my %reasons; while (my($city, $code_info) = each %$switch_hash) { my ($code, $date_info) = %$code_info; while(my ($date, $reason) = each %$date_info) { next unless $reason =~ /^(\d+):(.*)/; $date_info->{$date} = $1; $reasons{"$city:$date"} = $2; } }