted on July 24 to 29 to prepare them for their roles. The survey officers will conduct face-to-face interviews. The selected families must record details for all expenditures for one month only.
The families are reminded to ensure that the interviewers are officially appointed and authorised survey officers through their official vests, passes, appointment letters, and identity cards.
Meanwhile, families with dogs are requested to cooperate by tethering or confining their dogs during the interviewer’s visit.
The department said the information provided will be treated confidential and used for statistical purposes. In pursuant to Section 9 of the Statistics Act, the failure or reluctance to give the information or furnishing false particulars carries a BND4,000 penalty.
The key statistics to be produced are the average monthly expenditure of a family in this country by expenditure category such as food, clothing, housing, transportation, education, medical, and other expenses.
The HES 2023/24 results will benefit the private sector, academic experts, researchers, students, and the public. – James Kon
