To understand differences in estimates due to the questionnaire change, the 2014 CPS ASEC used a split panel design which asked both traditional and redesigned income questions (see Appendix D of the 2014 Income and Poverty report for estimates).

Likewise, to understand the impact of the new processing system in the 2019 CPS ASEC, the Census Bureau re-released data from 2017, with one set of estimates reflecting the legacy processing system and one set based on the updated processing system (as discussed in working papers on income and poverty estimates).

These survey changes affected estimates of median household income and income and poverty estimates for some subgroups.

For each change, the percentage difference in median household income is shown below. The new questionnaire led to a 3.17% increase in median income, while the impact of the new processing system was not statistically significant.