Classification of total income of household or family

Usage

The income categories in this classification can be collapsed to form larger categories to suit a particular data set or analytical purpose. The collapsed categories should be created by combining entire income categories, respecting the category boundaries of this classification.

When data on total income for households, economic families or census families is presented using the Classification of Family or Household Income, households, economic families and census families with no income or with negative incomes are included in the category "Under $5,000". Because such households, economic families and census families are rare, their presence there should not distort data on counts or the percentage distribution. Households, economic families and census families with negative incomes are quite often dissimilar from those with very low positive incomes in that they have self-employment income and they can experience significant fluctuations in annual income.

The categories boundaries in the classification are expressed in Canadian dollars. The data presentation should specify any adjustments made including whether the unit of measure is current dollars or constant dollars.