Survey of Consumer Attitudes and Behavior, March 2002

The Survey of Consumer Attitudes and Behavior series 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. Since the 1940s, these surveys have been produced quarterly through 1977 and monthly thereafter. The surveys conducted in 2002 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, retirement planning, health insurance coverage, and how respondents would spend additional income as a result of tax cuts. Other topics typically include ownership, lease, and use of automobiles, use of personal computers at home and in the office, and familiarity with and use of the Internet. Demographic information includes ethnic origin, sex, age, marital status, and education.