Survey of consumer attitudes and behavior, April 1979
By: principal investigator, Economic Behavior Program, Survey Researc Center, University of Michigan
Series: Surveys of consumer attitudes and behavior; ICPSR -- 8743; ICPSR (Series) -- 8743
Publisher: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor
Published: 1988
Place of publication: Ann Arbor, Mich
Language: und
Format: [computer file] /
Subjects: Consumers; Attitudes; Consumer behavior; Consumption (Economics)
Description: These surveys were undertaken to measure changes in consumer attitudes and expectations, to understand why these 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 late 1940s, these surveys have been produced quarterly through 1977 and monthly thereafter. Each monthly survey contains approximately 40-50 questions and 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 probe buying intentions for automobiles and the respondent's appraisals of present market conditions for purchasing houses, automobiles, and other durables.
Notes: The Surveys of Consumer Attitudes and Behavior were initiated in the late 1940s by the Survey Research Center 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, and to evaluate how they relate to consumer decisions to save, borrow, or make discretionary purchases. 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, which 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 five questions to calculate an Index of Consumer Sentiment. 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. For the most part, a different sample of respondents has been selected for personal interviews each quarter, and, in some surveys, respondents are re-interviewed by telephone. Interviewing is on a family basis, with the respondent randomly selected from among the household head, spouse, and other family members over 18 years of age.

General reports of data from the Surveys of Consumer Attitudes and Behavior appear in Federal Reserve Bulletins for the years 1947-1959 and in the publications of the Institute for Social Research.

Personal interviews.

Survey data.

United States.

OSIRIS data format.

Machine-readable documentation. Codebook available.