Claritas data error doesn’t impact ratings.

Arbitron is alerting customers that some “front of the book” type data supplied to the company by Claritas was incorrect.  Only a handful of markets were affected, including New York, Long Island, Providence and Portsmouth-Dover-Rochester, NH.  Claritas data covers such marketplace breakouts as income, education and retail sales.

One research director says most stations don’t use the information and says the slip isn’t a big deal.  In a note to subscribers, Arbitron notes the ratings and other data compiled by Arbitron weren’t affected.