Survey of Consumer Attitudes and Behavior Series

collection: series

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

Studies

562

Variables

126,480

Publications

112

About this Collection

The Survey of Consumer Attitudes and Behavior (also know as the Surveys of Consumers) were initiated in the late 1940s by the Survey Research Center of the University of Michigan, Institute for Social Research, under the direction of George Katona and have been carried out quarterly through 1977 and monthly thereafter. The purpose of these surveys is to measure changes in consumer attitudes and expectations, to understand why these changes occur, to evaluate how they relate to consumer decisions to save, borrow, or make discretionary purchases, and to forecast changes in aggregate consumer behavior. Changes in consumers' willingness to buy are best assessed by making use of the answers to all questions asked in the surveys, especially the open-ended questions that probe underlying reasons. Nevertheless, in order to make available a summary measure of change in consumer sentiment, the Survey Research Center uses the answers to selected questions to calculate an Index of Consumer Sentiment. Each survey also probes a different aspect of consumer confidence. The surveys use a national sample of dwelling units selected by area probability sampling that is representative of the adult population of the United States.

Studies

562 results
Partially restricted

Survey of Consumer Attitudes and Behavior, September 2005

The Survey of Consumer Attitudes and Behavior series (also known as the Surveys of Consumers) was undertaken to measure changes in consumer attitudes and expectations, to understand why such changes occur, and to evaluate how they relate to consumer decisions to save, borrow, or make discretionary purchases. The data regularly include the Index of Consumer Sentiment, the Index of Current Economic Conditions, and the Index of Consumer Expectations. Since the 1940s, these surveys have been produced quarterly through 1977 and monthly thereafter.

The surveys conducted in 2005 focused on topics such as evaluations and expectations about personal finances, employment, price changes, and the national business situation. Opinions were collected regarding respondents' appraisals of present market conditions for purchasing houses, automobiles, computers, and other durables. Also explored in this survey, were respondents' types of savings and financial investments, loan use, family income, and retirement planning. Demographic information includes ethnic origin, sex, age, marital status, and education.

Partially restricted

Survey of Consumer Attitudes and Behavior, October 2005

The Survey of Consumer Attitudes and Behavior series (also known as the Surveys of Consumers) was undertaken to measure changes in consumer attitudes and expectations, to understand why such changes occur, and to evaluate how they relate to consumer decisions to save, borrow, or make discretionary purchases. The data regularly include the Index of Consumer Sentiment, the Index of Current Economic Conditions, and the Index of Consumer Expectations. Since the 1940s, these surveys have been produced quarterly through 1977 and monthly thereafter.

The surveys conducted in 2005 focused on topics such as evaluations and expectations about personal finances, employment, price changes, and the national business situation. Opinions were collected regarding respondents' appraisals of present market conditions for purchasing houses, automobiles, and other durables. Also explored in this survey were respondents' types of savings and financial investments, loan use, family income, retirement planning, mortgage refinancing, and general feelings. Demographic information includes ethnic origin, sex, age, marital status, and education.

Partially restricted

Survey of Consumer Attitudes and Behavior, August 2005

The Survey of Consumer Attitudes and Behavior series (also known as the Surveys of Consumers) was undertaken to measure changes in consumer attitudes and expectations, to understand why such changes occur, and to evaluate how they relate to consumer decisions to save, borrow, or make discretionary purchases. The data regularly include the Index of Consumer Sentiment, the Index of Current Economic Conditions, and the Index of Consumer Expectations. Since the 1940s, these surveys have been produced quarterly through 1977 and monthly thereafter.

The surveys conducted in 2005 focused on topics such as evaluations and expectations about personal finances, employment, price changes, and the national business situation. Opinions were collected regarding respondents' appraisals of present market conditions for purchasing houses, automobiles, and other durables. Also explored in this survey were respondents' types of savings and financial investments, loan use, family income, and retirement planning.

Other topics in this series include ownership, lease, finance and use of automobiles, expectations for future gas prices, and various financial decision-making scenarios. Demographic information includes racial and ethnic origin, sex, age, marital status, household size, and education.

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