# IPUMS CPS is a rotating panel. Can I use panel data for two consecutive years? Please read details.
**URL:** https://forum.ipums.org/t/ipums-cps-is-a-rotating-panel-can-i-use-panel-data-for-two-consecutive-years-please-read-details/1138
**Category:** CPS
**Created:** [December 1, 2015, 5:57pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/ipums-cps-is-a-rotating-panel-can-i-use-panel-data-for-two-consecutive-years-please-read-details/1138 "2015-12-01T17:57:00Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@cspehler](https://forum.ipums.org/u/cspehler)
#### Post date: [December 1, 2015, 5:57pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/ipums-cps-is-a-rotating-panel-can-i-use-panel-data-for-two-consecutive-years-please-read-details/1138/1 "2015-12-01T17:57:00Z")
IPUMS CPS is a rotating panel. If I use two consecutive years (2012-2013) March ASEC data, using the same sample of respondents by getting rid of MISH 5678 respondents in 2012 and MISH 1234 respondents in 2013 (should be close to the same sample after), can I identify the respondent in 2012 and 2013 (by some serial number of characteristic) in order to run a panel regression by tracking individuals from 2012 to 2013? The serial numbers are different every year I believe? Is there any other identifier over time?
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### Author:  [@Tim\_Moreland](https://forum.ipums.org/u/Tim_Moreland)
#### Post date: [December 1, 2015, 8:57pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/ipums-cps-is-a-rotating-panel-can-i-use-panel-data-for-two-consecutive-years-please-read-details/1138/2 "2015-12-01T20:57:00Z")
[SERIAL](https://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/SERIAL#description_section) is generated by IPUMS for each sample and cannot be used to track households across samples. Instead, you will want to use [HRHHID](https://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/HRHHID#description_section) and [HRHHID2](https://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/HRHHID2#description_section) to link ASEC households between consecutive years and include [LINENO](https://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/LINENO#description_section), [SEX](https://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/SEX#description_section), and [AGE](https://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/AGE#description_section) (allowing age to increase by one) to link individual respondents.
Hope this helps.