Survey of Consumer Finances Series

collection: series

Investigator(s): Economic Behavior Program, Survey Research Center, University of Michigan

Studies

5

Variables

0

Publications

39

About this Collection

Surveys of Consumer Finances were conducted annually from 1946 through 1971. The survey was again administered in 1977, 1983, 1986, 1989, 1992, 1995, and 1998, and is expected to be updated on a triennial basis. The major focus of these surveys is the collection of statistics on the distribution of consumer income, assets, debt, and major transactions. Interviewing is conducted in January-August of each year with questions covering (1) ownership of assets and financial balances, (2) source, purpose, and amount of debt, including installment debt, and (3) wage earners, and amount and source of current income, as well as previous year's income. Also explored are respondents' attitudes toward their personal financial situations and toward general economic conditions and prices, and respondents' expectations for the coming year. Information is sought on current and planned expenditures for housing, automobiles, and major durables. Personal characteristics reported include age and education of head of household, household composition, and occupation. Samples for the surveys are made up of a national cross-section of dwelling units representing the total population of the United States. In the early years the interviewing unit was the spending unit, but in 1964 it was changed to the family unit. Several financial innovations were instituted through the years, including the introduction of new financial instruments such as money market funds and the deregulation of financial markets. To assess the effects of these changes on the financial positions and behaviors of households, seven governmental agencies joined together to sponsor the 1983 Survey of Consumer Finances. For a discussion of the data, see the Federal Reserve Board, "Reports on the Surveys of Consumer Finances," FEDERAL RESERVE BULLETIN, and publications of the principal investigators. General reports of the data from the Surveys of Consumer Finances appear in these publications.

Studies

5 results

Survey of Consumer Finances, 1992

The purpose of this data collection effort was to provide an accurate representation of the distribution of elements composing family balance sheets across families in the United States. To that end, the 1992 Survey of Consumer Finances was designed to gather household-level information closely comparable to that obtained in the SURVEY OF CONSUMER FINANCES, 1989 (ICPSR 9687). Detailed data were collected on the composition of household budgets, the terms of loans, and relationships with financial institutions. Information was also obtained on the employment history, pension rights, and housing characteristics of the survey respondent and the spouse or partner of the respondent. In addition to recording data on the economic assets and liabilities of families, the survey examined the attitudes of consumers toward credit use and their reactions to consumer credit regulations. Demographic variables include age, sex, marital status, housing, and financial independence.

Survey of Consumer Finances, 1998

The purpose of this data collection effort was to provide an accurate representation of the distribution of elements composing family balance sheets across families in the United States. To that end, the 1998 Survey of Consumer Finances was designed to gather household-level information closely comparable to that obtained in the SURVEY OF CONSUMER FINANCES, 1995 (ICPSR 2193). Detailed data were collected on the composition of household budgets, the terms of loans, and relationships with financial institutions. Information was also obtained on the employment history and pension rights of the survey respondent and the spouse or partner of the respondent. Detailed data were also gathered on characteristics of the survey respondent's housing and vehicle(s). In addition to recording data on the economic assets and liabilities of families, the survey examined the attitudes of consumers toward credit use and their reactions to consumer credit regulations, and lines of credit. Demographic variables include age, sex, marital status, housing, and financial independence.

Survey of Consumer Finances, 1995

The purpose of this data collection effort was to provide an accurate representation of the distribution of elements composing family balance sheets across families in the United States. To that end, the 1995 Survey of Consumer Finances was designed to gather household-level information closely comparable to that obtained in the SURVEY OF CONSUMER FINANCES, 1992 (ICPSR 6729). Detailed data were collected on the composition of household budgets, the terms of loans, and relationships with financial institutions. Information was also obtained on the employment history and pension rights of the survey respondent and the spouse or partner of the respondent. Detailed data were also gathered on characteristics of the survey respondent's housing and vehicle(s). In addition to recording data on the economic. assets and liabilities of families, the survey examined the attitudes of consumers toward credit use, and their reactions to consumer credit regulations and lines of credit. Demographic variables include age, sex, marital status, housing, and financial independence.

Variables

0 results

Variable-level metadata is not available for this collection.