Survey of Consumer Finances Series

collection: series

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

Studies

33

Variables

6,914

Publications

64

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

33 results

Survey of Consumer Finances, 1966

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.

This data collection is one in a series of financial surveys of consumers conducted annually since 1946. In a nationally representative sample, the head of each family unit was interviewed. Starting in 1966, in order to examine the effect that increased car ownership was having on American families, the data collected in this series were organized so that they could be analyzed by both family unit and car unit. The 1966 data are based on car unit. Survey questions regarding automobiles included number of drivers and car owners in the family, make and model of each car, purchase method, car financing and installment debt, and expectations of car purchases in the coming year. Other questions in the 1966 survey covered the respondent's attitudes toward national economic conditions (e.g., the effect of Vietnam War involvement and relations with other communist countries on United States business) and price activity, as well as the respondent's own financial situation. Other questions examined the family unit head's occupation, and the nature and amount of the family's income, debts, liquid assets, changes in liquid assets, savings, investment preferences, and actual and expected purchases of major durables. In addition, the survey explored in detail the subject of housing, e.g., previous and present home ownership, value of respondent's dwelling, and mortgage information. Each respondent also was asked about unemployment, job history, hours of part- and full-time employment, and retirement plans. Personal data include age and education of head, household composition, and occupation.

Survey of Consumer Finances, 1968

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.

This data collection is one in a series of financial surveys of consumers conducted annually from 1946 to 1971. In a nationally representative sample, the head of each family unit was interviewed. Starting in 1966, in order to examine the effect that increased car ownership was having on American families, the data collected in this series were organized so that they could be analyzed by both family unit and car unit. The 1968 data are based on car unit. Survey questions regarding automobiles included number of drivers and car owners in the family, make and model of each car, purchase method, car financing and installment debt, and expectations of car purchases in the coming year. Other questions in the 1968 survey covered the respondent's attitudes toward national economic conditions (e.g., the effect of income tax, interest rates, the stock market, Vietnam War involvement, and relations with other communist countries on United States business) and price activity, as well as the respondent's own financial situation. Other questions examined the family unit head's occupation, and the nature and amount of the family's income, debts, liquid assets, changes in liquid assets, savings, investment preferences, and actual and expected purchases of major durables. In addition, the survey explored in detail the subject of housing, e.g., previous and present home ownership, value of respondent's dwelling, and mortgage information. Personal data include age and education of head, household composition, and occupation.

Survey of Consumer Finances, 1967

This data collection is one in a series of financial surveys of consumers conducted annually since 1946. In a nationally representative sample, the head of each family unit was interviewed. Starting in 1966, in order to examine the effect that increased car ownership was having on American families, the data collected in this series were organized so that they could be analyzed by both family unit and car unit. The 1967 data are based on car unit. Survey questions regarding automobiles included number of drivers and car owners in the family, make and model of each car, purchase method, car financing and installment debt, and expectations of car purchases in the coming year. Other questions in the 1967 survey covered the respondent's attitudes toward national economic conditions (e.g., the effect of Vietnam War involvement and relations with other communist countries on United States business) and price activity, as well as the respondent's own financial situation. Other questions examined the family unit head's occupation, and the nature and amount of the family's income, debts, liquid assets, changes in liquid assets, savings, investment preferences, and actual and expected purchases of major durables. Information about housing was also gathered, e.g., previous and present home ownership, value of respondent's dwelling, and mortgage information. In addition, the survey explored in detail the respondent's employment history, e.g., working conditions, job transfers, skills in equipment operation, past and expected career changes, and work attitudes. Personal data include age and education of head, household composition, and occupation.