Survey of Consumer Attitudes and Behavior, March 1997

Resource Information

The work Survey of Consumer Attitudes and Behavior, March 1997 represents a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in Bowdoin College Library. This resource is a combination of several types including: Work, Language Material, Books.

Label

Survey of Consumer Attitudes and Behavior, March 1997

Creator

• University of Michigan. Survey Research Center. Economic Behavior Program
• Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor]

Author

• University of Michigan. Survey Research Center. Economic Behavior Program

Contributor

• Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor]

Subject

• consumer expenditures
• credit card use
• disposable income
• durable goods
• economic conditions
• employment
• inflation
• Finance, Personal
• national economy
• personal finances
• price fluctuations
• purchasing
• survey
• vehicles
• interest rates
• consumer attitudes
• consumer behavior
• consumer expectations

Genre

• survey

Summary

This survey 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. This type of information is essential for forecasting changes in aggregate consumer behavior. Since the 1940s, these surveys have been produced quarterly through 1977 and monthly thereafter. Each monthly survey probes a different aspect of consumer confidence. Open-ended questions are asked concerning evaluations and expectations about personal finances, employment, price changes, and the national business situation. Additional questions inquired about buying intentions for automobiles and computers, and the 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, credit card and loan use, family income, and sources of income. Other questions focused on respondents' use of personal computers at home and in the office, and respondents' ownership, lease, and use of automobiles. Demographic information includes ethnic origin, sex, age, marital status, and education